INVESTIGATION OF THE INFLUENCE OF SLIDING SPEED ON THERMOELASTIC PROBLEM IN THE FRICTIONAL CLUTCH SYSTEM WHEN APPLYING A CONSTANT HEAT GENERATION

Abstract

There are many demands that are considered essential to obtain a successful design of frictional clutches. The main function of such a mechanical part is to transfer torque between driving and driven shafts. The time of engagement process for the clutch system should be as short as possible to reach the desired speed with the minimum losses of power. Owing to the high level of contact stresses that are generated between the sliding components of the frictional clutch, high thermal fields will be produced during the engagement period. The thermoelastic problem during the sliding time of the frictional system (single disc) employing the finite element method (FEM) was investigated deeply. In the present research paper, the effect of variable sliding speeds on the thermoelastic performance during applying a constant initial heat generation was explored. The new numerical models have been developed based on finite element axisymmetric simulation for the engagement process of the dry frictional clutch components. It was found that the sliding speed is more significant than the applied pressure when applying a constant frictional heat generation.