Common Methods in Analysing the Tribological Properties of Brake Pads and Discs – A Review

Disc brakes in passenger cars are extremely important due to safety concerns. Their operational quality largely rests on the conditions of contact between the working elements, which mainly consists offlat and dry sliding. The tribological phenomena thatoccur during braking are, unfortunately, extremely complex and difficult to recreate in laboratory settings. Many scientific institutes conduct research to improve our understanding of these phenomena. The results they present make it possible to continuously simplify the procedures for selecting friction materials and reducing the costs of identifying the properties of new products. This article analyses the methods commonly used by researchers. It also presents different set-ups of research stations, as well as the advantages and drawbacks of each method.