Modelling the mechanical properties and stress mapping of aluminium-based metal matrix composite used in brake disc rotor

Aluminium-based metal matrix composites (AMMCs) are extensively employed in industries due to their superior and unique properties such as high strength-to-weight ratio, specific modulus, hardness, wear resistance, and fatigue strength. In this research, the analysis of silicon carbide (SiC) reinforced AMMC was conducted for determination of elastic properties with varying volume fractions of their reinforcements. The elastic properties were calculated based on analytical models such as rule of mixture (ROM), Halpin-Tsai model and Shear-Lag model. Subsequently, this composite was considered as the material in a disc brake rotor, in order to study the stress mapping and its applicability. Traditionally used brake disc material, grey cast iron, was compared with the proposed SiC and CaCO3 reinforced AMMC, in order to study their deformation behaviour under compressive wear loading using FEM analysis. FEM was used to map the stress fields on the material and compared with grey cast iron-based disc brake rotor.