Definition
A heavy-duty multiple-disc brake assembly used on large aircraft, in which the rotating discs (rotors) are constructed from individual segments rather than as one solid piece. The segmented rotors are keyed to the wheel and turn between stationary discs (stators) lined with friction material. When brake pressure is applied, the stators are squeezed against the rotor segments, producing the friction that slows the aircraft. The segmented construction allows the rotors to expand, contract, and dissipate heat without warping or cracking under the extreme thermal loads generated during high-energy stops.
Plain English
A type of aircraft brake built from stacks of discs, where the spinning discs are made of small pieces fitted together instead of one solid ring. This piece-by-piece design lets the brake handle the huge amount of heat that builds up when stopping a large aircraft, without the discs warping or cracking.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft brake system descriptions, maintenance manuals, and discussions of brakes on larger or higher-performance aircraft.
Derivation
Segmented comes from the Latin segmentum, meaning a piece cut off. The rotor is the rotating part of the brake. So a segmented-rotor brake is simply a brake whose rotating discs are built from cut pieces fitted together, rather than from a single solid ring.
Why Pilots Care
The segmented design improves heat dissipation and reduces weight, lowering the risk of brake fade during hard or repeated stops.
Intuition Check
Rotor here does not mean a helicopter rotor. It means the rotating disc inside the wheel brake.
Example Sentence 1
The mechanic inspected the segmented-rotor brake assembly for cracked segments and worn stator linings before signing off the wheel.
Example Sentence 2
High-speed jets often use segmented-rotor brakes because they cool faster after landing.