Quantification of Aircraft Carbon Brake Wear Using Regression Analysis and Periodic Wave Forms

A new method has been developed to measure and quantify aircraft brake wear. This information is used to evaluate brake life, investigate the effects of design changes, and predict worn brake performance. The process is based on digital acquisition of worn brake disk data. Regression analysis is used to fit the profile data to a specially developed 3-D linear model which quantifies total wear and linear taper. Fourier transforms of the profile data yield frequencies, wave lengths, and phases of the dominant periodic wave forms, which define the profile nonlinearities. Development of these methods has resulted in a new and unique technique for evaluation of aircraft brake wear.