Investigation of linear and nonlinear thermoelastic stresses in cylinder liners with homogeneously or functionally graded reinforcement distributed within the matrix

In this study, the two-dimensional steady-state temperature distribution and the associated thermal stresses in dry cylinder liners subjected to axially symmetric thermal and mechanical loads are investigated. In this context, five different cylinder liner models are analyzed: four composite liners with different distributions of ceramic reinforcement (α-SiC) within the matrix material (Al 2014-T6) (homogeneously distributed, radially, axially and bidirectionally graded) and one metallic liner composed solely of the matrix material. For the homogeneously reinforced composite liner, the temperature distribution is examined analytically using Fourier series, Bessel functions, the parameter transformation method, and Gauss quadrature, and numerically using the pseudospectral Chebyshev method. The accuracy of the numerical method is verified through comparison with the analytical results. The material properties of the composite liners are calculated using the Halpin-Tsai model. The effect of temperature-dependent material characteristics on material behavior, temperature distribution, displacements, and thermal stresses is investigated especially for the bidirectionally graded liner. The findings reveal that the cylinder wall temperature and thermal stresses which directly affect engine efficiency, emissions, and liner service life can be predicted in advance. Furthermore, the proposed method offers a high-accuracy numerical alternative to the widely used finite element method for addressing such problems.