Abstract: Methods and apparatus for predicting clutch local peak temperatures in real time and controlling engagement of a friction clutch are disclosed. The clutch local peak temperature prediction can take into account machine operating parameters such as clutch control current, clutch shaft speed and clutch load to determine clutch local peak temperatures at hot spots within the friction clutch. A thermal-mechanical finite element analysis model may be developed for the friction clutch and used to generate a surrogate model of the friction clutch that can be used by an electronic control module of the machine to predict the local peak temperature of the friction clutch in real time and control engagement and disengagement of the friction clutch to maintain the local peak temperature below a critical peak temperature above which damage to the components of the friction clutch may occur.