Analyses and optimization of connection rod and investigation of fatigue behavior

Connecting rod is converting linear motion to rotating motion and also connecting rod can work reverse. Because of this, connecting rod is the most common part that used in today's combustion engines. Connection rod is effected three different forces during the working condition in combustion engine. These are gas pressure, inertia loads (from piston and piston elements) and friction forces. These forces could cause deformation and fatigue effect on connecting rod. This study was started to define these forces effect and also to find an answer of automotive industry requirement like more robust product, long life and more light design. This study includes; connecting rod specifications, definition for working conditions, structural analyses under working conditions and fatigue behavior analyses. Various mesh structure and various loading types investigated on fatigue behavior of chosen connecting rod design, which commonly used in diesel engines, with FEM (finite element method) on ANSYS program. Load application is accepted as a homogenous and environment conditions (temperature and air conditions) were ignored. In addition, nominal connection rode design was converted to parametric design and data series were created. Data series were solved with the "Kriging Method" and "Interior Search" algorithm and connection rode was optimized. As a summary of this part, various force loading effects on stress and fatigue behavior were investigated. For conclusion, there were suggestions on focus area of the optimization on connection rod for further applications.