Journal of Applied Mechanical Engineering

Abstract

Implementation of the Perturbation Method for Thermo Elastic Instability in Disk Clutches and Brakes

Yun-Bo Yi

Thermo Elastic Instability (TEI) is a phenomenon found in high speed rotational devices such as automotive
brakes or clutches. When there is frictional heat generation, the interaction between heat transfer and thermal
expansion can be unstable, causing high temperature regions on the frictional surfaces. To predict the conditions under which the system yields a rapidly growing temperature field, the perturbation method in conjunction with the finite element scheme has been employed to solve an eigenvalue equation, from which the critical value of the operating speed is determined from the stability boundaries of the leading mode. The method has been found useful for brake and clutch design and optimization in automotive industry.