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

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 %.