Thanks to the constant push from legislators towards greater fuel economy and lower emissions, turbo-supercharging is back in vogue with mainstream vehicle manufacturers. The result is that forced-induction engines such as the Ford EcoBoost range are seeing a growing use in production-engined competition vehicles, providing (relatively) low-cost power in a compact package; thanks to the fact most of these new-generation motors follow an I4 configuration. The use of turbo-supercharging...
We all understand the role of the piston in terms of the general operation of the engine. It is an important part of the pumping mechanism of the engine, drawing in and expelling the working fluid. It is also an important part of the combustion chamber, and it is this function of the piston that we will concentrate on here. The piston crown shape affects the flow of the fuel-air mixture into and around the chamber during the intake stroke. Its shape is particularly important where fuel is...
Those of you who have read previous articles of mine on surface treatments may have noted a point that I have continually stressed – that residual compressive stresses can have a very beneficial effect on a component’s endurance. One of the most popular processes for doing this is controlled shot-peening. Many engineers are aware of the benefits of controlled shot-peening, but there has been a lack of in-depth understanding of where the benefits come from, and how the process can...
Pressure sensors are an integral part of advanced engine testing systems, particularly those used to measure in-cylinder combustion pressures. These provide an invaluable insight into the efficiency of the combustion process and are a vital tool for engine calibration and testing. However, the conditions present in many bespoke race engines can prove problematic for some sensor types, due to factors such as very high combustion pressures and vibrations caused by high rates of valvetrain...
Regardless of the racing series, almost every racecar in the world will feature a clutch. However, the friction materials used in these clutches will differ radically depending on the torque and power delivery characteristics of the engine. So what are the materials available and how to they vary? Organic So-called ‘organic’ clutches have been around for the best part of 50 years. Organic is something of an outmoded term now, as it harks back to when asbestos was used in the...