Optimizing the geometry of the connecting rod in opposite pistons engine

The article presents the results of simulations research carried out, using Finite Element Method. The simulations were made in the Abaqus software. Studies were related to the reduction and improving of stress distribution in the connecting rod of opposite pistons combustion engine. The connecting rod has been developed in a 3D environment in the Catia software, then imported into the simulation tool, in which stress tests were performed. The connecting rod was subjected to a compression and stretching tests. Boundary conditions of forces used in simulation tests have been developed on the basis of the dynamic model created in the MSC Adams software. The study included nine iterations of geometric changes of connecting rod. Shape as well as properties such as parametric dimensions (rod length) were changed. The changes were dictated by the reduction of the maximum values of the stresses and the size of the fields with large stress values. As a result of the simulations, the improvement of the connecting rod strength was obtained by its geometrical change (which was obtained by reducing the stress fields).