IMPACT OF FRICTION TEST SCALE ON BRAKE FRICTION PERFORMANCE

It is well known that the friction performance is a system property. The coefficient of friction and its stability, wear rate and the propensity to vibration and noise are always characteristics of a system and it is not easy to predict their performance based on smaller scale friction tests. This paper discusses the relation between performances of different-scale testers and possibility to model the friction performance of real systems in small simpler testers. It addressed the application of “scaling laws,” the application of typically adopted scaling strategies in friction industry and the testing strategies based on understanding of phenomena on the friction surface and in the friction systems. Full scale AKM standard dyno test and small tester (Bruker UMT) are related and the testing strategy is suggested. It is concluded that in spite of the fact that the scaling and simulations do not allow for a perfect prediction of performance (friction is a system property), it is still possible to make educated decisions on the research and development stage, when proper testing strategy on a smaller scale is adopted