SSRG International Journal of Mechanical Engineering (SSRG-IJME) – volume 4 Issue 4–April 2017

Modal Analysis of a Connecting Rod using

ANSYS
Mahipal Manda1, Ramesh Kola2, K Karunakarreddy3.
1(
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, Vaageswari College of engineering, Karimnagar)
2,3(
Final year Student of B.Tech, Mechanical Engineering, Vaageswari College of engineering, Karimnagar)

Abstract Connecting rod is an important component material properties or the boundary conditions of a
of the automobile engine dynamic system, it is not only structure change, its modes will change. If mass is
a transmission component but also moving part, at the added to a structure, it will vibrate differently. Each
same time it must withstand variable load such as mode is entirely independent of all other modes. Thus
tensile, compressive force and bending in the working all modes have different frequencies and different
process. Therefore, dynamic characteristics study on mode shapes. Since the lower modes vibrate with
the connecting rod has become an important part of greater amplitude, they cause the most displacement
design. Modal analysis is an effective method to and stress in a structure. Thus they are called
determine vibration mode shapes and weak parts of fundamental modes.
the complex mechanical system. In this study, a modal
analysis was applied to a connecting rod by ANSYS II. MODELLING AND ANALYSIS
software at three critical working conditions, such as
maximum tensile and compressive on small end, and
tensile of cap end of connecting rod, the main purpose
of analysis is to identify the model parameters of
connecting rod such as natural frequency, vibration
mode shapes and provide a basis for structural
dynamics analysis and the follow-up optimal design of
connecting rod. In this study modal analysis have been
done for three critical working conditions of the
connecting rod. In this study, modal analysis was
performed to calculate natural frequencies and mode
shapes. And displacement in X and Y direction at
selected node components is plotted.

Keywords — Modal Analysis, Connecting Rod,

Natural Frequencies, ANSYS.

I. INTRODUCTION
We use modal analysis to determine the vibration
characteristics (natural frequencies and mode shapes)
of a structure. The natural frequencies and mode
shapes are important parameters in the design of a
structure for dynamic loading conditions. They are
also required if we want to do a spectrum analysis or a
mode superposition harmonic or transient analysis.
We can do modal analysis on a prestressed structure,
such as a spinning turbine blade. Another useful
feature is modal cyclic symmetry, which allows us to Fig: 1 Showing various views and I- Section of
review the mode shapes of a cyclically symmetric connecting rod.
structure by modelling just a sector of it. Modal
analysis can be also used for design optimization due
to noise and vibration.
Modes (or resonances) are inherent properties of a
structure. Modes are determined by the material
properties (mass, stiffness, and damping properties),
and boundary conditions of the structure. Each mode
is defined by a natural (modal or resonant) frequency,
modal damping, and a mode shape. If either the

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SSRG International Journal of Mechanical Engineering (SSRG-IJME) – volume 4 Issue 4–April 2017

Table: 1. Engine Configuration

Crankshaft radius 48 mm

Connecting rod length 141.014 mm

Piston diameter 86 mm

Mass of the piston assembly 0.434 kg

Mass of the connecting rod 0.3897 kg

0.001309 kg- Fig: 3. Finite element model of connecting rod used in

Izz about the centre of gravity
m2 modal analysis.
Distance of C.G. from crank end B. Boundary Conditions
34.999mm
centre Modal analysis performed on connecting rod at three
Maximum gas pressure 3.729 (N/mm2) critical working conditions of the connecting rod. In
the case of maximum tensile load acting at the crank
A three-dimensional solid model of the connecting rod end, the piston pin end is completely restrained over
was built by ANSYS software platform. The 1800 in X, Y and Z degrees of freedom. In the case of
geometric model was divided into grid with maximum compressive force acting on piston pin end,
tetrahedral 10-node Solid92 cells, those dividing the crank end is restrained over 1200 in X, Y and Z
precision is three levels and it was divided by the degrees of freedom. In the case, maximum tensile load
ANSYS software automatically. With element size of acting at piston end, the crank end is restrained (180).
1.5mm 122982 no of elements were created in the
connecting rod structure. Fig showing different views III. RESULTS
of the solid model of connecting rod modelled in Modal analysis was performed for the connecting rod
ANSYS. using ANSYS. Natural frequencies and mode shapes
A. SOLID92 3-D 10-Node Tetrahedral Structural were obtained in the analysis at three critical working
Solid Solid92 element was considered to carry conditions of the connecting rod. Results are as
analysing. This element is three dimensional • with follows.
10 nodes. Also, this nod related to Solid72 is higher in Table: 2. Natural frequencies in case of Tensile loading at Piston
degree and, specially, in problems with curve bounds end.
had more accuracy, but it increases time need to solve
problems. Solid92 has quadratic displacement SET FREQ SET FREQ SET FREQ
behaviour and is well suited to model irregular meshes
(such as produced from various CAD/CAM systems).
1 6.3191 11 265.71 21 589.41

