Failure Analysis of Brake Panel on Automotive Braking System

• Published in: JEMMME (Journal of Energy, Mechanical, Material, and Manufacturing Engineering) (Online) Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 23 - 28
• Main Authors: Munaji, Yoyok Winardi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: University of Muhammadiyah Malang 01.05.2019
• Subjects: brake panel; failur analysis; stress concentration
• ISSN: 2541-6332; 2548-4281
• DOI: 10.22219/jemmme.v4i1.7092

This paper presents the results of a failure analysis investigation conducted in the braking component of motorcycle. One of the components is the brake panel. This component has been replaced in the non-authorized dealer. After used within 3 months, the brake panels broken during the braking process. The investigation involves several procedures and testing techniques, including: visual observation, chemical composition testing, fractography and hardness testing. Based on the results of the chemical composition testing, the brake panels are made of aluminum alloy (Al-Si) series 4xxx. Fractography was performed in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical microscopy (OM). Vickers hardness machine is used to test the hardness. The result of the observations indicate porosity along the fracture area. The result of the hardness testing shows that the distribution of hardness in different zones is very uniform. Based on the overall analysis, the failure of the brake panel is caused by stress concentration due to the porosity in the solid solutions. The emergence of porosity was suspected an error during the casting process.