Optimization Methods Applied to Automotive Connecting Rod Mechanical Design

Nowadays, the mechanical design of automotive connecting rods is essentially guided by analytic calculations followed by numeric methods to assess the stresses, displacements, contact pressures, fatigue and buckling. The present work, applies an alternative methodology based on the method of topology optimization to design the connecting rod aiming mass reduction. Two connecting rods designs were developed using two different methodologies, which the methodology considering the topology optimization generated a 3% lighter connecting rod and with improved lubrication performance when compared with the conventional design obtained from the current design methodology.