ENCYCLOPAEDIC

 

This is an EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)  funded programme grant. The project brings together the collaboration of three universities with a vertical integrated consortium of industrial concerns. The aim is to reduce the piston partasitic and errant dynamic losses, thus improving engine efficiency. This is a multi-disciplinary research integrating dynamics, structural integrity, NVH, tribology, surface engineering and physical chemistry, thus a multi-phisics, multi-scale approach. The partners include Loughborough University, Cranfield University and The University of Sheffield  and six industrial partners; Aston Martin Lagonda, Prodrive, BP Castrol, Capricorn, Es-Technology, and Ricardo Consulting Engineers.

 

 

                             

 

  

                

 

 

                                                                                                   

  

 

In this site you will find information about our latest research into piston-ring/liner interctions, including findings from experimentation and predictions of the numerical models. In car engines the compresiion ring conjunction accounts for 65 - 70% of piston cylinder parasitic losses. This is the most complex of engine tribological contacts on account of the ring bore conformability, ring dynamics including twisting and fluttering together with global deformation represented by in-plane and out-of-plane modes.