Computation of surface temperatures and energy dissipation in dry friction clutches for varying torque with time

This paper describes an investigation of the energy dissipated and the surface temperature at any instant of dry friction clutch assuming torque being a function of time during the slipping. The equations of the thermal loads, total energy dissipated and relative velocity between contact surfaces are presented. Two-dimensional axisymmetric heat conduction problem of dry friction clutch is modeled mathematically and solved numerically using the finite element method to determine the temperature distribution during a single engagement assuming uniform wear between the contact surfaces. The comparison is made between temperature field assuming the torque varying with time and when it’s constant with time. Moreover, the effects of slipping time and dimensionless thickness of the pressure plate λ are to be investigated as well.