Transient Thermoelastic Analysis of Friction Clutch Using FEM

The high thermal stresses generated at the contacting surfaces of single-clutch system (pressure plate, clutch disc and flywheel) due to the frictional heating during the slipping, This thermal stresses are consider 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 dry clutch system (single and multi-discs systems). The effect of sliding speed, thickness of friction material and the boundary conditions on contact pressure distribution, temperature field and heat flux generated along the frictional surfaces is investigated. Analysis has been completed using two dimensional axisymmetric model to simulate the clutch system.