Prediction of Surface Temperatures in Passenger Car Disc Brakes

Fade characteristics of disc brakes largely depend upon the rubbing surface temperature excursions during various braking maneuvers. Surface temperature is very difficult to measure accurately under transient conditions. Therefore, a combined experimental-analytical approach is necessary. Temperature patterns in passenger car disc brakes undergoing various braking schedules have been predicted. These predictions are the result of a finite difference solution of the three-dimensional heat conduction equation in the entire rotor with appropriate convective and radiative cooling from all boundaries.