Studying and Analysis of the Mechanical and Vibro-acoustic Performance of Aluminum Disc Brake

Abstract

The global trend is now towards energy saving. Thus, reducing vehicle weight has attracted the attention of the automotive manufacturers to improve vehicle fuel consumption. Using lightweight materials in the manufacture of various parts of the vehicle is an appropriate way to save the power. In the automotive brake systems, widely used brake disc material is gray cast iron which has a high specific gravity may cause increase of the fuel consumption. Choosing the light materials such as aluminum metal matrix is help to reduce the fuel consumption, but in the same time this new material must be satisfied to the requirements of the braking processes. The current article analysis both of the mechanical performances and vibro- acoustic performance of aluminum alloy disc brake under different brake pressures and different disc rotation speeds. The results showed the mean friction coefficient and brake force has little effect both of the applied force and disc rotation speed. Used the Aluminum metal alloy reduces the brake vibration level by about 17 % at higher applied force. The brake noise increases with increase the disc rotation speed at constant applied force.

 Keywords: brake rotor, brake performance, brake noise and vibration, metal composite material.