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Performance Analysis of a Connecting Rod Produced with Al-Cu-Mg/Bean Pod Ash Nanoparticles

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Abstract

The reduction in weight, increase in stiffness and increase in strength of a metal matrix composite (MMC) connecting rod when compared to the conventional steel connecting rod have motivated researchers in this area in recent times, but the current cost to produce a metal matrix connecting rod still makes this technology unfeasible for mass production. Because of this most research in this area is producing MMCs using low cast agro-waste as reinforcement. This opens a new window for the present work which is the actual performance analysis of the developed connecting rod using Al-Cu-Mg/4 wt.% bean pod ash (BPA) nanoparticles using a Toyota Carina one(1) model engine. The fuel consumption, induced stress, brake load and power were evaluated. The results were compared with a standard connecting rod. The fuel consumption of the developed MMC connecting rod (0.350 to 0.650 kW/h) was lower when compared to the standard connecting rod (0.430 to 0.761 kW/h) which results in to 0.36 % savings. The stress induced in the developed connecting rod was lower than that of the standard connecting rod. This work has established that using a connecting rod with Al-Cu-Mg/bean pod ash nanoparticles results in to good strength, reduced weight and induced stress with fuel saving of 0.36 %.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria

    V. S. Aigbodion & I. C. Ezema

  2. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

    O. J. Agunsoye

  3. Department of Production Engineering, University of Benin, Benin, Nigeria

    R. O. Edokpia

Authors
  1. V. S. Aigbodion
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  2. O. J. Agunsoye
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  3. R. O. Edokpia
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  4. I. C. Ezema
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Correspondence to V. S. Aigbodion.

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Aigbodion, V.S., Agunsoye, O.J., Edokpia, R.O. et al. Performance Analysis of a Connecting Rod Produced with Al-Cu-Mg/Bean Pod Ash Nanoparticles. Silicon 10, 107–113 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-015-9382-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-015-9382-8

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