1. Understanding and improving the convective cooling of brake discs with radial vanes

2. Introuction
Convective heat dissipation makes the greatest contribution to brake disc cooling in most road vehicle driving conditions
this mode of heat dissipation is further exploited by creating internal passages within the disc

3. Introuction
The approach was to use a simple method – a small vane placed in the middle of the existing channels – and, by creating a ‘venturi effect’ within the channel, to improve airspeed distribution and increase convective heat transfer.

4. Introuction
Airflow and convective cooling from this disc were studied theoretically using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations
Although this much simplifies the real brake working environment
Theoretical and experimental studies can be conducted under identical conditions and easily repeated.

5. Introuction
Baseline brake disc

6. CFD disc model
Brake disc CFD model

7. CFD results for the baseline disc design
Baseline disc: relative velocity at 800 r/min

8. CFD results for the baseline disc
Baseline disc vanes: convective heat transfer coefficients at 800 r/min

9. Brake disc cooling test set-up
Experimental set-up
Brake disc cooling test set-up

10. Validation of CFD modelling

11. Baseline disc: radial near-wall airspeeds in the channel at 800 r/min