Abstract
In spite of the fact that the flexibility of the crankshaft of diesel engines exhibits notable nonlinearities, analytical modeling of such nonlinearities is not yet realized. The present study thus analytically models the effect of eccentricity on flexible crankshaft and piston secondary motion. The eccentricity of the crankshaft is modeled as the summation of the hydrodynamic eccentricity and the dynamic mass eccentricity of the crankshaft. The study also models the absolute value of the vibrational dynamic displacement of the center of the crankshaft. The paper proves that such dynamic displacement of the center of the crankshaft is sensitive to the changes in its independent variables. It was found that the most influential parameters on the dynamic displacement of the center of the crankshaft due to vibration are the natural frequency and the eccentricity of the crankshaft. The modeling of the dynamic displacement in a flexible crankshaft was validated using a case study based on the eccentricity of the crankshaft showing a relative error of 4%, which is less than the relative error in the CMEM and GT-Power. Furthermore, the analytical modeling of the dynamic displacement in the flexible crankshaft was validated using another case study based on fatigue analysis of the crankshaft showing a relative error of 9%, which is less than that the relative error in Newman’s model of diesel engine fuel consumption and Lansky’s model of diesel engine cylinders. The paper also presents a proposed approach of fatigue failure analysis for vehicular dynamic components and presents a proposed nanostructure of crankshafts for improving such fatigue performance. The developed models would help develop efficient diesel engines and help prolong their service life.