Dynamics - Brakes Overview

Owned by Jens Dekker
Last updated: Feb 03, 2022 by Tania Lai
2 min read

Introduction

This page gives an overview on the research on brakes to gain a better understanding. A research log, if you will. All parts in blue are personal comments which hopefully add to the decision making for the brake system.

Relevant Regulations

Review relevant regs from

ASC Regulations Reading

ASC’s Full Regulations Document

https://www.americansolarchallenge.org/ASC/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/ASC2021-Regs-EXTERNAL-RELEASE-B.pdf

Research

Brakes intended to reduce the kinetic energy of the vehicle when desired in a controlled way.

Standard method to reduce the kinetic energy for a vehicle is to turn it into heat through friction.

  • Research into regenerative braking.

The two most common brake systems are disc brakes and drum brakes.

  • Main difference is where the friction is applied. Both systems have cylindrical object used to create friction against. The difference is that disc brakes applies a force to the flat faces of the cylinder, whereas drum brakes apply force to the curved surface.

    • I believe most modern cars use disc brakes, and they were used in MSXII and MSXIV

    • From an early look disc brakes seem to take up less space than drum brakes, which will be good for a catamaran design if that route is chosen

Disc Brakes
Drum Brakes

Brake “signal” to create friction on the rotor (disc brakes) or drum sent through the car in a few ways.

  • Mechanically

    • Might have to many moving parts, higher likelihood of failure

  • Hydraulics

    • What MSXII and MSXIV were going to use

    • MSXIV has unused parts that can be designed around, might need to think about the length of the brake lines

  • Pneumatics

    • I believe these are used on semi trucks (big truck for transport), some more research can be done

  • Electrically (Brake by Wire)

    • Could this take away the power for the propulsion?

Research Questions:

How much heat is created in the process of braking?
Is it high enough to potentially damage other systems?
How would regenerative braking factor into this?
What is the elec-mech integration of the system?
What would mech need to contribute to the system?
Would an electrical brake system take way a significant amount of power from propulsion?
Is there a difference between disc and drum brakes for:
Mass
Volume Occupied (next to the wheel specifically, not the signaling components)

Sources

PDF Library Brake Handbook - Fred Puhn