Analysis of the thermal buckling of annular disks in clutches under the condition of radial temperature gradient

The buckling deformation model of annular disks subjected to thermal stresses caused by a radial temperature gradient is established, and the leading thermal stresses for buckling are studied. Multidisk clutch sliding experiments were designed to investigate the influence of the radial temperature gradient on the buckling of separator disks in a multidisk clutch. A separator disk with three temperature measurement holes was used to study the process of buckling by recording the output torque and the change in radial temperature. The theoretical results are verified by multidisk clutch sliding experiments. These analyses show that as the temperature gradient increases, the thermal stresses generated by the radial temperature gradient begin to influence the buckling deformation of the friction components. If the friction components are thinner than the critical thickness h_cr, the circumferential thermal stresses play a leading role in the buckling deformation. Conversely, the buckling deformation caused by the radial thermal stress will play a leading role.