Sizing a Full Disk Brake

by Fabrice Pryor

Submitted : Spring 2012

A disk brake works by bringing a nonrotating brake pad into contact with an iron disc bolted wheel. Frictional contact between the pad and disk eventually bring the wheel to a stop. This project will look into the mathematical and geometric aspects of a full disk brake by developing equations and solutions to the following components of a full disk brake: finding an expression for torque, determining the inner radius that will maximize the torque, and calculating the suitable inner and outer diameter for a full disk brake with a set braking torque, pressure, and friction coefficient. This procedure involved the use of integrals, derivatives, knowledge of optimization concepts.

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