2.

Discussion
2.1 Explanation of brakes and braking system.
Brakes are one of the most important components in a vehicle. Braking is generally means
slowing or stopping a vehicle. When a car in motion it possesses a lot of kinetic energy. In order
to slow down or stop the car the brake must get rid of that kinetic energy. Force of friction is
used in this case to convert the kinetic energy into heat. This is done when the driver presses his
foot down on the brake pedal, a connected lever pushes a piston into the master cylinder. This
cylinder is filled with hydraulic fluid.
The hydraulic fluid gets pushed along a system of pipes into other, wider cylinders positioned
next to the brakes on each wheel. Force applied on the brake pedal by the driver is multiplied by
the hydraulic system to get enough force to apply the brakes and make the car stop. The brakes
are usually disc brakes or drum brakes.
Nowadays, many cars have drum brakes on the rear wheels and disc brakes on the front wheels.
In the case of expensive cars, all the four wheels may have disc brakes installed. Disc brakes
basically consist of a brake disc, brake caliper and a brake pad. Hydraulic fluid makes the brake
caliper to press the brake pad against the brake disc when the brake pedal is depressed. Friction
is generated when the brake pad rub against the brake disc. Heat is generated in the brake pad.
This will eventually cause the car to slow down and stop.
In drum brakes, the hollow drum turns with the wheel and the brake pedal is depressed, a
hydraulic cylinder pushes brake shows with friction linings against the inner surface of the brake
drum. Friction is created here and thereby the vehicle will be slowed down.

Figure 2 shows drum brake

Figure 1 shows disc brake

However, the occasionally the brakes will be locked and causes the vehicle to slip on the road.
Therefore, Anti-lock braking control system (ABS) is needed. The Figure below shows the
phenomenon driving with ABS and without ABS.
 Figure 3 shows the vehicle with and without ABS

2.2 Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) Principle of Operation

Anti-lock Braking system generally prevents accidents when the driver loses control of the
steering when the brake pedal is pressed. The aim of ABS system is to minimize the braking
distance while retaining steer ability during braking. Handling of the vehicle tend to be more
convenient with ABS.
In the case of using vehicle without ABS, when the brake pedal is pressed the brake pad will be
activated and will be pressed against the discs. This will
stop the rotation of the wheels. As the rotation of the
wheels stopped, this will cause slippage between road
and the wheels and the car stops due to the frictional
force generated.
The avoid slippage the velocity at the contact point of the
road and the wheel need to always at zero. The wheels
will move along the axis and the direction of the car.
Translational velocity and rotational velocity exist
because of these motions. For the wheel to not slip, the
Figure 4 shows the contact point velocity at the contact point should be zero.
In a vehicle all four wheels should be rolling at the same time to avoid slipping. In the case when
the wheel is turned and the car continues to move forward, the rotational velocity will be
inclined, and the translational velocity remains straight. Hence, the velocity at the contact point
is not zero. This will cause the car to slip.
ABS solve this issue by preventing the wheels from completely locking up. Speed sensors is
attached to all the wheels. When the sensors sense that the wheel is going to get locked, the
modulator unit partially release the brake pad on that wheel. This way the wheel will spin
intermittently when braking. This will enable the driver to steer the vehicle even when braking.