Automotive friction-induced noises are the source of many customer complaints and lead to hugewarranty costs for car manufacturers. The objectives of the thesis are to improve the understanding ofthe physics at the origin of these noises and to propose numerical methodologies to eradicate them.A generic system is first investigated. This discrete system includes a contact between two masses anda Coulomb friction law with a discontinuity at zero relative velocity. Calculations of complex eigenvaluesof the linearized system around its sliding equilibrium position are carried out and show the presence offlutter and even divergence instabilities. Time simulations show that contact non-linearities permit tostabilize the vibrational levels in case of instability according to four distinct behaviors. Furthermore,despite its three degrees of freedom, this system is able to reproduce the stick-slip, sprag-slip and modecouplingmechanisms as well as the squeal, squeak and creak noises encountered in automotive systems.Parametric studies are also presented and highlight Hopf bifurcations as well as the destabilizing effectpotentially induced by damping. Methodologies allowing the categorization of the responses in termsof noise and mechanism are then proposed. Occurrences and risks of these noises and mechanismsare thus analyzed and trends are highlighted. The relationship between noises and mechanisms is alsoestablished.A specific automotive system is then considered. In order to study its squeal behavior, stabilityanalysis and time simulations are now carried out on finite element models. Time simulations allowto observe the establishment of self-excited vibrations and to identify, among all the unstable modespredicted by the stability analysis, the one which is actually the source of the instability. The effectof friction on the coalescence patterns and limit cycles is also investigated. The risk of squeal is thenevaluated in different operating conditions. The methodology, based on stability analysis, leads toresults in good agreement with the experimental observations. The role of geometries and materialsconstituting the system is also discussed. Finally, a solution with significantly low risk of squeal isproposed.
