Understanding and improving the convective cooling of brake discs with radial vanes

Introuction
Convective heat dissipation makes the greatest contribution to brake disc cooling in most road vehicle driving conditions
this mode of heat dissipation is further exploited by creating internal passages within the disc

Introuction
The approach was to use a simple method a small vane placed in the middle of the existing channels and, by creating a venturi effect within the channel, to improve airspeed distribution and increase convective heat transfer.

Introuction
Airflow and convective cooling from this disc were studied theoretically using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations Although this much simplifies the real brake working environment Theoretical and experimental studies can be conducted under identical conditions and easily repeated.

Introuction

Baseline brake disc

CFD disc model

Brake disc CFD model

CFD results for the baseline disc design

Baseline disc: relative velocity at 800 r/min

CFD results for the baseline disc

Baseline disc vanes: convective heat transfer coefficients at 800 r/min

Experimental set-up

Brake disc cooling test set-up

 Validation of CFD modelling

 Baseline disc: radial near-wall airspeeds in the channel at 800 r/min