Tribological parameters analysis of cam and follower pair used in IC engine using ANSYS

The cam and follower pair play an essential role in the valve train mechanism in IC engines. An IC engine has a specific form of contact condition called cam and follower contact. The tribological parameters related to this contact are vital for engine performance. In this paper, the cam and follower pair are analyzed, and improvements to the traditional material used for making the cam and follower are suggested. A 3D geometry of the disc type cam and spherical follower used in a typical IC engine is designed using Solidworks software, and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of the cam and follower assembly is done using the CAE software ANSYS Mechanical. The materials taken for this analysis are structural steel and grey cast iron. We have done analyses of two of the most important tribology parameters: contact pressure and Hertzian contact stress. The maximum value of contact pressure and Hertzian contact stress is calculated for both types of material, and the results are presented and compared in tabular form and using graphical plots. The results showed that the contact pressure, Hertzian contact stress increase linearly with each other for both type of materials. Also, the maximum values of Hertzian contact stress and contact pressure were lower for grey cast iron material. So, it is a preferable substitute to structural steel for making the cam and follower pair of a motorcycle IC engine. A good agreement of results showed that our model provided a reliable prediction of the tribological characteristics of the cam follower contact.