Slider crank mechanism

1. The crank and connecting rod of a vertical petrol engine, running at 1800 rpm are 60
mm and 270 mm respectively. The diameter of the piston is 100 mm and the mass of
the reciprocating parts is 1.2 kg. During the expansion stroke when the crank has turned
20° from the top dead centre, the gas pressure is 650 kN/m2 Determine the
(i) net force on the piston
(ii) net load on the gudgeon pin
(iii) thrust on the cylinder walls
(iv) speed at which the gudgeon pin load is reversed in direction.

Ans: Reference –Theory of Machine by S S Ratan

2. A vertical petrol engine 100 mm diameter and 120 mm stroke has a connecting rod 250
mm long. The mass of the piston is 1.1 kg. The speed is 2000 r.p.m. On the expansion
stroke with a crank 20° from top dead centre, the gas pressure is 700 kN/m2. Determine:
i.) Net force on the piston, ii.) Resultant load on the gudgeon pin, iii.) Thrust on the
cylinder walls, and iv.) Speed above which, other things remaining same, the gudgeon
pin load would be reversed in direction.
3. What do you mean by dynamical equivalent system? Explain.
4. In what way is the inertia of the connecting rod of a reciprocating engine taken into
account?
Flywheel
1. For a certain engine having an average speed of 1200 rpm, a flywheel approximated as a
solid disc, is required for keeping the fluctuation of speed within 2% about the average
speed. The fluctuation of kinetic energy per cycle is found to be 2 kJ. What is the least
possible mass of the flywheel if its diameter is not to exceed 1m?
Ans:
2𝜋 × 1200
𝜔𝑎𝑣𝑔 = = 125.66 𝑟𝑎𝑑/𝑠
60
 𝜔𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝜔𝑚𝑖𝑛
𝐶𝑠 = = 2% = 0.02
𝜔𝑎𝑣𝑔

(∆𝐾𝐸)𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 2000 𝐽
1 1
𝐼= 𝑀𝑅 2 = 0.125𝑀, ∵ 𝑅 = 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟
2 2
2
(∆𝐾𝐸)𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐼𝜔𝑎𝑣𝑔 𝐶𝑠 ⟹ 𝑀 = 50.66 𝑘𝑔 ≈ 51 𝑘𝑔

2. The turning moment diagram for a petrol engine is drawn to the following scales :
Turning moment, 1 mm = 5 N-m ; crank angle, 1 mm = 1°. The turning moment diagram
repeats itself at every half revolution of the engine and the areas above and below the
mean turning moment line taken in order are 295, 685, 40, 340, 960, 270 mm2. The
rotating parts are equivalent to a mass of 36 kg at a radius of gyration of 150 mm.
Determine the coefficient of fluctuation of speed when the engine runs at 1800 r.p.m.

Ans: Reference –Theory of Machine by S S Ratan

3. A shaft fitted with a flywheel rotates at 250 r.p.m. and drives a machine. The torque of
machine varies in a cyclic manner over a period of 3 revolutions. The torque rises from
750 N-m to 3000 N-m uniformly during 1/2 revolution and remains constant for the
following revolution. It then falls uniformly to 750 N-m during the next 1/2 revolution
and remains constant for one revolution, the cycle being repeated thereafter. Determine
the power required to drive the machine and percentage fluctuation in speed, if the
driving torque applied to the shaft is constant and the mass of the flywheel is 500 kg
with radius of gyration of 600 mm.
Ans: Hint: Figure of turning moment diagram is given below. However, students have
to draw the diagram by him/herself in exam.
The area above the mean torque line represents the maximum fluctuation of energy.

4. The torque delivered by a two-stroke engine is represented by T = (1000 + 300 sin  -

500 cos ) Nm where  is the angle turned by the crank from the inner-dead centre. The
 engine speed is 250 rpm. The mass of the flywheel is 400 kg and radius of gyration 400
mm. Determine the
(i) power developed
(ii) total percentage fluctuation of speed
(iii) angular acceleration of flywheel when the crank has rotated through an angle of
60° from the inner-dead centre
(iv) maximum angular acceleration and retardation of the flywheel.

