Abaqus Validation: Coupled thermal-stress analysis of a disc-pad brake

In this Abaqus tutorial, a 3D dimensional disk-pad heat transfer coupling simulation of the Red Flag CA7220 car has been done using the Abaqus software. The results of this simulation have been validated with a valid paper (Gao & Lin, 2002). For this analysis, the pressure from the brake pad to the disc is modeled and the heat generated by the friction between the pad and the brake disc is modeled. The final temperature distribution of the disc and brake pad is used to produce and operate the brake system.

Why 3D dimensional model?

Because using a two-dimensional model for thermal analysis implies that the contact conditions and frictional heat flux transfer are independent of theta. This may lead to false thermal elastic distortions and unrealistic contact conditions. The moving heat source may influence the fatigue stress and thermal cracking caused by the heat blow.

What you learn…

• How to model solid disk brake and pad
• What material properties are used in transient thermal analysis
• How to use Coupled Temp-Displacement step in Abaqus
• How to model the interaction between solid brake and pad
• What interaction properties are needed for transient coupled thermal analysis
• What constraint must be used in this type of simulation
• How to rotate a deformable part in Abaqus
• How to import and use graphs from paper as Amplitude in Abaqus
• What load and boundary conditions should be used?
• How to define initial temperature for parts
• Practical points for generating a mesh
• What is a mesh sensitivity study in FEA and how to do it in Abaqus?

Abaqus Tutorial Package Uses

• Coupled transient thermal analysis of a disk-pad brake by FEA.