Brake Disc Rotation

I noticed that too..... And had pretty much the same "WTF?" reaction!

I can only guess that someone, probably deep in a lab somewhere, mentioned that some kind of "geared" brake assembly could be more efficient.

Or, given the brake by wire at the rear these days, someone's exploring moving them inboard and putting them on, I dunno, a transfer shaft somewhere.

Complete WAG's of course, but something must have prompted it - I'd love to know what!

Cheers,
Ian

 

Interesting. As it has been pre-emptively banned, I wonder if we'll ever know what prompted it.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

So I wasn't the only one thinking this


Something to do with Mercedes and their ERS/braking system?

 

More likely to have something to do with ERS than with braking.

 

Possible - damn, seems any crazy **** is "possible" these days! And, we are only looking at the FIA's press release, not the actual regulations, but the quote in the OP is accurate; "new regulations to ensure that the brake discs rotate at the same speed as the wheels." Suggests it's nothing to do with ERS.

Article 11 defines the "brake system", but here's the relevant part as it relates to discs;

Hopefully Charlie will let us know what devious goings on prompted such a move......

Cheers,
Ian

 

Maybe if they rotate faster it aids in cooling?
No idea

 

If they rotate faster then it's equivalent to braking from higher speeds. I reckon the reverse is true... if they're rotating slower then there's fewer rotations of the disc through the pads, generating less heat, and you'd still have all the air from the ducts coming through when the car is at speed.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

FWIW, I concur with that hypothesis.

But, but, but...... The disc is bolted to the stub axle (or, in inboard setups, the driveshaft). The caliper is bolted to the hub (or, inboard, the gearbox). All pretty simple stuff. [OK, there's been a few "anomalies" over the years, but they've been heavy & shown not to work as well as where we are today - Lets not split hairs. ]

How in the name of all thats holy can they mess with that?......

A "geared" mount from the axle to the disc? - All that added unsprung weight?

I want to know, damnit!

Cheers,
Ian

 

Ohh I thought at higher speed there would be more cold air coming through. But I have no mechanical background whatsoever so I will take your word for it.

 

If it rotates slower - it takes more clamping force to get the same friction = more heat & potential for less airflow, especially at lower speeds where the rotation/vents provide a higher amount of the airflow.

A planetary gear system would allow the disks to rotate at a different speed, and *gearing* the disks allows them to be used as some serious fan power.

However - more likely, is they want the brakes in the wheels, rather than on the input side of the transmission.

 

If you use a clutch to disengage the disc and stop it from rotating with the wheel, lessening the reciprocating mass, you can accelerate faster. One thought. Also, depending on how quickly you can get the clutch to engage/disengage, you can use it to aid in cornering by operating each wheel independently, ie: traction control.

 

Another thought:

If you did somehow get the disc to spin faster, either through a gear set or some sort of centrifugal manipulation, etc., you could get the MGU-K system to charge faster/better since it converts both heat and friction/mechanical energy to electrical energy.

Getting the discs to rotate at different speeds would be easy, packaging would be the issue.

 

First thing that came to my mind is disks on springs to simulate some kind of rudimentary ABS

 

Also, with blown hubs, the discs cluld become an aero device

 

Intriguing.
The assumption is that its ERS related and since the rear brakes have so little to do now (MB would do away with them entirely if the rules allowed) perhaps the idea is to decouple them entirely.
Or it could be about the fronts.

 

That's a thought. Decouple them entirely to save them as purely an emergency backup for when ERS fails.

All the best,
Andrew.

 

All very interesting scenarios. The brain-storming that goes on in racing to gain an advantage! What makes F1 an engineering formula. But IMHO, I don't like the new cars, lets hear some screaming.


Ago

 

Instead of engaging when you hit the brakes, it could engage when you get off the throttle to lessen then delay when the brakes are applied. The delay would he almost zero either way, but there would be a serious load on the clutch if timed with braking instead of throttle off. It would probably have to slip though instead of going immediate full lock to prevent shuddering and upsetting the car.


Maybe that's why Ferrari is so loose and unpredictable...

 

I like how you said when and not if.

 

Makes as much sense as anything.

 

LOL! Sounds plausible.

All the best,
Andrew.