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When we tighten a fastener, the aim is to impose an axial load. The method of doing this is normally either to turn a nut on a stationary fastener, or to turn the fastener within a fixed female thread. This is something with which we are all quite familiar. What is less obvious though is what is happening to the female threaded component, and how this might affect the strength of the joint and the relationship between torque and tension in the joint. There is a phenomenon called nut...

As a development engineer for more than 30 years, and an enthusiast for a lot longer, I have seen many fuel systems installed in race and rally cars across the land. Some of them are very good, some not so. Most will obviously work sufficiently well 95% or even 99% of the time or else the owners would presumably modify them to suit, but there may be times when ambient temperatures are high or fuel levels very low when they can be caught out. The enemy of any fuel system for the...

With the push for ever-improved engine efficiency in general, and a specific drive toward increased torque and power output from race engines, there has been much work done on coating piston skirts to reduce frictional losses. There are various options available, from resin-bonded polymers to DLC. However, other piston coatings can also help us achieve our goals, although by very different means. Piston crown coatings are used for various reasons but, as we shall find out, there are...