Finite Element techniques can be used to find stresses and deformations of an engine crankshaft under different firing conditions. In this research, various designs of crankshaft pin have been investigated, to improve durability and reduce radiated noise. The simulation shows stress levels by color variation, and the flywheel deformation is shown considerably exaggerated !

Further information: S.Wang@lboro.ac.uk

Carbon/epoxy laminate materials are now common in modern aircraft and racing car structures. These panels show how the materials fail - the left panel was constructed with artificially generated flaws, from a transparent glass/epoxy laminate. Its circular and elliptical delaminations illustrate how failures occur in examples such as the carbon/epoxy test specimen pictured right, after failure caused by compression loading.

Further information: G.Zhou@lboro.ac.uk