Fatigue Analysis and Optimization of Crankshaft of V8 Diesel Engine

The crankshaft is one of the most critically loaded components as it experiences cyclic loads in the form of bending and torsion during its service life. Its failure will cause serious damage to the engine so it’s important at the time of design to verify fatigue strength. More challenges in crankshaft design due to increasing vehicle payloads, lower weight requirement, higher efficiency and longer durability life. In this study a dynamic simulation was conducted on a crankshaft from a V8 diesel four stroke engine. Finite element analysis was performed to obtain and analysis the variation of the stress magnitude at every location of crankshaft especially at critical points. Results obtained from the aforementioned analysis were then used in optimization of the crankshaft. Also accumulated fatigue damage caused by the change in loading in different crankshaft speeds was determined. The goal of this study is designing crankshaft with suitable and optimum dimensions which can serve the longer durability life without any failures.