Keywords: brake disc, friction pad, coefficient of friction, nonlinear phenomena, hot spots, sediment friction material.

The reliability of the operation of the braking system of a rail vehicle depends, to a large extent, on the cooperation of the brake components forming a pair of friction disc pads. Work instability arises from the occurrence of instantaneous changes to the coefficient of friction, which affects the lower efficiency of the braking process. In practice, this means that, during braking changes in friction resistance may cause an uneven braking process. The effects of these changes may be revealed in the form of non-linear braking delay and vehicle vibrations. As a consequence, it also adversely affects ride comfort.

The purpose of this paper is to assess the contact of the railway brake pads with the brake discs with respect to non-uniform temperature distribution. Furthermore, the paper introduces a wide range of nonlinear phenomena that occur during braking. This is due, in particular, to the advent of the third layer under the surface of the lining becoming in contact with the brake disc, which also affects the variability of the temperature distribution on friction surfaces of the brake. In a wider sense it also affects the variability of the pressure of the brake pads on the brake disc and temporary fluctuations of the coefficient of friction, while stopping braking or braking with constant power.

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