Influence of the radial clearence to the trajectory of the 5S-FE engine’s connecting-rod big end bearing ☆

The connecting-rod big end bearing is the connecting part between the connecting-rod and the crankshaft, subject to varying loads according to the operation cycle of the engine. Therefore, the lubrication characteristics of the connecting-rod big end bearing vary according to the operation cycle of the engine. Eccentricity between the journal center and center of the connecting-rod (housing bearing) is one of the important lubricating properties that directly affect the oil film thickness. The article presents a numerical simulation the journal’s trajectory of 5S-FE engine’s connecting-rod big end bearing when changing the radial clearance base on the solving of the modified Reynolds equation in hydrodynamic regime and equilibrium of the charge equation by finite element method. Simulation results were compared with the results from the ACCEL software (the software is developed by the University of Poitiers’ researchers, France for car manufacturers to solve the problem of connecting rod lubrication)