Thermal-structural coupling analysis of wet clutch friction discs

The temperature field and stress field of friction discs with circumferential and radial grooves during sliding processes were simulated and analyzed by direct coupled finite element method on the ANSYS platform. During this simulation the following factors were taken into account: the heat produced during the rubbing transfer of the friction disc and the separator disc, the heat transfer between the friction disc and lubrication or outside air, and displacement constraints. Simulation results reveal that the highest temperature and the biggest stress are 148.1°C on the friction disc surface and 146 MPa in the groove, respectively, and they both appear in the earlier process. An ellipse hot spot forms on every small friction surface, and temperature in the middle is higher than that in the surrounding. Along the radius direction, the larger the radius is, the higher the temperature is, and the temperature distribution is a convex parabolic profile on the small friction surface and a concave parabolic profile on the small groove surface.