The Effects of Crankshaft Lobing on Connecting Rod Bearings

The effect of crankshaft journal lobing on oil film thickness of a diesel engine is determined. The power functional is minimized using the finite element method. Oil film variation and minimum oil film thickness are calculated and plotted for noncircular crankshaft journals. Minimum oil film thickness is found to increase or decrease with increasing lobe amplitudes depending upon the relative position of a lobe peak or valley with respect to the location of minimum oil film thickness.