Linear eigenvalue analysis of the disc‐brake squeal problem

Abstract This paper presents a numerical method to calculate the unstable frequencies of a car disc brake and suggests a suitable analysis procedure. The stationary components of the disc brake are modelled using finite elements and the disc as a thin plate. The separate treatments of the stationary components and the rotating disc facilitate the modelling of the disc brake squeal as a moving load problem. Some uncertain system parameters of the stationary components and the disc are tuned to fit experimental results. A linear, complex‐valued, asymmetric eigenvalue formulation is derived for the friction‐induced vibration of the disc brake. Predicted unstable frequencies are compared with experimentally established squeal frequencies of a real car disc brake. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.