This page provides engineering data for drum brakes, including design principles, force relationships, torque calculations and braking performance characteristics used in mechanical systems.
Drum brakes are widely used in automotive and industrial applications where controlled braking and load handling are required. The information below supports engineers in analysing braking forces, selecting components and designing efficient and reliable braking systems.
The drum brake widely is used on road vehicles and consists of a drum attached to the rotating wheel. The drum has an internal machined cylindrical surface. Inside the drum and protected from the environment are two shoes lined with friction material which can be pivotted to make a forced contact with the internal cylindrical surface.
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F = Applied Force (N) P = Brake Power kW T = Torque (Nm) F = Applied Force (N) Ff = Friction Force (N) Fn = Normal force between drum and friction pad (N) μ = Coefficient of Friction. b = Band width (m) c = Distance drum pivot to centre of drum(m) MFf = Friction moment about shoe pivot (Nm) MFn = Normal Force moment about shoe pivot (Nm) n = Rotational Speed (RPM) p = pressure for friction surface (N/m2) p max = Maximum pressure for friction surface(N/m2) θ = Brake shoe contact angle r = Radius of brake wheel)(m) |
The pressure distribution evaluation for the brake shoe assumes that the shoe
arm is rigid and the pressure is directly related to the distance from the pivot
point. The pressure is proportional to c sin θ or p = k sin θ
where k is some constant.
For a specific brake material
the maximum pressure = p max. Therefore..
k = p max /sin θ max... and...
p = sin θ(p max /sin θ max)
The value of minimum θ is usually set to above 10 0 and the maximum pressure
when the value of sin θ is 90 0. above this angle the pressure reduces.
Therefore if the maximum value of θ is less than 90 0
then sin θ max = sin θ. if the maximum angle is greater than 900
then sin θ max = sin 90 0
The torque capacity of a brake shoe is obtained by integrating the product of the
frictional force and the drum radius
The actuating force is calculated by taking moments about the brake shoe pivot point.
MFn is the moment due to the normal force between the shoe and the drum. MFf is the
moment due to the friction force.
The motion of the drum as shown result in an ACW friction moment and the normal reaction force of the drum also
results in an ACW moment as the two moments are the same self locking cannot occur. If the rotation is reversed
and the friction moment is CW then the resulting actuating force will be reduced and self-locking is possible.
The opposite handed brake shoe as shown below results in the friction moment being of opposite
to the normal force moment and the brake system is to some extent self energising with a possibility of self locking
To obtain the maximum torque for each brake shoe...
