Brake Disk Heat Transfer CFD Simulation

This module introduces mechanical engineering students to Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis of a brake disk using ANSYS Fluent, emphasizing thermal management and heat transfer in automotive applications.

Key aspects covered:

Introduction to brake disk design principles and their importance in vehicle safety systems
Importing a pre-made mesh of a brake disk into ANSYS Fluent
Setting up specific boundary conditions to simulate heat generation and dissipation during braking
Configuring ANSYS Fluent for heat transfer and fluid flow simulation around the brake disk
Running the simulation to analyze thermal performance of the brake disk under the given conditions
Visualizing temperature distribution across the brake disk and surrounding air flow patterns
Analyzing heat dissipation rates from the brake disk to the surrounding environment
Examining the thermal behavior of the brake disk under the specified boundary conditions
Introduction to concepts such as thermal fatigue, hot spotting, and brake fade
Basic interpretation of results to understand brake disk performance and cooling efficiency

This tutorial provides practical experience in using ANSYS Fluent for thermal-fluid analysis in automotive systems. Learners will gain insights into how brake disks manage and dissipate heat during braking operations under specific conditions. The module emphasizes the application of CFD in analyzing critical vehicle components, a crucial area in mechanical engineering.

This knowledge is valuable for designing more efficient and safer braking systems, improving thermal management in vehicles, and contributing to advancements in automotive engineering. The simulation skills acquired are applicable to various fields within mechanical engineering, including automotive design, thermal management systems, and safety engineering.