Study on the transient temperature distribution of new conical friction plate under sliding friction

Conical friction surface is a novel configuration for friction plate in transmission. Numerical FEA models for transient heat transfer and distribution of conically grooved friction plate have been established to investigate the thermal behavior of the conical surface with different configurations. The finite element method is used to obtain the numerical solution, the temperature test data of conical surface are obtained by the friction test rig. In order to study and compare the temperature behavior of conically grooved friction plate, several three-dimensional transient temperature models are established. The heat generated on the friction interface during the continuous sliding process is calculated. Two different pressure conditions were defined to evaluate the influence of different load conditions on temperature rise and the effects of conical configuration parameters on surface temperature distribution are investigated. The results show that the radial temperature gradient on conical friction surface is obvious. The uniform pressure condition could be used when evaluating the temperature rise of conically grooved friction plate. The increase of the cone height could improve the radial temperature gradient of the conically grooved friction plate.

Analysis of the Accuracy of Mass Difference-Based Measurement of Dry Clutch Friction Material Wear

The paper demonstrates that the dry clutch friction plate wear rate, measured based on the plate mass difference method, exhibits a transient behavior after each change of friction interface temperature level. The effect is hypothesized to be caused by a temperature-dependent change in the moisture content/mass level in the friction material. To test this hypothesis, a series of synchronized characterization experiments have been conducted by using two friction plates, one for wear tests and the other for drying in an oven under the same temperature conditions. Based on the analysis of test results, a moisture content compensation procedure, which reduces the transient wear rate from being 100% to being 50% higher compared to stabilized wear rate, is proposed and verified. The gained insights are used to set recommendations on the organization of routine wear characterization experiments aimed at avoiding the effect of moisture content influence on the accuracy of wear measurement. The main recommendations are to minimize the number of temperature target level changes through proper design of the experiment, insert a run-in test after every long test pause, and execute a pre-heat, blind wear test at the beginning of each test day.

On the Performance of Wavy Dry Friction and Piezoelectric Hybrid Flexible Dampers

This paper proposes a flexible dry friction plate to mitigate the vibration of thin-walled structures for one resonance crossing. Based on a cantilever beam-friction damper finite element model, the geometry and material parameters of the friction plate are optimized numerically through steady-state response analyses by the widely-used Multi-Harmonic Balance Method (MHBM). In order to further improve the damping effect, piezoelectric material is distributed to the flexible damper, and two types of dry friction and piezoelectric hybrid dampers are explored, namely semi-active and passive, respectively. For semi-active hybrid dampers, piezoelectric material is used as an actuator to adjust the normal load applied to the friction interface in real time, so that the friction damping is improved. For passive ones, piezoelectric material is used as a transducer, which dissipates the strain energy stored in the wavy plate by the shunting circuit, additional shunted piezoelectric damping contributes to the total output damping accordingly. Better damping effect compared with the friction baseline is realized for the two types ideally. This damping module has a simple structure and avoids the problem of installation and maintenance of piezoelectric material which is generally bonded to the host structure. Technical challenges are: the semi-active type requires excessive voltage applied to the piezoelectric actuator, while the passive one needs to connect a programmable synthetic circuit.

On the Performance of Wave-Like Dry Friction and Piezoelectric Hybrid Flexible Dampers

This paper proposes a flexible dry friction plate to mitigate the vibration of thin-walled structures for one resonance crossing. Based on a cantilever beam-friction damper finite element model, the geometry and material parameters of the friction plate are optimized numerically through steady-state response analyses by the widely-used Multi-Harmonic Balance Method (MHB-M). In order to further improve the damping effect, piezoelectric material is distributed to the flexible damper, and two types of dry friction and piezoelectric hybrid dampers are explored, namely semi-active and passive, respectively. For semi-active hybrid dampers, piezoelectric material is used as an actuator to adjust the normal load applied to the friction interface in real time, so that the friction damping is improved. For passive ones, piezoelectric material is used as a transducer, which dissipates the strain energy stored in the wave-like plate by the shunting circuit, additional shunted piezoelectric damping contributes to the total output damping accordingly. Better damping effect compared with the friction baseline is realized for the two types ideally. This damping module has a simple structure and avoids the problem of installation and maintenance of piezoelectric material which is generally bonded to the host structure. Technical challenges are: the semi-active type requires excessive voltage applied to the piezoelectric actuator, while the passive one needs to connect a programmable synthetic circuit.

