August 2010 Archive

Low-density, high-strength alloys

Tuesday, August 17, 2010
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In a previous article on aluminium-beryllium, we looked at how its combination of low density, stiffness and thermal conductivity makes it ideal for pistons. As I explained though, the material - for Formula One at least - is now prohibited, and outs... read more

Tags :  advanced-materials

A reminder of the first Le Mans KERS effort

Tuesday, August 17, 2010
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There has been much time, effort and money expended in bringing kinetic energy recovery systems (KERS) to Formula One. The much-heralded introduction saw many of the teams developing a system at great expense and not choosing to race it, or those rac... read more

Tags :  alternative-energy

Why and when to develop an equivalent for leaded bearing materials?

Tuesday, August 17, 2010
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In the July 2010 issue of RET-Monitor, keyword: bearings, I wrote about lead-free bearings and possible engineering concerns surrounding their introduction. Extending the search for the reasons behind why the substitute for leaded bearing materials i... read more

Tags :  bearings

Camshaft surface finish

Tuesday, August 17, 2010
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The complex interaction of components that represents the valvetrain operates in some of the most difficult tribological circumstances. With rapid changes in instantaneous direction between adjacent parts, and high contact stresses, the challenge of ... read more

Tags :  camshafts

Thermal dispersion coatings

Tuesday, August 17, 2010
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In the recent coatings Focus article in Race Engine Technology (Issue 47, June/July 2010), there was brief mention of thermal dispersion coatings. The aim of these coatings is to eliminate surface 'hot spots' on components and thereby equalise the te... read more

Tags :  coatings

Metal-matrix composite rods

Tuesday, August 17, 2010
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In my previous article on the subject of con rods I asked, "Can we manage without big-end bearings?" and went on to look at the various attempts to do this and the possible future options. The article briefly mentioned the benefits of not having a be... read more

Tags :  con-rods

Camshaft drive gears

Tuesday, August 17, 2010
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While the main purpose of a crank is obvious, it has many other demands placed upon it. Rotating constantly as it does, it is ideal for taking drives to other assemblies such as pumps. While it is possible to drive pumps electrically - and there are ... read more

Tags :  crankshafts

The control freak

Tuesday, August 17, 2010
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I'm sure we've all been accused of it at some time - the compulsive desire to have things just the way we want them, with little or no compromise. Perfection is the goal, anything else is a poor second best and, except in the case of pure genius perh... read more

Tags :  test-equipment

X-by-wire

Tuesday, August 17, 2010
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One of the biggest changes to the engine ECU in recent years has been the rise of the drive-by-wire system. Generically known as 'x-by-wire' or sometimes (incorrectly) as 'fly-by-wire', such systems were introduced by vehicle OEMs in response to more... read more

Tags :  electronics

Compacted Graphite Iron, or....not?

Tuesday, August 17, 2010
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In the July 2010 issue of RET-Monitor, keyword: heads-blocks, I gave some insight into fracture splitting of the main bearing cap. The advantages of a fractured split line were discussed, including the design freedom that can be achieved using fractu... read more

Tags :  engine-structure