Heavy Duty Diesel Head/Block Joints, An In Depth Study

New analysis methods have been developed which allow heavy duty diesel engine cylinder head to block joints to be studied in a more effective manner. Failure analysis can yield more meaningful, quantitative results through the use of X-rays and microhardness measurements. Experimental methods of determining direction and magnitude of thermal motion, interactions between cylinder pressure and thermal cycling, and the relationship between leak pressure and thermal condition have been developed. Deep thermal cycle dynamometer testing has also been used successfully to duplicate failure modes seen in the field.