Effect of forced vibrations of brake pads on the thermal performance of the disc: A numerical perspective

In this work we numerically investigate the thermal behaviour of automobile brake discs when the brake pads are subjected to horizontal vibrations. To determine the influence of these vibrations on the performance of the disc, the partial differential equation (PDE) of conductive heat transfer in the disc is solved numerically using the finite element method. The outer surfaces of the disc and pad are exposed to convective and radiant heat flows. We determine the influence of the amplitude and frequency of vibrations of the plate on the isotherms’ distribution, maximum temperature, average temperature, and dissipation energy. As per the results, this study shows that adding a vibration force can reduce the heat dissipated in the disc and, therefore, improve the performance of the automobile braking system.