Analysis of Hot Spots Evolution on Brake Disc Using High-Speed Infrared Camera

The hot spot generation has been considered as the main degradation mechanism in railway brake disc. Therefore, the understanding of hot spots, also called hot judder, which is undesirable low frequency vibrations developed by non-uniform contact area between brake pad material and brake disc, is important for a better understanding of material design as well as enhancement of materials properties in railway brake disc. Also, infrared (IR) thermography is a powerful NDE technique for the characterization of thermal phenomenon in engineering components and/or systems including engineering materials. The high-speed IR camera provides the measurement of temperature change during brake operation as well as the images of temperature contour on the brake disc surface. In this investigation, damage evolution due to generation of hot spots on railway brake disc was investigated using the infrared thermography method. Moreover, based on obtained thermographic images of hot spots, the hot spots and thermal damage of railway brake disc during braking operation were qualitatively analyzed.