A Dynamic Investigation of the Impact Failure Analysis of the Friction Plate in a Planetary Transmission System

A clear understanding of both vibrations and the impact forces of planetary transmission systems is very helpful for decreasing impact failures of their friction discs and preventing serious accidents of the system. This study presents a multibody dynamic (MBD) investigation based on a commercial MBD software to predict the vibrations and impact forces of the friction disc in a planetary transmission system. In the MBD model, the radial clearance of the planet bearing is formulated, as well as the backlash between the outer gear teeth of the ring and friction disc teeth. However, the previous works in the literature only considered single radial clearance or backlash. The influences of the radial clearance of the planet bearing and backlash between the outer gear teeth of the ring and friction disc teeth on the vibrations and impact forces of the friction disc in the planetary transmission system are studied. The results give that a smaller radial clearance and backlash can be useful for decreasing both the vibrations and impact forces of the friction disc in the planetary transmission system. The MBD method can be applied to predict the vibrations and impact forces in the planetary transmission system as well.

Analysis of Dynamic Engaged Characteristics of Wet Clutch in Variable Speed Transmission of a Helicopter

The working principle and motion process of an aviation wet clutch are analyzed. The initial velocity before the friction pair engaged is solved. The transient Reynolds equation is modified, and an oil film bearing capacity model and a micro-convex bearing capacity model are derived. The film thickness equation between N friction pairs and a pressure-plate is derived. A dynamic engaged model of springs, pistons, friction pairs, and pressure plates are established. The torque balance equation is established of two pairs of friction pairs. The friction torque, rate of change in the oil film, and law of relative change in speed are obtained. The results demonstrate that the spring preload and the viscosity of the lubricating oil have a significant influence on the engagement characteristics. Increasing the quality of the friction plate will reduce the time of engagement, whereas the quality of the friction plate has slight effect on the friction torque characteristics and oil film thickness. The initial speed generated by the collision process will reduce the output speed, sharply increase the torque peak at the lock, and increase the shift shock.

Effects of Friction Plate Hardness and Surface Orientation on the Frictional Properties of Cereal Grain

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the friction plate hardness and surface orientation of a friction plate on the angle and coefficient of static friction of cereal kernels. The angle of static friction of kernels representing four major cereal species was measured on six friction plates with different hardness. The friction plates were placed in position where their surface orientation was perpendicular or parallel relative to their inclination tilt. The experimental material comprised the so-called flat seed units, where each unit consisted of three spaced kernels. The angle of static friction of every flat seed unit was measured with a dedicated device in three replications, and average values of that angle were calculated. The kernels’ angle of static friction varied considerably from 13° to 33° within the analyzed range of changes in the surface characteristics of friction plates. The average angle of static friction was influenced mainly by the surface orientation of the friction plate that came into contact with cereal kernels. The angle of static friction was 17.5% to 56.5% higher when the friction plate had perpendicular rather than parallel surface orientation. The frictional properties of kernels were less influenced by plate hardness, and clear relationships were not observed in this respect. The kernels’ coefficient of static friction remained fairly constant within the analyzed range of plate hardness values, and it was estimated at 0.4 on plates with a perpendicular surface orientation and at 0.3 on plates with a parallel surface orientation.

Life Cycle Prediction and Evaluation of Clutch Friction Plate Considering Wear Models and Thermal Stress

To predict the life of the clutch friction plate, friction characteristics of the friction plate and the steel sheet assembly are analyzed in the full life cycle. A contact model of the friction surface is built based on the micro-convex body model. Wear mathematical models of friction plate are established respectively based on the contact model and sliding friction work model. The wear results of the two models are compared and analyzed. The effect of temperature on wear is considered. Fatigue life of the friction plate is predicted by wear mathematical model according to the real working states. The accuracy of the contact model and the influence of temperature on the wear are determined through the comparative analysis of each prediction result.