The impact of bioethanol fuel on the fatigue life of the connecting rod using dynamical analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15282/ijame.23.3.2026.5.1041Keywords:
Bioethanol effect, Finite element analysis, High cycle fatigue life, Connecting rodAbstract
The complex loading the connecting rod tolerates mandates an adequate solidity to withstand the applied forces. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately evaluate the stresses applied to the connecting rod and predict its fatigue life in the engine's actual operational conditions. The present study aimed to predict the high-cycle fatigue (HCF) life of the connecting rod by changing the fuel from gasoline to bioethanol using the results of the connecting rod dynamic analysis. For this purpose, the stress was predicted using finite element analysis (FEA) and ANSYS software. The nCode Design Life software was applied, along with the Goodman criterion, to estimate HCF life. The mechanical analysis results showed that using bioethanol instead of gasoline would increase the connecting rod stress by about 3.46%. According to the HCF life analysis, the minimum fracture cycles of the connecting rod in gasoline and bioethanol states were 2.744×109 and 2.356×109 cycles, respectively, observable in the area between the shank and the small end. Therefore, the HCF life of the connecting rod in the bioethanol state would be about 0.388×109 cycles, or 14.14% reduced. As shown by the HCF safety factor, the connecting rod had no critical area. 800-hour durability test showed no rupture in any part of the connecting rod. According to the 800-h durability test, the connecting rod will not rupture in any sections.
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