Numerical Analysis of Inertia Forces in the Connecting Rod and Their Impact on Stress Formation

Area of Science:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Computational Mechanics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Connecting rods are critical components in reciprocating engines, experiencing significant inertia forces.
• Accurate modeling of these forces is essential for predicting stress, vibration, and component reliability.
• Existing methods face challenges with complex and asymmetrical connecting rod geometries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a comprehensive model for inertia force fields in moving connecting rods.
• To enable precise calculation of resultant inertia forces and their distribution for finite element analysis (FEA).
• To investigate the influence of material selection and operating conditions on inertia stresses.

Main Methods:

• Derivation of novel formulas for inertia force calculation.
• Application of the model to symmetrical and complex-shaped connecting rods.
• Computational analysis using Open Source tools for numerical simulations.

Main Results:

• The model accurately calculates inertia forces and their distribution, applicable to various designs.
• Material selection (42CrMo4, aluminum 2618, Ti6Al4V) influences total inertia force and internal stresses.
• Rotational speed was identified as the primary factor affecting inertia stresses in the examined cases.

Conclusions:

• The proposed model enhances the precision of stress and vibration analysis in connecting rods.
• Understanding inertia forces aids in optimizing designs for improved tribology and reliability.
• Open Source implementation facilitates accessible numerical analysis of inertia forces and stresses.