UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

I'm writing a piece of coursework for my Physics A level, it's a research project into the history and development of the internal combustion engine, thought some of you might be able to give some advice
I'm trying to find out some information about advances in materials technology in engines. Need to know about improvements in the metal alloys, gasket materials, manufacturing techniques, anything. If anyone has anything at all even vaguely interesting, I'd really, really appreciate hearing it

In particular I would like to know some of the materials that head gaskets are currently and were originally made from, and some of the metal alloys that have been developed to withstand higher running speeds, increased compression etc over the years. Anything at all would be useful though.

First draft of this is due tomorrow, but I've just drank a couple of vats of coffee so I should be good to keep writing well into the morning

Cheers guys.

What about more recent (in relative terms) developments in cylinder liners? There's BMW's nikasel (sp?) liners (and all the huge problems they caused), although I don't know the theory behind these. There's also the fibre reinforced cylinder liners used in VTEC engines to get the high rpms. You could do a comparison of these vs traditional unlined engines.

Of course, there's always electronic ignition systems to write about, and all the variations thereof. If your more of an electronics bod, plently on the introduction of sensors and adaptive ecus to control advaing and retardation in a "transparent" manner.

Or what about Alfa's twin spark system? That's a nice simple principle to explain - although make sure you're taking about the orignal versions, not the more recent ones which - so I'm told - just have the second spark plug present for marketing reasons more than anything.

Or, you could talk about all the vairous methods of modifying valve timing -- you could even work the Polo GTI / Lupo GTI into that discussion if you wanted to go VW-specific.

Or you could do a comparison of the VAG TDI engine technologies with the Ford v. high pressure diesels vs. traditional diesels - you could even work a discussion of turbos into that.

You could do something extremely practical focusing on the design provisions made to ease / simplify the mass manufacture of these things. There's *huge* amounts of literature out there on the modularisation / grouping of components to divide a complex product into subassemblies.

Or, depening on what's in the cirriculum these days, you could go all green and talk about design technology provisions to aid end of life "take-back" (now law in Europe) and diassembly /remanufacturing / recycling. But is this specific-enough to internal combustion engines? You could just talk about remanufacturing - now there's a subject (large chunks of my thesis are on this ), but provisions for this are generally made at the component (rather than assemble (i.e. engine)) level).

Of all the the above, I think the following have the most mileage in them:
1/
variable valve timing - methods and advantages disavantages of each
2/
development in the "humanising" of diesel engines by ramping up the injection pressures / compression ratios
3/
cylinder liners. << closest to the "materials" aspect

Because you mention "historical" developments, I guess I'd want to write the thing chronologically (geek = "illustrated by means of a timeline or - even better - a "family tree" mapping out the origins of the concepts, listing manufacturers / individual inventors / patent numbers, if you can get them (these are readily searchable these days))

Just thoughts...

Deek.

Yup, decided.

Cylinder liners are what you want to talk about. Plenty on google about the various options. What word length are you looking at?

Deek.

Cheers for that, really helpful
In terms of word length, it's meant to be 4-6,000, maximum 7. I've written 5,000 odd already, but I need to bring in three aspects of the physics course to my project. So far I have thermodynamics and forces in there, materials just seems to be the logical final step. I'll have a look into cylinder linings, sounds like there's a good bit to write about there

physics a levels have changed since my day - cant ever remember having any research task and massive essays to do

sounds more like a degree!

GroovyCarrot wrote:Cheers for that, really helpful
In terms of word length, it's meant to be 4-6,000, maximum 7. I've written 5,000 odd already, but I need to bring in three aspects of the physics course to my project. So far I have thermodynamics and forces in there, materials just seems to be the logical final step. I'll have a look into cylinder linings, sounds like there's a good bit to write about there

Wear rate - Coated alloy (Nickasil) V Steel liners

Throw in the old High sulphur content that screwed 1,000's of engines for BMUU and Jaguar

dont wanna bring you down GC but you cant get more than 5000 intelligble words out of a 24 hour day without at least four (4) standard volume vats of double strength "rocket fuel" brand espresso...
you can try for 6 but one in six will be nonsense.

/beentheredonethat

how about the early experiments, where they went through various different fuels before settling on octane-based petroleum (and decane-based DERV ?)

Mm, I've touched on that but couldn't find out very much detail on it. Concentrated instead on how the obtained a useable fuel/air mixture before the carburettor was invented.. bubbling air through petrol baths and all that. Might go into the physics of the carburettor if I can be bothered, could be some nice points in that...