Numerical analysis of crankshaft used on Tvs Deluxe Auto-Rickshaw(Pragya)

Abstract

This study was motivated by the need for numerical analysis of crankshaft used on TVS Deluxe Auto-Rickshaw (Pragya)to determine the structural deformation it goes through under load. A crankshaft can be called the heart of every internal combustion engine because of the vital role it places in an engine. The main function of the crankshaft is to convert the reciprocating motion of the connecting rod into rotary motion of the flywheel. The primary objective of this study was to ascertain the possibility of using structural steel to model a TVSDeluxe Auto-Rickshaw(Pragya) crankshaft for weight optimisation whiles maintaining strength of the crankshaft. The crankshaft was modelled using Autodesk inventor 2017 software based on computed dimensions. The modelled crankshaft was imported onto the ANSYS Workbench observing boundary conditions. Static structural and modal analysis was performed on the crankshaft using both the control and implementing materialsto ascertain the suitability or otherwise of the implementing material. The result showed that, the weights of crankshafts made of the controlled materials (mild steel and forged steel) were the same, while the weight of the implementing material (structural steel) was 82.6g less than that of the controlled materials. Structural steel can be considered as one of the materials for TVS king tricycle (Pragya) crankshaft. Numerical results showed that structural steel can withstand the induced stresses and was also lighter in weight as compared to the controlled materials. Therefore, it is recommended that structural steel must be used as one of the materials for TVS king tricycle (Pragya) crankshaft. Simulated results showed that it can withstand the induced stresses, and also lighter in weight as compared to the control materials