Research on the braking performance of crane block brake using bench test

During the lifting and transporting process of cranes, frequent starting and braking are required, making brakes an indispensable component of cranes. To more accurately study the mechanical behavior of the crane’s block brake system, braking tests were conducted on an actual brake using a brake inertia test bench, based on the specific structural characteristics of the block brake. The braking performance of the brake during the braking process and its influencing factors were investigated. The results indicate that during braking, the rotational speed of the brake wheel decreases approximately linearly, while the braking torque fluctuates within a certain range. As the initial braking speed increases, the braking time gradually lengthens, and the frequency of the braking torque fluctuations also increases, but the average braking torque remains essentially unchanged. When additives are present on the braking contact surface, the braking time significantly increases. These findings provide a foundation for analyzing the failure modes of block brakes.