2 7.8601 12 266.77 22 640.10

3 10.711 13 272.48 23 651.96

4 52.231 14 324.39 24 654.01

5 72.482 15 368.30 25 678.75

6 115.33 16 394.83 26 699.68

Fig: 2 The Shape of Digitization element SOLID 92 3-D 7 167.05 17 478.01 27 738.82
10-Nodes Tetrahedral Structural Solid.
8 191.64 18 505.93 28 751.48

9 203.21 19 534.12 29 784.44

10 244.54 20 565.92 30 797.51

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SSRG International Journal of Mechanical Engineering (SSRG-IJME) – volume 4 Issue 4–April 2017

Table: 3. Natural Frequencies in case of Tensile loading at A. Mode Shapes of connecting Rod when tensile
Crank end.
load acting on Crank end

S.NO. FREQ S.NO. FREQ

Hz Hz
1 212.25 21 799.232

2 215.972 22 858.012

3 253.950 23 893.074 (a) Vibration mode shape with frequency 6.3191Hz.

4 309.945 24 898.066

5 323.099 25 913.504

6 328.233 26 931.004

7 400.726 27 982.789

8 404.066 28 1021.00 (b) Vibration mode shape with frequency 72.482Hz.

9 475.851 29 1027.00

10 494.721 30 1053.00

11 510.008 31 1083.00

12 533.534 32 1094.00

13 596.379 33 1100.00

14 621.110 34 1118.00 (c) Vibration mode shape with frequency 167.051Hz.

15 648.663 35 1176.00

16 651.444 36 1186.00

17 709.091 37 1197.00

18 713.338 38 1244.00

19 762.293 39 1250.00 (d) Vibration mode shape with frequency 244.543Hz

20 773.105 40 1311.00
B. Mode Shapes of connecting Rod when
Compressive load acting on Crank end

Fig: 4. Figure showing the selected locations to review deflection. (a) Vibration mode shape with frequency 636.045Hz.

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SSRG International Journal of Mechanical Engineering (SSRG-IJME) – volume 4 Issue 4–April 2017

(b) Vibration mode shape with frequency 701.423 Hz.

Graph: 3. Displacements at selected locations A in Direction.

(c) Vibration mode shape with frequency 810.142 Hz.

Graph: 4. Displacements at selected locations D.

Graph: 1. Displacements at selected locations A, B and C in X Graph: 5. Displacements at selected locations F.

direction.

C. Mode Shapes of connecting Rod when Tensile

load acting on Piston end

(a) Vibration mode shape with frequency 253.95Hz.

Graph: 2. Displacements at selected locations D, E and F in X
direction.

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SSRG International Journal of Mechanical Engineering (SSRG-IJME) – volume 4 Issue 4–April 2017

(b) Vibration mode shape with frequency 400.726Hz.

Graph: 7. Displacements at selected points B, C and D on shank.

(c) Vibration mode shape with frequency 713.338Hz.

Graph: 8. Displacements at selected location A on crank

(d) Vibration mode shape with frequency 799.232Hz. end in X-direction.

Graph: 6. Displacements at selected nodes E, F on Graph: 9. Displacements at selected location A on crank end in
piston end. Y-direction.

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SSRG International Journal of Mechanical Engineering (SSRG-IJME) – volume 4 Issue 4–April 2017

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