Finite Element Analysis of Transient Thermoelastic Behavior in Multi-Disc Clutches

The high thermal stresses generated between the contacting surfaces of a multi-disc clutch system (pressure plate, clutch discs, plate separators and piston) due to the frictional heating generated during the slipping, is considered to be one of the main reasons of clutch failure for contact surfaces. A finite element technique has been used to study the transient thermoelastic phenomena of a multi-disc dry clutch. The results present the contact pressure distribution, the temperature evaluation and the heat flux generated along the frictional surfaces. Analysis has been completed using two-dimensional axisymmetric model to simulate the multi-disc clutch. ANSYS software has been used to perform the numerical calculation in this paper.