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The potential benefits of using advanced fiber-reinforced composites as an alternative to metallic alloys has been investigated for the design and fabrication of connecting rods in motion conversion mechanisms for internal combustion engines. Two types of mechanisms have been selected for this analysis: the common slider-crank mechanism and the new. Stiller-Smith Mechanism, in which the crankshaft is replaced by a floating gear system. An improved finite-element elastodynamic model, which includes the effects of longitudinal, bending and shear deformations, has been developed in order to quantify the relationships between the levels of bearing loads and vibrations of such mechanisms and the material design of their connecting-rods. An extensive parametric study has been conducted on the material system, the lay-up and the cross-sectional dimensions of elastic connecting rods, made of helically wound composite materials.

A new technique of translating linear to rotary motion, using the Stiller- Smith mechanism, can be applied to the design of internal combustion engines and compressors. This new mechanism produces purely sinusoidal motion of the pistons relative to crank angle, which is a different motion from that produced by a conventional slider-crank mechanism, Influence of this sinusoidal motion on thermodynamic performance of engines and compressors was investigated theoretically and experimentally. Data are presented from a numerical analysis of compression and of spark-ignited combustion. Also, pressure-time curves for a standard and a modified (long connecting rod) spark ignition engine are compared. All data confirm that there is little thermodynamic difference between the Stiller-Smith and slider-crank devices.

The Stiller-Smith Mechanism employs a double cross-slider to convert linear reciprocating motion into rotational motion. It has previously been shown that a four-cylinder configuration utilizing this motion conversion device can be balanced in two dimensions. The inherent planar nature of this mechanism makes it possible to produce a compact, eight cylinder configuration for use as an internal combustion engine which is balanced in three dimensions. This paper develops and presents the necessary requirements for such a balanced engine. Relative merits of various configurations are discussed and analytical results of different balancing schemes are presented.