How to measure temperature of brakes in F1 cars?

[ferhat00]

How do they do it? They need to know this to determine optimum braking temperature in order to have best performance braking. Yet, how do they do it? Measure it optically?

 

[minger]

I would imagine infra-red. Here's a link I found:
http://www.advantagemotorsports.com/Sensors.htm

Scroll down to the section on infrared sensors.

 

[mugaliens]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22t7pMSXVQ0"of them glowing red, so I know they can get mighty hot!

As with any racing endeavor, weight is everything, so they're probably ventilated twin discs. The fact they get that red, that quick, then cool down so rapidly also underscores they're probably made of minimal material.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoPBSQFWXHU&feature=related", however...

 

[brewnog]

There's a few ways. You could use Templugs (small plugs, which are tempered, these are removed after use and measured for hardness which indicates temperature) for information 'after the event', or for real time monitoring either infra red sensors or thermocouples via wireless telemetry.

 

[Ranger Mike]

the reason F1 cars heat up so quick is due to carbon fiber brake pads and rotors..i can go into mucho detail if you wish..IR Pyrometer is used during pitting and this heat thing was skulled out over the years to an art.
Attached is form F1 testing and air ducts are used to cool the caliper/rotor. i think hanging telemetry on F1 car would add weight but,,will have to research this..if you like

 

[xxChrisxx]

the reason F1 cars heat up so quick is due to carbon fiber brake pads and rotors..i can go into mucho detail if you wish..IR Pyrometer is used during pitting and this heat thing was skulled out over the years to an art.
Attached is form F1 testing and air ducts are used to cool the caliper/rotor. i think hanging telemetry on F1 car would add weight but,,will have to research this..if you like

All telemetry from an F1 car is beamed back to the pit wall each lap, and vitals (such as temperature) are updated constantly. You can hear the engineerins on the parade lap instructing the drivers they need more brake/tyre/whatever temperature before the start. So in most circumstances the pitwall knows there is a problem long before the driver does.

Up until a few years ago active two way telemetary was allowed, so the pit wall could make changes to the car on the fly. Everything from diff settings to max revs to fuelling.