Ans: Reference –Theory of Machine by S S Ratan

5. Define the term of coefficient of fluctuation of energy and coefficient of fluctuation of

speed.
6. Derive the expression of maximum fluctuation of energy in terms of total energy.
7. What is the function of a flywheel? How does it differ from that of a governor?
8. Explain the turning moment diagram of a four stroke cycle internal combustion engine.

Balancing
1. A statically-balanced system is shown in the given Figure. Two equal weights W, each
with an eccentricity e, are placed on opposite sides of the axis in the same axial plane.
The axial distance between them is 'a'. What is dynamic reaction in support?

𝑊 𝑎
Ans: 𝑅𝐴 = 𝑅𝐵 = 𝜔2 𝑒 𝑙
𝑔

2. A rigid rotor consists of a system of two masses located as shown in the given figure.
Check whether the system is statically and dynamically balanced or not.

3. Four masses A, B, C and D as shown below are to be completely balanced.

A B C D
 Mass (kg) - 30 50 40
Radius (mm) 180 240 120 150

The planes containing masses B and C are 300 mm apart. The angle between planes
containing B and C is 90°. B and C make angles of 210° and 120° respectively with D
in the same sense. Find :
i. The magnitude and the angular position of mass A ; and
ii. The position of planes A and D.

Ans: Reference –Theory of Machine by S S Ratan

4. Explain clearly the terms ‘static balancing’ and ‘dynamic balancing’. State the
necessary conditions to achieve them.
5. Each crank and the connecting rod of a six-cylinder four stroke in-line engine are 60
mm and 240 mm respectively. The pitch distances between the cylinder centre lines are
80 mm, 80 mm, 100 mm, 80 mm and 80 mm respectively. The reciprocating mass of
each cylinder is 1.4 kg. The engine speed is 1000 rpm. Determine the out-of-balance
primary and secondary forces and couples on the engine if the firing order be 142635.
Take a plane midway between the cylinders 3 and 4 as the reference plane.
Ans: Reference –Theory of Machine by S S Ratan

6. A four-cylinder oil engine is in complete primary balance. The arrangement of the

reciprocating masses in different planes is as shown in Fig. The stroke of each piston is
2r mm. Determine the reciprocating mass of the cylinder 2 and the relative crank
positions.

Ans: Reference –Theory of Machine by S S Ratan

7. The cylinders of a twin V-engine are set at 60° angle with both pistons connected to a
single crank through their respective connecting rods. Each connecting rod is 600 mm
long and the crank radius is 120 mm. The total rotating mass is equivalent to 2 kg at the
crank radius and the reciprocating mass is 1.2 kg per piston. A balance mass is also
fitted opposite to the crank equivalent to 2.2 kg at a radius of 150 mm. Determine the
maximum and minimum values of the primary and secondary forces due to inertia of
the reciprocating and the rotating masses if the engine speed is 800 rpm.
Ans: Reference –Theory of Machine by S S Ratan
 8. The axes of a three-cylinder air compressor are at 120o one another and their connecting
rods are coupled to a single crank. The length of each connecting rod is 240 mm and
the stroke is 160 mm. The reciprocating parts have a mass of 2.4 kg per cylinder.
Determine the primary and secondary forces if the engine runs at 2000 rpm.

Ans: Reference –Theory of Machine by S S Ratan

9. A four cylinder engine has cranks arranged symmetrically along the shaft as shown in
Fig. The distance between the outer cranks A and D is 5.4 metres and that between the
inner cranks B and C is 2.4 metres. The mass of the reciprocating parts belonging to
each of the outer cylinders is 2 tonnes, and that belonging to each of the inner cylinders
is m tonnes. If the primary and secondary forces are to be balanced and also the primary
couples, determine the crank angle positions and the mass of the reciprocating parts (m)
corresponding to the inner cylinders.
Find also the maximum value of the unbalanced secondary couple, if the stroke is 1
metre, the connecting rod length 2 metres, and the speed of the engine is 110 r.p.m.

10. Derive the following expressions, for an uncoupled two cylinder locomotive engine:
(a) Variation is tractive force; (b) Swaying couple; and (c) Hammer blow.
11. What are in-line engines? How are they balanced? It is possible to balance them
completely?
12. Explain the ‘direct and reverse crank’ method for determining unbalanced forces in
radial engines.
13. Discuss the balancing of V-engines.