Superelement Reduction of Industrial Finite Element Brake System for a Constrained Harmonic Balance Method

Brake squeal is a ubiquitous disturbance in automotive systems. Facing the complexity and the cost of experimental tests, simulations of brake squeal have become essential as well as to provide a predictive numerical method. Two major approaches exist in the numerical analysis of this phenomenon, the transient analysis and the complex eigenvalue analysis. In this study, the Constrained Harmonic Balance Method is applied on an industrial finite element system in order to estimate the nonlinear stationary responses due to friction induced vibration. This paper aims at explaining how a finite element system was adapted to the CHBM and at analyzing the results. First of all, the method used to reduce a finite element brake system is examined and the contact issue is particularly emphasized. Then, a brief summary of the CHBM is made. Finally, limit cycles are obtained close to the Hopf bifurcation.