First, performance evaluation of single-plate friction clutch is performed using dynamic equations and analytical modeling. The results are used to evaluate the specific torque supply capacity and to estimate the output heat and the upper limit of friction at the clutch friction surfaces. This analysis can be considered as a standard for evaluation and the basis for more accurate thermal analysis using finite element modeling. Then, the thermal analysis and optimization of the clutch set are studied, especially in the friction plate and pressure plate due to rotational speed, using a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) software. Based on the results of the temperature distribution and heat flux among these simulations, it is concluded that the maximum temperature of the friction plate increases in each clutch to 25-35°C. By doing optimization with fan-driven and increasing the heat transfer, the temperature for the clutch set is found to be dropped which shows optimization of temperature from 6 to 9.5%.

dry clutch, finite element modeling, computational fluid dynamic (CFD), optimization, temperature.