Numerical and experimental validation of tribological phenomenon in wind turbine brake pads using novel Archard's wear coefficient

Abstract

Designing effective mechanical brakes for wind turbines has been hindered by the historical reliance on simplistic criteria such as wear rate and friction coefficient for material selection. In this study, a novel approach to predicting wear rate was proposed, utilizing Archard's wear coefficient and considering factors such as material composition, hardness, sliding distance, and axial load. Furthermore, we developed a numerical model to simulate the tribological behavior of wind turbine brake pads, integrating the novel wear coefficient derived from a hybrid mathematical model with cubic and radial basis functions. This comprehensive approach bridges the gap between experimental data and theoretical insights, offering a robust framework for optimizing brake pad design and performance.