Brake Design

This course introduces students to designing braking systems. It begins with the management of vehicle energy during braking, tire roadway interface, and braking and stopping distances. Existing design and braking concept studies include hydraulic, ABS, TCS, and ESP systems. References are made to mechanical linkage, air, brake-by-wire, and regenerative braking. Analytical studies include functional component sizing, thermal considerations, and system integration in view of regulatory requirements and industry practices. In their design project, utilizing assigned vehicles or vehicles designed in the Suspension and Steering Design course, students analyze a disc and drum system from brake pedal to wheel ends, create their brake system design programs, and use CAD to assist them in their design and engineering analysis. Testing and inspections of brake components and vehicle brake systems include operating and design parameters and generation and interpretation of industry standard system characteristics and reinforce student ability to identify components and describe their functions and design features. While emphasis is placed on passenger car and light truck applications, the course ventures into technology migrations. The references made and the principles taught are applicable to commercial highway and off-highway vehicles and machinery, motorcycles, and other mechanical engineering technology applications. The system engineering approach to design, which is used in this course, is applicable to all areas of mechanical engineering technology and other disciplines.