Hi Guys,

(first to the mods....I put this here since this area gets the most traffic...please move it to the appropriate section if need be and I apologize if i posted in the wrong section)

Ok,

For a while now I have been thinking about why we use circular cylinders/pistons in engines. Why can we not use a square shape cylinder? For the same diamter as the circular pistion, a square piston would result in a greater surface area (more displacement) from roughly the same size block. Im not sure about this but im guessing it would a easier to machine as well since squares are easier to cut (?...but probably makes no difference with today's cnc machines)....

Im sure there has to be some reason as to why we use circular pistons because someone else has to have though of this before me.

Please enlightne me dear 6speed members.

 

The simple answer is that a cirlcle displaces the forces generated by air/fuel exploding in an even area.
A square or oblonge` shape will cause the flatter sides to obsorb the stress higher than the ends, couple this with the hotspots corners generate and there's your answer.
I hope this explains it for you.

On a side note Honda toyed with the idea of oval shaped pistons years ago. It worked. Problem was it was unreliable and hellishly expensive to produce.
They made about 200 of these bikes which were essentially a V4/Vtwin with the torque of a small V8

There's still 25 for sale at the honda factory if anyones interested.






http://www.diseno-art.com/encycloped...nda_NR750.html

 

It's very difficult to make a square hole in metal.

 

Ahh I see..

Thanks for the info guys.

 

How would you BORE out a square hole, and how would you create the proper amount of compression that rings create? Thus, the reason for round pistons / rings / cylinders.