The Development of the DCI Crankshaft for the Nissan 60° -V-6 Engine

The new 60/sup 0/ -V-6 crankshaft web thickness is reduced while maintaining its durability under turbo-charged gas pressure by means of reasonable assumptions of stress concentration factors with finite element analysis and experimental data. In this way, it has been found that the crankshaft made of fillet-rolled Ductile Cast Iron material has adequate fatigue durability. In order to reduce the main bearing load at high RPM levels, five counter weights are provided. Finite element analysis has been successfully applied also for the evaluation of crankshaft stiffness. It has been found that the stiffness of the crankshaft arm between the pair pins of a crankthrow most effectively contributes toward the total stiffness. As a result, the new V-6 crankshaft featuring compact size low friction loss and adequate stiffness has been developed.