This　numerical　study　presents　a　systematic　comparison　of　the　fluid　flow　and　heat　transfer　characteristics　between　standard　and　cross-drilled　ventilated　brake　discs　incorporating　pin-fins.　To　validate　the　numerical　model,　heat　transfer　measurement　is　performed　for　a　commercially　available　standard　brake　disc.　Within　the　representative　operating　range　of　200-1000　rpm,　results　show　that　the　introduction　of　cross　drilled　holes　on　the　rubbing　discs　enhances　the　overall　cooling　capacity　of　the　pin-finned　brake　disc　by　15　17%.　As　a　result　of　axial　pressure　gradient,　the　low-momentum　boundary-layer　fluid　near　the　rubbing　surfaces　is　driven　into　the　ventilated　channel　through　the　cross-drilled　holes.　Consequently,　within　radial　spans　of　the　cross-drilled　holes,　local　heat　transfer　on　the　rubbing　surfaces　is　evidently　improved.　In　addition,　the　through-hole　flow　provides　substantial　heat　removal　from　additional　surface　of　the　holes.　However,　the　flow　ejected　from　the　cross-drilled　holes　blocks　and　interacts　with　the　mainstream　entered　from　the　inlet　of　the　ventilated　channel,　which　ultimately　reduces　the　effective　flow　area　and　increases　resistance　to　the　mainstream.　Thus　pumping　capacity　through　the　inlet　of　the　ventilated　channel　decreases;　and　correspondingly,　local　heat　transfer　on　other　surfaces　of　the　rubbing　discs　is　slightly　deteriorated.　These　mutually　conflicting　mechanisms　are　responsible　for　the　superior　overall　cooling　performance　of　the　cross-drilled　pin-finned　brake　disc.　(C)　2017　Elsevier　Masson　SAS.　All　rights　reserved.