Evaluating the effects of lubricating oil temperature and thermal dam on optimizing the thermal gradient and thermal strains on skirt region of a specified piston

In modern IC engines with high operating temperatures, the heat transfer to the exposed components of the engine is the most critical concern. It is noted that for aluminum made pistons, thermal expansion coefficient is 80% higher than the cylinder bore material made of cast iron. Therefore, improving the temperature gradient of the piston is very important to control the thermo-mechanical stresses and deformations within acceptable levels. In current study, effect of lubricating oil temperature on crown and skirt surfaces was investigated. Due to the results, the skirt temperature of the piston was found to be more uniform and much less than the skirt temperature of the traditional piston and a considerable reduction was found in amount of generated thermal strains and stresses on this region.