A thermomechanical model of a direct injection diesel engine piston

This article presents a three-dimensional finite element full analysis, which describes the thermomechanical behaviour of a direct injection diesel engine piston. The piston moving in a complex environment is exposed to several interactions during engine operation. The thermomechanical model takes in account the most important load. The piston is subjected to the coupled action of the thermal 14 loads due to the transfer of heat from the head to the body and the mechanical load represented by the combustion pressure and the inertial load due to the important change of direction of the piston in the cylinder bore. The response of the simulated model by critical loads makes it possible to know and to analyse the operating temperatures, the corresponding thermal expansion and the thermomechanical deformations and stresses. The results obtained will be the source data for the development of a global elastohydrodynamic model and will provide a good tool for piston design.