Cylinder head design is one of the most involved disciplines in engine design. Whether designing an altogether new head or revamping an old one, several different coupled and inter-dependent technologies ranging from heat transfer, fluid flow, combustion, material non-linearity, structural and fatigue have to be accounted. Simultaneous designing of ports, jacket and combustion chamber leads to cylinder head design, which is then tested for its strength and durability.
Traditionally a series of analytical, empirical, test-based and simulation based exercises are conducted to design cylinder heads. With increasing pressure on reducing cost and turnaround time, focus on moving towards a quasi-simulation based design and development of cylinder heads is gaining strength.
This paper talks about how a simulation driven process for cylinder head design can be developed. The process would involve ten different interdependent simulations on ports, jackets, combustion chamber and head to eventually come up with the head design. ANSYS products and solutions are used for each of these simulations.