In order to understand the true impact the automobile has had on our society, we would have to go back in time over one hundred years. A time without the simplicity of hopping into a vehicle to take us anywhere we want to go is almost unfathomable to many Americans. In the last 50 years, cars have learned to think, adjust, and even protect. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.
High performance is now the catch phrase.
The vast majority of people want a vehicle that will get them from point A to point B as easily as possible, but also put a little smile on their faces. Often times, the smile is created by a quick punch of the accelerator and accompanied by a feeling of immense power and control. The auto manufacturers are well aware of this, and to achieve it, they design faster, lighter, and more efficient engines to do the job. In this project, one component of an engine in particular, the connecting rod, will be analyzed. Being one of the most integral parts in an engine s design, the connecting rod must be able to withstand tremendous loads and transmit a great deal of power.