Definition
A heavy-duty aircraft brake assembly that uses a stack of alternating rotating discs (rotors) and stationary discs (stators) compressed together by hydraulic pistons to produce braking friction. The multiple friction surfaces share the heat and braking load, allowing a compact assembly to absorb the large amounts of energy generated when stopping a heavy or fast aircraft.
Plain English
A brake made of several flat discs stacked together. When the pilot brakes, hydraulic pressure squeezes the stack so the discs rub against each other and slow the wheel. Spreading the work across many discs lets the brake handle the heat and force of stopping a large aircraft.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance descriptions of wheel and brake assemblies, especially on larger or higher-performance aircraft.
Derivation
‘Multiple’ from Latin multiplex, meaning ‘many-folded’ or ‘consisting of many parts.’ The name simply describes the design: more than one disc working together, as opposed to a single-disc brake.
Why Pilots Care
Supplies the higher braking energy absorption needed on heavier or faster aircraft without overheating a single disc.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as simply meaning “several separate brakes on the airplane.” In this maintenance context, it points to a brake assembly that uses multiple braking surfaces together to increase stopping power.
Example Sentence 1
The mechanic removed the wheel to inspect the multiple-disc brake assembly for worn rotors and stators.
Example Sentence 2
Multiplebrakes allow the jet to stop within the runway distance even when fully loaded.