Hybrid Aircraft Brake Disk Stack for Stable Friction Performance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aircraft brake disk stacks exhibit poor static friction performance and varying dynamic friction coefficients due to environmental conditions and braking operations, leading to inconsistent braking performance.

Innovation Solution

A brake disk stack comprising a carbon/carbon (C/C) rotor disk adjacent to a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) stator disk, or vice versa, to create a hybrid brake stack that improves friction performance by using dissimilar materials in the brake heat sink.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional brake disk stacks use uniform material composition, then manufacturing is simpler, but friction performance varies greatly under different environmental conditions and braking operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefriction performance consistencyVSAvoidmaterial composition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The brake disk stack employs alternating rotor and stator disks made from different materials (carbon-carbon and ceramic matrix composite) to create localized material properties optimized for specific friction performance requirements under varying environmental conditions and braking operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite structure combining two distinct material systems (carbon-carbon and ceramic matrix composite) in alternating layers within the brake disk stack, leveraging the complementary properties of each material to achieve consistent friction performance across different operating conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If brake disk stacks use single material type, then manufacturing process is simpler, but static friction performance is poor and inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestatic friction performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Different material types are strategically assigned to rotor and stator positions within the brake disk stack to optimize static friction performance, with each material location tailored to its specific functional requirements rather than using a uniform material throughout

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The alternating arrangement of carbon-carbon and ceramic matrix composite materials creates a composite brake disk stack structure that achieves superior and consistent static friction performance by combining the advantageous properties of both material systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If brake disk stacks use conventional uniform material, then device structure is simpler, but dynamic friction coefficient deviation is large across use cases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedynamic friction coefficient consistencyVSAvoidbrake stack structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The brake disk stack is segmented into multiple alternating rotor and stator disks made from different materials, dividing the friction interface into distinct zones that collectively reduce the overall deviation in dynamic friction coefficients across various braking operations and environmental conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-material composite structure of alternating carbon-carbon and ceramic matrix composite disks creates a more consistent dynamic friction response by compensating for material deficiencies in individual components through the complementary properties of adjacent disks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The hybrid brake stack achieves higher mean coefficients of dynamic friction, lower deviation in friction coefficients across use cases, and enhanced static friction, resulting in more consistent and improved braking performance, with CMC materials showing longer wear life and reduced maintenance intervals.

Implementation Method 1

a brake that is operatively coupled to the wheel to slow the wheel, and hence the aircraft... rotor disks and stator disks that, in response to axial compressive pressure, absorb the kinetic energy of a rotating wheel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3594523B1Systems and method for alternativng material brake disk stack
Publication Date: 2022.06.08 GOODRICH CORP
  • EP3594523B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3594523B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3594523B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Systems and methods are disclosed for dissimilar aircraft brake systems for use in, for example, an aircraft. In this regard, a system is provided comprising a carbon/carbon ("C/C") rotor disk (108; 208) adjacent to a ceramic matrix composite ("CMC") stator disk (106; 206). In various embodiments, a system is provided comprising a CMC rotor disk (608; 708) adjacent to a C/C stator disk (606; 706).