|
Post by wilmywood8455 on Apr 1, 2023 9:53:02 GMT -8
Braking technology is one of the few areas in F1 where extensive design freedoms are still in place – and the development never stops. Leading the way with calliper design for the last couple of years have been Red Bull and Aston Martin. Mark Hughes takes a look at how those two teams have cleverly continued to exploit this performance area.
Most of the F1 teams’ brake calliper design development has been on the front brakes, as the rear system relies heavily on the reverse torque of the ERS-K, and so the actual rear brake discs are relatively small. Most of the direct braking is done at the front. The callipers contain the hydraulically-operated pistons which clamp the brake pads down onto the carbon brake disc. Immense heat is generated as the kinetic energy (energy from movement) of an F1 car is converted to heat energy as the driver slams on the brakes. The discs regularly reach temperatures in excess of 1,000 degrees Celsius. The callipers need to be stiff enough to not be distorted by the braking forces – but also light. Because the wheel and brakes are not supported by the suspension but attached to it (unsprung mass) any weight has a particularly negative effect on the car’s grip and ride quality.
|
|