Abstract
Objectives: This study was focused on the finite element techniques to investigate the effect of surface treatment on the fatigue life of the vibrating cylinder block for new two-stroke free piston engine using random loading conditions. Motivation: An understanding of the effects related to the random loading is necessary to improve the ability of designers to accurately predict the fatigue behavior of the components in service. An internal combustion engine cylinder block is a high volume production component subjected to random loading. Problem statement: Proper optimization of this component that is critical to the engine fuel efficiency and more robustly pursued by the automotive industry in recent years. A detailed understanding of the applied loads and resulting stresses under in-service conditions is demanded. Approach: The finite element modeling and analysis were performed utilizing the computer aided design and finite element analysis codes respectively. In addition, the fatigue life prediction was carried out using finite element based fatigue analysis code. Aluminum alloys were considered as typical materials in this study. Results: The frequency response approach was applied to predict the fatigue life of cylinder block using different load histories. Based on the finite element results, it was observed that the fatigue life was significantly influenced for the nitriding treatment. The obtained results were indicated that the nitrided treatment produces longest life for all loading conditions. Conclusion: The nitriding process is one of the promising surface treatments to increase the fatigue life for aluminum alloys linear engine cylinder block.
Highlights
Due to market pressures for improvements in productivity, reliability, ductility, wear resistance as well as the profitability of mechanical systems, manufacturers are placing increasing demands on available materials
Compressive loads were applied as pressure (7 Maximum Principal stress (MPa)) acting on the surface of the combustion chamber and preloads were applied as pressure (0.3 MPa) acting on the bolt-hole surfaces
Frequency domain fatigue analysis was applied to a typical cylinder block of two-stroke free piston engine
Summary
Due to market pressures for improvements in productivity, reliability, ductility, wear resistance as well as the profitability of mechanical systems, manufacturers are placing increasing demands on available materials. There are several techniques available for mechanically improving the surface properties of the components, such as polished, ground, machined, hot rolled, forged, cast, etc. Some of these techniques produce an improve surface by plastic deformation of surface irregularities[3]. Various methods have so far been employed in order to improve fatigue strength, including optimization of geometric design, stronger, materials and surface processing such as nitriding, cold rolled, shot peening, among them shot peening has long been widely used as a low cost and simple method for increasing the fatigue strength of the component. Automotive Excellence Center, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University Malaysia Pahang, Tun Abdul Razak Highway, 26300 Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
