Feasibility Studies of the Conversion of Agricultural and Metal Wastes into Use as A Brake Pad, A Numerical Approach

Abstract

The world’s quest to be green in meeting human needs is a task that must be pursued. Plants cultivation results in the generation of waste, which if not properly channeled contributes in no small wall to the production of greenhouse gases, and one with a high tendency of contribution is sweet sorghum bagasse. Also, metallic wastes contribute to environmental pollution, and putting these into meaningful use is a win-win situation. This study seeks to numerically investigate the suitability of these waste in the production of brake pads with the ability to resist brake fade based on the temperature distribution. This was done with the aid of COMSOL Multiphysics 5.0 software and with the use of the rules of mixture for the determination of the mixture properties. A vehicle average mass of 1800 kg at a speed of 136 km/h which is the maximum allowable speed limit on motorways around the globe, which is expected to be brought to rest at the rate of 10 m/s2 seconds was modelled. At a volume fraction of 0.5 and above, metal-sweet sorghum bagasse brake pads will have the ability to resist brake fade. The use of mild steel as an addition to sweet sorghum bagasse as a brake pad at a volume fraction of 0.5 will not only serve to prevent brake fade but will also be the most cost-effective of the investigated common metal wastes. Wastes can therefore be put into economical use in the production of brake pads.