<p>A transient thermo-structural analysis of a railway brake disc in the presence of the brake pads is carried out under combined mechanical and thermal loads using a three-dimensional finite element contact formulation. The parametric study includes investigating the effects of heat flux under various braking conditions, interface thermal contact conditions, and the local heat distribution between the disc and the pads. The thermo-elastic contact between the disc and the pads is simulated by using contact elements that have a thermal contact conductance between them during the thermal analysis and frictional contact conditions during the structural analysis. Results are predicted for the temperature evolution during braking and temperature and stress distributions in the disc and the pads at the maximum disc temperature. The disc/pad contact model results are compared with those obtained from a standalone disc model that only analyzes the disc. Both models indicate a significant impact of the heat flux generated under different braking conditions on the disc’s temperature and stress. However, the effect of heat flux distribution between the disc and the pads is less critical in the disc/pad contact model than in the standalone disc model. The disc/pad contact model highlights the significant effect of the thermal contact conductance between the disc and the pads, influencing the heat flux and the temperature difference between them.</p>