Status of Rules and Methods for Assessment of Stresses in Crankshafts of I.C. Engines

The loads which act upon the crankshaft are analyzed and its reactions are described. A typically and practically known calculation procedure for crankshafts is compared with various calculation procedures of classification societies and a draft from the CIMAC* working group “Crankshafts”. The CIMAC draft serves as basis for a standardization of design requirements of all classification societies which is currently under negotiation between the CIMAC and the IACS**. The differences among the calculation procedures are presented and evaluated. The need for a uniform calculation procedure accepted world-wide by all classification societies is shown. The possibilities opened by the availability of modern techniques in developing more detailed and thus more accurate calculation models are pointed out.