This paper compares the thermal characteristics of a ventilated and solid brake disc for commercial vehicles. The substantial influence of the 'wheel end' on brake cooling required the inclusion of the disc, wheel carrier and wheel in the performed analyses and tests. A novel, 'ventilated' aluminium alloy wheel carrier was developed and used. When a solid brake disc is combined with such a wheel carrier, its cooling characteristics are comparable to that of an anti-coning ventilated disc used with an SG iron solid wheel carrier. The results also show considerable improvements in ventilated disc heat dissipation when combined with this new wheel carrier. Different designs of wheel end components offer an opportunity to tailor the assembly for specific application/s, optimising mass, initial costs and maintenance costs.
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