Design Analysis and Optimization of Various Parameters of Connecting Rod using CAE Softwares

The automobile engine connecting rod is a high volume production, critical component. It connects reciprocating piston to rotating crankshaft, transmitting the thrust of the piston to the crankshaft. Every vehicle that uses an internal combustion engine requires at least one connecting rod depending upon the number of cylinders in the engine. As the purpose of the connecting rod is to transfer the reciprocating motion of the piston into rotary motion of the crankshaft. Connecting rods for automotive applications are typically manufactured by forging from either wrought steel or powdered metal. They could also be cast. However, castings could have blow-holes which are detrimental from durability and fatigue points of view. The fact that forgings produce blow-hole-free and better rods gives them an advantage over cast rods (Gupta, 1993). Various designs of connecting rod have been analysed in this report and finally an optimal design has been selected for Finite Element Analysis. Using ANSYS-12.0 Workbench and CATIA V5R19, Various results are found out and compared with the existing results. It has been found out that the study presented here has came up with better results as well as safe design of connecting rod under permissible limits of various parameters and safe stresses.