Firing Order Analysis on Horizontal K Engine Crankshaft

Firing order is the succession in which each cylinder is fired in a multicylinder engine. Firing order, if not properly decided, creates unbalanced moments. These unbalanced moments give rise to higher bending stresses and are also responsible for the vibrations caused. The crankshaft is the component that undergoes tensile and compressive forces due to gas pressure. Hence it is necessary to analyze the crankshaft with respect to gas forces (gas forces are decided based on firing order sequence). Considering the same as the base, an optimum firing order is selected for the Horizontal K engine. It is selected on the basis of results extracted from rigid body dynamics in ANSYS 16.0. Firing order greatly affects the strength and thermal characteristics of the crankshaft. Hence a finite element study is performed on the crankshaft for the finalized firing order. This is done to check for the stresses, deformation, and temperature contours induced in the crankshaft. ABAQUS 6.13 is used for the finite element method (FEM).