Connecting rods are widely used in variety of engines such as, in-line engines, V- engines,

opposed cylinder engines, radial engines and oppose-piston engines. A connecting rod consists
of a pin-end, a shank section, and a crank-end. Pin-end and crank-end pinholes at the upper and
lower ends are machined to permit accurate fitting of bearings. These holes must be parallel. The
upper end of the connecting rod is connected to the piston by piston pin. If the piston pin is
locked in the piston pin bosses or if it floats in the piston and the connecting rod, the upper hole
of the connecting rod connecting rod revolves with the crankshaft, the upper end is forced to turn
back and forth on the piston pin.
INTRODUCTION
The connecting rod is used to transfer linear, reciprocating motion of the piston into rotary
motion of the crankshaft. The maximum stress occurs in the connecting rod near the piston end
due to thrust of the piston. The tensile and compressive stresses are produced due to the gas
pressure, and bending stresses are produced due to centrifugal effect. From the viewpoint of
functionality, connecting rods must have the highest possible rigidity at the lowest weight. So the
connecting rods are designed generally of I-section to provide maximum rigidity with minimum
weight. The maximum stress produced near the piston end could be decreased by increasing the
material near the piston end. The classification of connecting rod is made by the cross sectional
point of view i.e. I-section, H -section, tabular section, circular section. In low speed engines, the
section of the rod is circular, with flattened sides. In high speed engines either an H- section or
tabular section is used because of their lightness. The rod usually tapers slightly from the big end
to the small end.

Connecting rod is the intermediate link between the piston and the crank. And is responsible to
transmit the push and pull from the piston pin to crank pin, thus converting the reciprocating
motion of the piston to rotary motion of the crank. Connecting rod, auto motives should be
lighter and lighter, should consume less fuel and at the same time they should provide comfort
and safety to passengers, that unfortunately leads to increase in weight of the vehicle. This
tendency in vehicle constriction led the invention and implementation of quite new materials
which are light and meet design requirements.
Lighter connecting rods help to decrease lead caused by forces of inertia in engine as it does not
require big balancing
weight on crankshaft. Application of metal matrix composite enables safety increase and
advances that leads to

effective use of fuel and to obtain high engine power. Honda Company had already
started the manufacturing of
aluminium connecting rods reinforced with steel continuous fibers.