❖ Braking:

Well typically breaking is used to slow down or stop the vehicle

but in case of racing, braking helps the driver go fast.
With the usage of proper breaking points, a driver can enter
the corners at more speed and the faster you decelerate the
later you can break, this lets you go faster for longer and hence
improve the lap time.

❖ Principle of braking:
The main principle is the conversion of energy i.e. kinetic
energy of the body due its motion is converted to heat energy
with the help of friction.

Types of braking system:

• Hydraulic Braking:
This system runs on brake fluid, cylinders, and friction. By creating
pressure within, glycol ethers or diethylene glycol forces the brake
pads to stop the wheels from moving.

• The force generated in the hydraulic braking system is higher when

compared to the mechanical braking system.
• The hydraulic braking system considered as one of the important
braking systems for modern vehicles.
• The chance of brake failure is very less in case of the hydraulic
braking system. The direct connection between the actuator and the
brake disc or drum makes very less chance of brake failure.

• Electromagnetic braking system:

• Electromagnetic braking systems can be found in many modern
and hybrid vehicles.
• The electromagnetic braking system uses the principle of
electromagnetism to achieve frictionless braking.
• This serves to increase the life span and reliability of brakes
• traditional braking systems are prone to slipping while this is
backed with the quick magnetic brakes.
• It is quite modest in size compared to the traditional braking
systems. It is mostly used in the trams and trains.

To make electromagnetic brakes work, a magnetic flux when passed

in a direction perpendicular to the rotating direction of the wheel,
we see rapid current(eddy current) flowing in a direction opposite to
the rotation of the wheel. This creates an opposing force to the
wheel rotation and it slows down the wheel.

• Mechanical braking system:

The mechanical braking system powers the hand brake or emergency
brake. It is the type of braking system in which the brake force
applied on the brake pedal is carried to the final brake drum or disc
rotor by the various mechanical linkages like cylindrical rods,
fulcrums, springs etc. In order to stop the vehicle.

Mechanical brakes were used in several old automobile vehicles but

they are archaic nowadays due to their less effectiveness.

• Pneumatic brake system:

An air operated brake system or pneumatic brake system is
employed predominantly in medium and heavy duty trucks, because
of the following advantages.

1. The pressure of the recompressed air allows practically any force

required for braking to be developed with a very small effort applied
by the driver to the brake pedal.

2. The compressed air can also be used to inflate the tires, drive the
windshield wiper, actuate steering gear booster, open and close
doors in buses etc.

3. An air operated brake is the most dependable and convenient

device for braking full trailers and semitrailers.

• Servo braking system:

Also known as vacuum or vacuum-assisted braking. Among this
system, the pressure applied to the pedal by the driver is increased.

They use the vacuum that is produced in petrol engines by the air
intake system in the engine's intake pipe or via a vacuum pump in
diesel engines.

A brake where power assistance is used to reduce the human effort.

In a car, engine vacuum is often used to make a large diaphragm flex
and operate the control cylinder.

• Servo braking system boosters used with the hydraulic brake

system. The size of the cylinder and the wheels are practically
employed. Vacuum boosters increase the braking force.
• Pushing the brake pedal releases the vacuum on the side of the
booster. The difference in the air pressure pushes the diaphragm for
braking the wheel.
❖Types of brakes :

❖ Drum brakes:

• It contains brake drum, there is a rotating part which is

connected to wheel hub, then it contains wheel cylinder which
is connected to brake shoes it has a friction material that
clamps on to brake drum to stop the motion.

• Working of drum brake : When the pressurized brake fluid goes

into the wheel cylinder it pushes the piston outward that are
connected to brake shoes which clamps on the brake drum
wheel and the heavy friction converts the kinetic energy to the
heat energy and stops the vehicle.

❖ Disc brake :

• It contains a disc rotor which is connected to wheel hub and it

contains calliper which has break pads in it with friction
material.

• Working of disc brake: When the pressurized brake fluid goes

into the piston of the calliper it forces the break pads to clamp
on the rotating disc heavy friction converts the kinetic energy
to the heat energy and stops the vehicle.
❖ Why disc brakes are better than drum brakes:
a) Drum breaks are totally closed while disc brakes are open and in
contact in air hence more effective cooling or dissipation of heat is
seen in disc brakes.
b) Easy maintenance
c) Visually appearance
d) No subject to spring wear
e) Resistant to brake fade
f) Weight savings
g) No time delay in overcoming spring force

❖ Pedal assembly:

• Driver puts force on the pedal foot.

• The force is amplified depending on the pedal ratio and
transmitted to master cylinder.

Two types of pedal assembly are there :

1. Floor mounted : used in race cars

2. Overhanging pedal assembly: More common in normal

cars mainly due to its ergonomics being better.
Master Cylinder:
• It’s a control device that converts force into hydraulic pressure
• There are 2 ports, an inlet and outlet along with a force input
• It is used to distribute the force evenly and to ensure that the
brake fluid is pressurised

❖ Brake fluid:

1) it is the medium in which the force is transferred from the driver’s

foot (pedal) to the brake disk
2) some ideal characteristics are
a) Incompressibility – the fluid should be such that it does not
absorb the force applied
b) High boiling point – the fluid should not evaporate in its
operating condition. (1—point on whether specific heat should
be high or low)
c) Low freezing point
d) Should not be corrosive
e) Should be hydrophobic
f) Should not alter its properties during extended duration of use.
3) These fluids have multiple different ratings and standards like
DOT4, DOT5 and so on.
 ❖ Brake reservoir:

• It is where the brake fluid is stored and protected from the

external environment and moisture contamination
• There is a diaphragm in it which goes up and down based on
the fluid pressure and also helps in dust and moisture
contamination
• It important to never overfill the reservoir as then the fluid will
not be able to raise/lower its level based on its pressure.

❖ Callipers:

• This is used to house the pistons and the brake pads

• They have many different force on it like it self weight,
rotational weight, frictional force and so on.
• They have different designs with pros and cons based on the
respective designs.

❖ Balance bar:

• It a device used in cars to combat the effect of weight transfer

• This is placed such that as required it will distribute the force
between the front and the rear brake systems
• It is not required in bikes as they have their own separate
controls for the individual brake systems
❖ Logistics:

• This is the subsystem required to manage the various

different component of the team and the vehicle
• For the vehicular logistics, it involves the transport,
shipping and legal management of the vehicle between
the competition site and back.
• ATA CARNET
It’s a document that is required that holds the details
the vehicle value, parts and description. It is essential to
clear customs and that this is an educational and non-
commercial project so as to be exempt of the taxes the
would otherwise be involved.
• the logistical team is also involved in the movement of
the team, the team passports and visas, the travel
insurances as well the accommodation of the team and
the team food and travel.
• The must also manage the overseas procurement of
various different parts.