Paper VII (i) Brake Noise and Vibration - The State of the Art

Synopsis Previous work on brake noise and vibration problems is reviewed from its beginnings up to the present day. An underlying theme is revealed; namely that the inadequacy of analytical approaches in leading to satisfactory designs has forced the industry to develop empirical fixes when brake noise and vibration problems occur in practice. Despite having developed skills in tackling practical noise and vibration problems, the brake industry has a pressing need for design tools to avoid such problems from the outset. The growing importance of customer complaints of brake noise and vibration - against a background of increased overall vehicle refinement - provides an obvious commercial motivation. Suggestions are made of how to enhance FE models of the brake assembly in order to develop such design tools.