Thermal Analysis of Disc Brake

A brake is a mechanical device which inhibits motion. Disc brake is a type of mechanical braking system. In most modern cars disc brakes are mounted on front wheels of the vehicle to stop vehicle instantly. The fluid from the master cylinder is forced into a caliper where it presses against a piston. The piston in turn squeezes two brake pads against the disc (rotor), which is attached to wheel, forcing it to slow down or stop. In a disc brake, the brake pads squeeze the rotor instead of the wheel, and the force is transmitted hydraulically instead of through a cable. In the present work the thermal analysis of brake is performed to look for the main areas where heat is dissipated at higher rates with respect to time i.e., transient thermal behavior and secondly a CFD analysis is carried out simultaneously to look after the hydraulic system involved for braking, its pressure ranges and effectiveness. Along with the virtual analysis an experimental setup is also prepared to get a more detailed performance characteristic of disc brake in an actual working environment.