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We describe our practical procedure of designing thermally robust brake discs using conventional CAE. First, we review the literature describing brake judder, measurement technologies, and CAE focusing on brake discs. Second, we present some experimental results confirming what effect the basic configurations of brake discs have on thermal behaviors and the correlation between CAE simulation and physical test results. Finally, we propose a design strategy for developing thermally stable brake discs with an outer-hat configuration. We carried out a series of CAE experiments based on the Taguchi Method and determined the critical parameters for reducing the amount of coning. We also present some simplified models using classical theory regarding the strength of materials to discuss what effect the dimensional parameters have on the discs' thermal deformation.

The necessity of a high-precision disc to reduce brake judder was reconfirmed from the three viewpoints: a literature review, experiments, and bench marking. Geometric accuracy is the critical issue that brake disc suppliers must address to improve the NVH performance of automobiles. We have achieved disc lateral runout of less than 20 micrometers after rough and semi-finish turning operations by increasing the rigidity of lathe components and tool holders, improving work-holding devices, selecting appropriate cutting insert material and geometries, and optimizing cutting conditions. With an additional grinding process, by selecting the most suitable abrasive wheels, optimizing grinding conditions, and keeping the alignment of the work-piece and grinding-wheel spindles accurate through productive maintenance based on the in-line measurement data, we can correct the geometric dimensions of the disc friction plates to obtain higher accuracy.