Three Dimensional Stress Field Analysis of Brake Shoe for Locomotives during Braking Process

Based on the plastoelasticity theory, the computation model of brake shoe for braking is established and the numerical analysis of the braking process of brake shoe for locomotive is carried out. The simulation result shows that maximum stress in no-load condition is apparently smaller than the stress in full-load condition. A combination of local friction surface temperature, local friction intensity, heat of the deformation of the friction partner causes the wear of the break shoe. Besides, the displacement fluctuation quantity with a constant friction coefficient is found to be small. The stress born by the brake shoe in the analysis step begins to increase and then tends to be stable, but with increasing friction, its internal stress increases along with the temperature. This kind of numerical simulation can provide a theoretical basis for fabrication of high friction coefficient composite brake shoe for locomotives, which reduce the experimental cost. Recent patents on the analysis of brake shoe methods are also addressed.