Calculation of Disc Brakes Components Using the Finite Element Method with Emphasis on Weight Deduction

Calculation of disc brake components using the FINITE ELEMENT METHOD with emphasis on weight reduction.

FINITE ELEMENT CALCULATION is now being increasingly used to calculate new, and to optimize existing designs of complex brake components. This paper describes an easy-to-apply Program-System, where the presentation of the structure is particularly simplified.

Sophisticated Finite Elements are used to give accurate results with the least calculation time. The adaption of this Finite Element System to disc brake components is illustrated using three examples.

First is the thermal behaviour of brake rotors, showing that by suitable design, distortion can be reduced to an acceptable minimum. The creation of notch-stress calculations on disc brake back plates, and the deflection of vacuum booster housings complete the examples selected.