Fundamentals of Brake Design

MODERN brake-development is now reaching a stage in which the performance of a brake design can be predetermined accurately with almost the same certainty as that for powerplants. Accurate mathematical expressions and formulas now supplant the old cut-and-try method used on many types of brake. Armed with these mathematical tools, a designer can proceed with his designs without the usual misgivings and uncertainties that characterized former brake design. In practically every case, the original layout using the principles outlined has withstood the rigors of breakdown testing and field service, with very few modifications of a minor nature.

Thermal and dynamic effects are disclosed, and their influence on the parts constituting the brake are discussed. These effects may spell success or failure in what looks to be a good design. The fallacies of the simple shoe-brake are discussed, and a method for overcoming them is offered.