Piston rings play an important role in the lubricant system of reciprocating engines with consequences for engine wear, power losses and oil consumption. The computational solution of piston ring dynamics is a very complex problem which requires multiple numerical approaches supplemented by suitable inputs. This paper demonstrates the principles of the numerical solution of piston ring dynamics in mixed-lubrication conditions incorporating a virtual engine and experimental inputs. A simulation algorithm is integrated into the user-guided interface and it is available for industry usage. The solution results are presented for a passenger car petrol engine with a three-piston-ring configuration.
HeywoodJB. Internal combustion engine fundamentals. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1988.
2.
NakadaM. Trends in engine technology and tribology. Tribol Int1994; 27(1): 3–8.
3.
NakadaM. Piston and piston ring tribology and fuel economy. In: International tribology conference, Yokohama, Japan, 29 October–2 November 1995, Vol, pp. 123–134. Tokyo: Japanese Society of Tribologists, 1996.
4.
TateishiY. Tribological issues in reducing piston ring friction losses. Tribol Int1994; 27(1): 17–23.
5.
AnderssonPTamminenJSandströmC. Piston ring tribology. VTT Research Notes 2178, VTT, Espoo, Finland, 2002.
6.
MacekJ. A simple physical model of ICE mechanical losses. SAE paper 2011-01-0610, 2011.
7.
NovotnýPPíštěkV. New efficient methods for powertrain vibration analysis. Proc IMechE Part D: J Automobile Engineering2010; 224(5): 611–629.
8.
ArcoumanisCOstovarPMortierR. Mixed lubrication modelling of Newtonian and shear thinning liquids in a piston-ring configuration. SAE paper 972924, 1997.
9.
MuftiRAPriestMChittendenRJ. Analysis of piston assembly friction using the indicated mean effective pressure experimental method to validate mathematical models. Proc IMechE Part D: J Automobile Engineering2008; 222(8): 1441–1457.
10.
WannatongKChanchaonaSSanitjaiS. Simulation algorithm for piston ring dynamics. Simulation Modelling Practice Theory2008; 16(1): 127–146.
11.
OrtjohannT. Simulation der Kolbenringdynamik auf der Basis expliziter FEM-Software. Dissertation, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany, 2006.
12.
KurbetSNKrishna KumarR. Finite element modelling of piston-ring dynamics and blow-by estimation in a four-cylinder diesel engine. Proc IMechE Part D: J Automobile Engineering2007; 221(11): 1405–1414.
13.
LiuLTianT. Modelling piston ring-pack lubrication with consideration of ring structural response. SAE paper 2005-01-1641, 2005.
14.
ScholzBBargendeM. Three-dimensional simulation of the piston group. SAE paper 2005-01-1641, 2000.
15.
PatirNChengHS. Application of average flow model to lubrication between rough sliding surfaces. Trans ASME, J Lubric Technol1979; 101: 220–230.
16.
PatirNChengHS. An average flow model for determining effects of three-dimensional roughness on partial hydrodynamic lubrication. Trans ASME, J Lubric Technol1978; 100: 12–17.
17.
PressWHTeukolskySA. Numerical recipes: the art of scientific computing. 3rd edition.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007, pp. 1061–1065.
18.
GreenwoodJATrippJH. The contact of two nominally flat rough surfaces. Proc IMechE1970; 185(1): 625–633.
