The following equations are based upon the assumptions of a 45 mile per hour maximum speed, a 500 pound

maximum weight of the vehicle, and 180 pound maximum human weight.

1
1
lb s 2 ft
2
Kinetic Energy = mv vv 21.12
66 46, 000 lb ft Where mv = the mass of
2
2
ft
s
2

the vehicle and vv = the velocity

of the vehicle in motion. The brake pedal is in place to increase the force exerted by the drivers foot. The force
output of the brake pedal assembly is as follows:

L
9.25 in
Fbp Fd 2 180 lb
1,110.06 lbs
L
1.25
in

1
Where Fbp = the output force of the brake pedal assembly
Fd = the force applied by the driver
L1 = the distance from the brake pedal arm pivot
to the rod clevis
L2 = the distance from the brake pedal arm pivot
to the brake pedal pad
The master cylinder used was decided to have a 5/8 inch diameter. Based on this, the pressure generated by
the master cylinder is:

Pmc

Amc

Fbp

Amc

d2
4

1110.06 lb
3, 618.19 psi
0.3068 in2

5
in
8 0.3068 in 2
4

Where Pmc= pressure generated by the master cylinder

Amc= the area of the master cylinder hydraulic piston
Incompressible liquids and rigid hydraulic vessels were assumed. The caliper pressure is then equal to the
pressure of the master cylinder. The following equation assumes 100% hydraulic efficiency.

Pcal Pmc 3618.19 psi

One of the functional responsibilities of the caliper is to transmit the hydraulic fluid pressure from the hoses
into a linear mechanical force. This one-sided linear mechanical force is equal to:

Fcal , front Pcal Acal 3618.19 psi 1.353in2 4895 lbs

Fcal , rear Pcal Acal 3618.19 psi 1.131in2 4092 lbs

Where Fcal = the force generated by the caliper

Pcal = the hydraulic pressure transmitted to the caliper

Acal = the effective area of the caliper as designed
Another responsibility of the caliper is to react to the above mechanical force in such a way that a clamping force is
generated between the two halves of the caliper body. Therefore the clamping force is equal to twice that of the
mechanical force. This equation assumes 100% mechanical efficiency of the front and rear caliper assembly.

2 F

24092 lbs 8184 lbs

Fclamp , front 2 Fcal , front 2 4895 lbs 9791 lbs

Fclamp , rear

cal , rear

The brake pads function is to generate a frictional force to oppose the spinning rotor. The frictional force
generated by the brake pads is:

8184 lbs .45 3683 lbs

F friction, front Fclamp , front bp 9791 lbs .45 4406 lbs

F friction,rear

clamp , rear

Where bp = the coefficient of friction between the

bp

brake pad and the rotor. It should be noted that due to proprietary company information, brake pad material could
not be determined; therefore, the coefficient of friction used in the equations was based on a standard conjecture of
0.45.
The primary responsibility of the rotor is to generate a slowing torque as a function of the frictional force
given off by the brake pads. The torque generated by the rotor is:

R 3,683 lbs 3.45 in 12,706 lb in

Tr , front Ffriction, front Reff , front 4,406 lbs 2.75 in 12,117 lb in

Tr ,rear

friction , front

eff ,rear

Where Reff = to the effective radius of the rotor. The torque is constant throughout the entire rotary assembly
(assuming 100% mechanical efficiency) thus the torque of the tire is equal to the torque of the wheel which is equal
to the torque of the rotor.
The tires generate a certain amount of slip in order to react to the torque given off by the rotating assembly.
The force reacting between the tire and the ground is:

Tt 12,117 lb in

1,010 lbs
Rt
12 in
T 12,706 lb in
t
1,059 lbs
Rt
12 in

Ftire, front
Ftire,rear

Where Rt = to the radius of the loaded tire.

The total braking force generated is then defined as the sum of the four tires total braking force reacting
between the ground and the Baja:

Ftotal 1,010 lbs 1,010 lbs 1,059 lbs 1,059 lbs 4,138 lbs

The opposite of acceleration is deceleration which is a force that opposes the direction in which one is
traveling. The deceleration (Av) is then computed by:

Av

Ftotal

mv

4,138 lbs
ft
2 195.93 2
lbs s
s
21.12
ft

Determining the distance in which the vehicle can come to a complete stop is crucial. Once the
deceleration of the vehicle is known, the stopping distance (SD) can then be calculated:
2

ft
2
66
Vv
s
SD

11.12 ft
ft
2 Av

2 195.93 2
s

The vehicle has a specific weight ratio, which is the distribution of weight on the four sides of the vehicle.
The static weight distribution is:

Percent of weight in Front

Vf
Vt

100

272 lbs
100 40%
680 lbs

V
408 lbs
Percent of weight in Rear r 100
100 60%
Vt
680 lbs

Where Vf = the front axle force or weight on the

front
axle
Vr = the rear axle force or weight on the rear axle
Vt = the total force of the vehicle
Once the static weight distribution of the vehicle is found, the center of gravity of the total vehicle can be
determined.

V
408 lbs
CG front r wheelbase
55 in 33 in
680 lbs
Vt
Vf
272 lbs
CGrear wheelbase
55 in 22 in
680 lbs
Vt
WB CG front CGrear 33 in 22 in 55 in
While decelerating, the vehicle distributes the weight from the rear axles to the front axles. The amount of
weight transferred from the rear to the front axles is as follows:

ft

195.93 s 2
Av H cg
Vt

ft
g WB
32.2 2
s

12 in

680 lbs 902.8 lbs

55 in

From the calculations, it was determined that the front calipers needed to have a piston with a diameter of 1
and 5/16 inches and the rear calipers needed a diameter of 1 and 1/4 inches. The master cylinder needed to be of a
5/8 inch bore for proper stopping requirements.