The Stress Analysis of the Jack Rod Crankshaft on a Single-Cylinder Engine: A Study Using the Finite Element Method

The crankshaft is an important component in an engine that converts the reciprocating displacement of the piston into a rotary motion. The maximum possibility of crankshaft failure on the crankpin occurs because the load of pistons and connecting rods are indirectly induced onto the crankshaft. Therefore, crankshaft failure will occur due to the decrease in fatigue strength. The main purpose of this research is to investigate the stress performance on single-cylinder engine crankshaft by setting up differing heights of the crankpin. By using finite element analysis, the analytical data on the stress and the effect of the crankshaft in the occurrence of geometry changes has shown that the high stress value is the main factor that contributes towards the reduction of the crankshaft lifecycle in the engine. A comprehensive study on the material types is recommended for future improvement on the study.