EXPLAIN TO ME WHY PISTON HEADS MUST BE ALUMINUM BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO ACCELERATE UP AND DOWN SO RAPIDLY BUT CONNECTING RODS SHOULD BE STEEL FOR LONGEVITY
@nugger I'd guess part of it is in the way that aluminum oxidizes compared to steel, since a piston head would be more of a "contact" part, generally speaking. Probably something to do with various strength values (tensile, compressive, etc.) as well.
@nugger Like that's the reason they use aluminum on airliners: when dust or debris scratch the fuselage, it doesn't "rust" the way that steel does.
@WoodshopHandman LIKE THE DIRECT EXPOSURE TO THE HEAT AND PRESSURE OF THE IGNITED FUEL CHARGE PUTS VERY DIFFERENT STRESSES ON THE PISTON VS JUST THE MECHANICAL STRESS ON THE CON ROD?
I CAN SEE THAT
I CAN SEE THAT
@nugger Plus expansion/contraction rates maybe
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@WoodshopHandman @nugger A steel piston head would have a lot of mass that needs to slow down, stop, then accelerate again in the opposite direction every stroke. Less mass being flung around is more efficient and produces less forces on the rods. There's probably some small cooling improvement as well since aluminum is extremely heat conductive.
