Piston scuffing fault detection in an internal combustion engine using performance parameters and Fuzzy logic

Piston scuffing is one of destructive faults in internal combustion (IC) engines. There are different causes to make this fault that the lack of the lubricant is the most important one among them. Due to its destruction power, its detection has always been noticed by engine producers. In this paper, with the purpose of this fault detection, a method based on Fuzzy logic and the use of engine performance parameters has been proposed. For this reason, 4 parameters including the rotational speed, the torque, the engine power and the blow-by flow rate were measured. Afterward, the Fuzzy logic system was developed for the piston scuffing fault detection. Experimental results showed that the piston scuffing fault caused the rotational speed, the torque and the engine power reduced more than 100 rpm, 25 Nm and 16 kW, respectively. In addition, a great and instant increase occurred in the blow-by flow rate. Results also demonstrated that the use of the changing pattern in engine performance parameters and applying them in the Fuzzy logic system made an appropriate procedure for the piston scuffing fault detection.