IC Engine Piston Assembly

The piston is a component of the internal combustion engine. The main function of the piston is to transform the pressure generated by the burning air-fuel mixture into force, acting on the crankshaft. Passenger vehicles have aluminium alloy pistons while commercial vehicles can also have steel and cast iron pistons. The piston is part of the crankshaft drive (also called crank mechanism), which is made up of the following components: - piston - piston rings - connecting rod - crankshaft Pistons are designed with features that perform specific functions during engine operation. The piston head or crown receives the majority of the initial pressure and force caused by the combustion process. The piston pin area is exposed to a significant amount of force due to rapid directional changes. It is also subjected to thermal expansion caused by the transfer of heat from the head to the body of the piston. The piston pin area is subject to more thermal expansion than other areas of the piston. This occurs from the thermal expansion properties of cast aluminium alloy and the mass in the piston pin area.