Elasto-multi-body dynamics of internal combustion engines with thin-shell elastohydrodynamic journal bearings

This thesis describes problems associated with noise and vibration concern in internal combustion engines as the result of a growing trend in the development of modern vehicular engines with high power to light weight ratios. There are a plethora of vibration concerns. These are owed to the increasing combustion forces in lean burn engines and the progressive use of materials of durable, but light-weight construction. The latter has come about as a result of a need to reduce the inertial imbalances. These features have resulted in achieving fuel efficiency. Although the primary aims in high output power and structural integrity have been largely achieved, these have culminated in an assortment of sources of noise and vibration, chiefly among them those associated with signature output of the combustion process. For the common four stroke engines, the contributory sources are at half-engine order multiples, referred to as engine "roughness". A holistic approach is to incorporate reduced engine roughness contributions as an integral part of engine design and development. The aim of this thesis is to create a methodology for fundamental design evaluation and analysis of engine dynamics, which comprises rigid body inertial dynamics of engine assembly, the elasto-dynamics of flexible and compliant components and applied and reactive forces in such a complex assembly. [Continues.]