Dynamic Simulation: Piston Assembly Example

Dynamic Simulation:
Piston Assembly Example
Objective
 The objective of this module is to show how an example problem is

solved using the Dynamic Simulation environment within Autodesk
Inventor software.
 This kinematic analysis problem involves imposing a rotational motion
on the rotating assembly of a boxer style engine.
 The Output Grapher is used to plot computed moments,
displacements, velocities, and accelerations.
 Friction in a prismatic joint is also illustrated.
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Section 4 – Dynamic Simulation
Components Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

Page 2
Crank Shaft
Cylinder Pistons x 4
Liner x 4
Crankshaft
Bearings x 3
Connecting rods
and piston pin
bearing assemblies
x4
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Education Community
Sub-assemblies Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

Page 3
 The connecting rod components

and the piston components
were modeled as sub-
assemblies.
Piston
Assembly
 This will cause Inventor and
Dynamic Simulation to treat
them as rigid bodies with no
relative motion between the
sub-assembly parts.
Connecting Rod
Assembly
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Assembly Constraints Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example
Ground Joints
Page 4
The cylinder liners and crankshaft bearings are fixed in the engine block
and cannot move. They were positioned using the cylinder block and
then grounded in Inventor. The ground is carried over into Dynamic
Simulation.
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Education Community
Revolute Joint
Page 5
A mate is placed between

the centerline of the
crankshaft and the
centerline of the crankshaft
bearing.
This constraint will be

converted to a revolute joint
in Dynamic Simulation.
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Axial Crankshaft Constraint
Page 6
 A mate is placed
between the two
surfaces shown to
position the crankshaft
along the axis of the
engine.
 This constraint removes
the translation DOF
between the crankshaft
and bearings.
 A 2mm offset is
required.
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Revolute Joints
Page 7
Mates are placed between the centerlines of the piston bearings

and the crankshaft journals. These will automatically be converted to
revolute joints by Dynamic Simulation.
Crankshaft
Journals
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Axial Constraint
Page 8
 A mate is placed between the

machined connecting rod
surface and the face of the
crankshaft journal.
 This removes the

translational DOF between
the connecting rod assembly
Machined
and the crankshaft. connecting
Crankshaft rod surface
 This constraint is applied to journal face
each connecting rod
assembly.
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Revolute Joints
Page 9
In a manner similar to the other revolute joints, centerline

mates are placed between the pistons and the connecting
rod assemblies. This is called “Joint 1” in Module 3.
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Prismatic Joints
Page 10
The final set of constraints is

between the cylinder liners
and the pistons. Centerline
mates are again used. The
centerline constraints will
allow translational motion of
the piston along the axis of
the cylinder liner.
© 2011 Autodesk
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Completed Assembly Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

Page 11
The complete assembly is shown in the figure. The crankshaft can be

rotated and all other parts move in accordance to the assembly
constraints.
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Education Community
Dynamic Simulation Environment Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

Page 12
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Education Community
Dynamic Simulation Environment Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

Page 13
3 Grounded Crank Bearings (one bearing has two parts)
4 Grounded Cylinder Liners

Crankshaft
4 Piston Assemblies
4 Connecting Rod Assemblies
Kinematic constraints are automatically

generated by Dynamic Simulation from
the assembly constraints.
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Education Community
Mobility Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

Page 14
 The mobility of the

mechanism is checked
using the Mechanism
Status feature on the
ribbon.
 The mechanism has a

mobility of one as
expected.
 The free DOF is the

rotational DOF of the
crankshaft.
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Education Community
Motion Groups Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

Page 15
The parts that

can move are
shown in a
solid color.
The parts that

cannot move
are shown in
transparent
mode.
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Education Community
Motion Constraint Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

Page 16
 A mobility of one
requires that one
motion constraint Right click on properties
for Revolution Joint 1
be specified.
 A rotational velocity
of 3600 deg/sec is
applied to the
crankshaft rotational
degree of freedom.
 This is equivalent to
600 rpm.
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Education Community
Input Motion Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

Page 17
As a check, the computed angular velocity is constant and is 3,600 deg/sec

which agrees with the input angular velocity.
Velocity
Position
Acceleration
The angular position of the crank shaft should be a linear function of time
with a slope of 3,600 deg/sec. The computed position is correct. The
angular acceleration of the crank shaft should be zero since the velocity is a
constant. The computed acceleration is correct.
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Education Community
Input Torque Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

Page 18
The computed torque that is required to impose a constant angular

velocity of 3,600 deg/sec on the crankshaft is shown in the Output
Grapher plot. Notice that the input torque is sinusoidal.
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Education Community
Input Torque Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

Page 19
 Positive values of the torque mean that energy is being put into
the system so that the constant crankshaft angular velocity is
maintained.
 Negative values of the torque mean that energy is being taken out
of the system so that the constant crankshaft angular velocity is
maintained.
 Since there is no friction in the system the net energy required to

maintain a constant angular velocity of the crankshaft is zero.
 The average torque is zero which indicates that the average input
power is zero.
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Education Community
Friction Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

Page 20
Friction can be added by editing the properties of a joint. In

this case we are adding a coefficient of friction of 0.2 to the
translational degree of freedom of the prismatic joint
between the piston and cylinder liner.
Friction is
added to all
joints using
this approach.
The properties dialog

box is obtained by right
clicking on the joint.
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Education Community
Input Torque with Friction Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

Page 21
The addition of a coefficient of friction of 0.2 increased the average

torque from zero to 491 Nm. The input power required to overcome
the friction in the system is
P  T    491Nm  62.83rad / sec  554 Watt
Max = 6,267 Nm
Average = 491 Nm
Min = -5,776 Nm
© 2011 Autodesk
Education Community
Module Summary Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

Page 22
 This module provided an example of how to perform a dynamic

simulation of a mechanism using Autodesk Inventor’s Dynamic
Simulation environment.
 This kinematic analysis problem involved imposing a rotational

motion on the rotating assembly of a boxer style engine.
 Correlations were made between the theory presented in previous

modules and this example.
 Although the mathematics is hidden from the user, the input

information associated with joints and constraints can clearly be seen
in the user interface.
© 2011 Autodesk
Education Community

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Dynamic Simulation:

Piston Assembly Example

 The objective of this module is to show how an example problem is

Components Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

Sub-assemblies Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

 The connecting rod components

A mate is placed between

This constraint will be

Mates are placed between the centerlines of the piston bearings

 A mate is placed between the

 This removes the

In a manner similar to the other revolute joints, centerline

The final set of constraints is

Completed Assembly Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

The complete assembly is shown in the figure. The crankshaft can be

Dynamic Simulation Environment Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

Dynamic Simulation Environment Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

3 Grounded Crank Bearings (one bearing has two parts)

4 Grounded Cylinder Liners

Kinematic constraints are automatically

Mobility Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

 The mobility of the

 The mechanism has a

 The free DOF is the

Motion Groups Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

The parts that

The parts that

Motion Constraint Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

Input Motion Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

As a check, the computed angular velocity is constant and is 3,600 deg/sec

Input Torque Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

The computed torque that is required to impose a constant angular

Input Torque Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

 Since there is no friction in the system the net energy required to

Friction Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

Friction can be added by editing the properties of a joint. In

The properties dialog

Input Torque with Friction Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

The addition of a coefficient of friction of 0.2 increased the average

Module Summary Module 5 - Piston Assembly Example

 This module provided an example of how to perform a dynamic

 This kinematic analysis problem involved imposing a rotational

 Correlations were made between the theory presented in previous

 Although the mathematics is hidden from the user, the input

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