Estimate brake cooling requirements based on vehicle speed, weight, deceleration, and rotor mass for repeated stops.
Input Parameters
Results
--
Kinetic Energy/Stop
BTU
--
Total Energy (all stops)
BTU
--
Rotor Temp Rise/Stop
°F
--
Estimated Peak Temp
°F
Note: Brake rotors can reach 1200°F+ during repeated hard stops. Vented rotors improve cooling by 30-40% compared to solid rotors.
Reference
KE = 0.5 x m x v² (converted to BTU)
Temp Rise = KE / (Rotor Mass x Specific Heat)
Specific Heat of cast iron = 0.11 BTU/lb·°F
Peak Temp = Ambient + Rise x Stops x Cooling Factor
Cooling Factor accounts for partial heat dissipation