Development of a Standalone Application in MATLAB to Generate Brake Performance Data 2019-01-0513

Predicting the brake performance and characteristics is a crucial task in the vehicle development activity. Performance prediction is a challenge because of the involvement of various parts in the brake assembly like booster, master cylinder, calipers, disc and drum brakes. Determination of these characteristics through vehicle level tests requires a lot of time and money. This performance prediction is achieved by theoretical calculations involving vehicle dynamics. The final output must satisfy the regulations. This project involves the creation of a standalone application using MATLAB to predict the various brake performances such as: booster characteristics, adhesion curves, deceleration and pedal effort curves, behavior of brakes during brake and booster failed conditions and braking force diagrams based on the given user inputs. Previously, MS Excel and an application developed in the TK Solver environment was used to predict the brake performance curves. Debugging and inclusion of new modules was a major issue in old applications. Also, the previous applications lacked ABS module, which after the new government norms will be implemented in every vehicle. Thus, there was an urgent need to develop a robust and faster application with ABS module. Depending on the type of valve selected: LSPV or ABS, the application computes the value of different parameters. The application can tally the performances with the standards mentioned. The results of the application, in form of a report, are compared with the data sheet provided by the supplier and helps in determining the correct sizing of various elements of the braking system. The application is robust and has a strong backend program, thereby, reducing the overall time in system development.