Effect of Oxidation on Wear in C/C Aircraft Disk Brakes

Carbon-carbon (C/C) composites are extensively used in aircraft disk brake because of their low weight, excellent thermal and mechanical properties, chemical inertness and self-lubricating capability. They retain their mechanical strength in inert atmosphere up to 20000 C. However, in oxidizing environments, C/C composites rapidly react with oxygen forming gaseous carbon oxides around 4500 C. Oxidation and coefficient of friction are important factors, which result in wear and controls life of the C/C composite. Previously work has been done to study the life of C/C composite considering only coefficient of friction in the wear simulation method. In thiswork,the effect of both oxidation and coefficient of friction is considered in the numerical simulation method to investigate the behaviour of a C/C composite disk brake.