1.

Select a single engine component, such as: Cylinder head, cylinder block, piston,
piston rings, connecting rod, crankshaft, valves, intake and exhaust manifolds, injection
system, or some other component. Describe its function, materials, and recent design
trends for passenger car engine applications. Please type and limit your answer to two
paragraphs, and cite your references.

The connecting rod is the engine component that transfers the motion from the
piston to the crankshaft and functions as a lever arm. They translate the vertical motion
of the piston to a circular motion of the crankshaft. One on end the rod is connected to
the piston with a pin and on the other end it is linked with the crankshaft thought a bore.
The rod can be made of different materials but the most popular materials are Steel,
T6-2024 Aluminum or T651-7075 Aluminum. Rods are manufactured by casting, forging
or sintering
There have been many developments in the design of the connecting rod for an
internal combustion engine. The smaller end of the rod has been analyzed for stress
concentrations. The rod faces higher compressive forces and low tensile forces which
allows for the smaller ed of the rod to be narrowed down which makes the rods lighter
and cheaper to manufacture. The bore hole has a fracture joint instead of a regular joint
to increase the surface area of the joint making a stronger connection.

2. Select your favorite engine (could be a classic from the 60s, a modern production
engine, a formula car engine, or the engine in your car) and describe the features of the
engine in
light of the course material. Please provide and / or describe the following in a type-
written answer (cite your references):

a. Engine geometrical specifications (displacement, bore, stroke, compression ratio)

b. Basic engine design (# of cylinder, block design, cam location, number of valves)
c. Engine power specifications (rated specifications, speed and torque curves)
d. Method of breathing
e. Type of working cycle
f. Type of fuel
g. Mixture preparation used
h. Method of ignition
i. Combustion chamber design (head design, piston design, spark location, etc)
j. Method of load control
 The engine I chose is the engine in my Chevrolet Cruz 2016. Here are the engine
specifications:
a. Displacement (in cu cc) = 1399
Bore (in mm) = 74
Stroke (in mm) = 81.3
Compression Ratio = 10:1
b. Number of cylinder = 4
Block design = Inline
Cam location = The engine has a dual overhead cam design
Number of valves = 4 valves per cylinder, 2 intake and 2 exhaust.
c. Rated Power (in kW @ RPM) = 113 @ 5600
Rated Torque (in Nm @RPM) = 240 @ 2000-4000
d. The engine is turbocharged which means that the exhaust gasses are used to
turn a motor that pulls in extra air giving a higher performance.
e. The engine is a 4 stroke or a 4 cycle which are intake, combustion, working,
and exhaust.
f. The engine runs on gasoline with the lowest octane rating. The compression
ratio determines what kind of fuel is used in the engine.
g. The fuel is delivered the cylinder through a direct injection system using an
electronic throttle control.
h. Spark plugs are used for ignition since the calorific value of gasoline is lower
than that of diesel and requires a spark for combustion.
i. The piston has a recessed or dished design which allows for a clearance for
the valves to avoid collisions.
j. Since the engine is a gasoline engine, the method of load control is air throttle.

3. Port fuel injection (PFI) systems have replaced carburetors and throttle body injectors
in automotive spark-ignition engines. List the major advantages of multi-point PFI
systems relative to those older fuel-air mixture preparation systems. Briefly discuss
problems associated with port fuel injection, and the advantages that gasoline direct
injection (GDI) systems promise over PFI systems.

Initially, carburetors were used in engines as pre-combustion chambers for

mixing the fuel and air followed by throttle body injectors. These have since been
replaced by multi point Port Fuel Injection systems which injects the fuel in to the intake
manifold. These systems have a fuel injector for each cylinder, usually located so that
they spray right at the intake valve. These systems provide more accurate fuel metering
and quicker response.
However the PFI system has its drawbacks. Since the fuel is injected in to the
intake manifold, some of the fuel doesn't make it in to the combustion chamber which
can change the A:F ratio. Moreover, the PFI system causes carbon build up on the
poppet intake valve which means more maintenance issues. Alternatively, the Gasoline
Direct Injection system takes the process a step further and injects the atomized fuel
directly in to the combustion chamber. This helps in controlling the A:F ratio as well as
reducing emissions. GDI systems also help in increasing engine efficiency.
4. The 1970 Clean Air Act and 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments give authority to the
Environmental Protection Agency to regulate automobile emissions of carbon monoxide
(CO), unburned hydrocarbons (HC), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and particulate matter
(PM). In no more than two paragraphs, summarize the impact that each species has in
the atmosphere and on human health.

Carbon Monoxide (CO): Breathing CO can cause headache, dizziness, vomiting,

and nausea. If CO levels are high enough, you may become unconscious or die.
Exposure to moderate and high levels of CO over long periods of time has also been
linked with increased risk of heart disease. People who survive severe CO poisoning
may suffer long-term health problems. It is also a major component in smog.
Unburned Hydrocarbons (HC): Unburned hydrocarbons are carcinogenic and
can cause heart, liver, or lung cancer through penetration in to the soil or water. They
are responsible for smog since they are heavy.

Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx): NOx mainly impacts on respiratory conditions causing

inflammation of the airways at high levels. Long term exposure can decrease lung
function, increase the risk of respiratory conditions and increases the response to
allergens. High levels of NOx can have a negative effect on vegetation, including leaf
damage and reduced growth. It can make vegetation more susceptible to disease and
frost damage.

Particulate Matter (PM): PM aggravates the severity of chronic lung diseases,

causing rapid loss of airway function. PM causes inflammation of lung tissue, resulting
in the release of chemicals that can impact heart function. Particles can be carried over
long distances by wind and then settle on ground or water. Depending on their
chemical composition, the effects of this settling may include, making lakes and streams
acidic, changing the nutrient balance in coastal waters and large river basins, and
depleting the nutrients in soil

5. Draw the timing events determined for your favorite engine from Problem #2 on a
valve event timing diagram (similar to that shown in Chapter 1 of the notes). Clearly
identify intake valve opening, intake valve closing, exhaust valve opening, and exhaust
valve closing. Also identify piston TDC and piston BDC. Finally, identify intake stroke,
compression stroke, combustion/expansion stroke, and exhaust stroke. NOTE: you may
hypothesize your own timing events if youre not able to determine them for your
favorite engine.
a. After drawing the valve event timing diagram for your engine, proceed to draw a
second diagram that possesses negative valve overlap. Make a brief comment (one or
two sentences) as to why you might want to have negative valve overlap for your
engine.