Life evaluation of a disk brake of railway vehicles considering pressure distributions at a frictional surface

In this study, we performed thermal stress analyses on a ventilated disk brake with a 3D model for two cases (whether the pressure distribution on a contact surface is uniform or not). A pressure distribution analysis was performed to determine the pressure distribution on the contact surface. Then, by using the results that were obtained from the pressure distribution analyses, we performed thermal stress analyses. Finally, we have found the spots where the maximum thermal stresses occur. Also, for the life evaluation of a disk brake, we have conducted the fatigue test and obtained the S-N curve. From those results, we evaluated the life of a disk brake.