dynamic vs static compression

Blows the theory out of the water that short rods give better detonation resistance.
The link article & Trigonometry show Long Rods do it instead.
 
87vette81big said:
Blows the theory out of the water that short rods give better detonation resistance.
The link article & Trigonometry show Long Rods do it instead.


ive injected my opinion on this forum about rod length in a few places. and i hold steadfast that all else being equal a motor with a longer rod will have more high rpm stability, better bearing durability, more efficient combustion, more detonation resistance, and less lateral forces on the cylinder walls than an equal engine with the only variable change being a shorter rod. however, thats still purely an opinion (even tho lots of dyno and real world testing support it) because when you get a combo with a longer or shorter rod, you are changing the construction of the piston to accomodate the same deck clearance... so you cant build two identical motors with rod length as the only variable....


does that mean we should build for the longest rod in the universe? i think to the extent our budget allows... most stroker rotators you buy as a set are almost equally priced with 5.7 and 6.0 rods (SBC example used)

smokey yunick wrote about shooting for a 2:1 rod stroke ratio, and if you can do that within your budget, sure, go for it... but i think theres a limit

the limit is when you are budgeting money for a long rod built into your machine, that you can and should be spending elsewhere like better oiling and cooling, or machine work on clinder heads and intake, those things are going to do alot more for you than a 11 inch rod will... eventually (and theres dyno data to support this statement too...) eventually you get diminishing returns from extending a rod longer and longer.

detonation resistance, in my opinion, is largely (read: almost god damn completely) in the cylinder head. be it the heads ability to transfer heat evenly through materials, and cooling system efficiency, and also the head design as it relates to swirl and tumbling of the mixture of air and fuel to stimulate the most even distribution of fuel and air particles in the cylinder.

larry widmer on quench:

http://theoldone.com/archive/quench-area.htm

larry widmer on smokey yunick and some of the stuffwere discussing here:

http://theoldone.com/archive/thoughts-o ... yunick.htm

who is larry widmer (for those unaware):

http://theoldone.com/about/default.asp
 
The Trend for Years has been long crankshaft strokes for big Cubes of 480-800 ci Big Block.
Small block Gen 1 3-3/4" - 4-1/2" strokes 383-454 cubes.
Every combo has its advantages & Disadvantages.
When its unaffordable its not a good combo for you.
Pontiac V8 has a tall deck of 10.230". Accept up to a 4-1/2" stroke crank easy.
Factory built up to 7.080" long rods.
6-5/8" is stock OEM.
Aftermarket Indian Adventure Block Tall Deck is 11.000".
Accept up to 5.000" crank stroke. Build a 700+ Ci Poncho.

Tall Deck BBC Like that 427 I have is interesting 496ci.
Just can't afford to build it this year full tilt.

Olds 425 has 10.625 " deck height. 7.00" Rods.
3.975" crank stroke.
Forged bottom end.
Pc
 
The Keith Black Online Calculator seems fairly accurate Grumpy.
Within a few Tenths calculated .

Did the math long hand.
Assuming 91 cc Total Headgasket, deck, & chamber volume (80 cc head) Dynamic compression at 7.04 :1.
87 Octane gas safe zone.
80 cc figured, 8.01 :1 Dynamic compression. 93 octane safe.

Dynamic Crankshaft stroke of 312.91.
39.1139 Ci per cylinder.
Olds 425 engine.
 
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how crank stroke effects piston movement and acceleration

flowq.png

quenchd1.png



http://www.enginebuildermag.com/201...ton-compression-height-and-crankshaft-stroke/
deckh.jpg

deckh.png


compheighty.png

I,ve built enough engines over the years to have seen a few trends, in the results and while I doubt theres a huge difference I generally see the 6" long connecting rods in the 383 SBC and the longer 6.385" and 6.535"rods in most big block builds produce a bit better results, in my opinion, obviously you need to calculate the correct piston pin height, deck height ,quench and stroke measurements when building the short block and match the cam timing to the compression, gearing and intended power band rpm range, and get the counter weight to piston skirt clearance and crank balance correct.
the correct SCAT rods with 7/16" ARP rod bolts are generally a good value

http://scatcrankshafts.com/#6

https://www.uempistons.com/index.php?main_page=calculators&zenid=04775c8ecd16109faea2023a1691b551

http://www.lunatipower.com/Tech/Pistons/CompressionHeight.aspx

0704ch_15_z+chevy_big_blocka.jpg

ebm1.jpg

ebm2.jpg

ebm3.jpg

ebm4.jpg

ebm5.jpg


viewtopic.php?f=53&t=510

viewtopic.php?f=53&t=247

viewtopic.php?f=53&t=1168

http://victorylibrary.com/mopar/rod-tech-c.htm

http://www.stahlheaders.com/Lit_Rod Length.htm

https://www.lunatipower.com/Tech/Rods/RodLength.aspx

http://www.lunatipower.com/Tech/Pistons/CompressionHeight.aspx

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/stee ... rods_tech/
 
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How To Calculate Engine Compression Ratio And Displacement

March 21, 2018 / by Robert Poole

When building an engine from the ground up, calculating the compression ratio (CR) is a necessary step for any number of reasons ranging from complying with racing rule books to getting a head start on the tuning.

By definition, the compression ratio is the total swept volume of the cylinder with the piston at bottom dead center (BDC), divided by the total compressed volume with the piston at top dead center (TDC). We’ll discuss the procedures and formulas for determining both the swept and compression volumes shortly; but first, let’s examine the consequences of not knowing the engine’s CR.

The compression ratio is affected significantly by the deck clearance volume, The distance between the piston crown at TDC and the height of the deck surface. First, bring the piston to TDC, then zero the dial indicator on the deck surface of the cylinder block. Move the indicator to the deck plane of the piston to read how far the piston is below or above the deck of the block. In this example, it’s .005-inch. write the number on the piston as your checking for easy comparison.
“Too little compression will usually result in unmet performance expectations. On the high side [too much compression] carries greater risk in tuning and potential component failure if appropriately better fuel is not used,” says Alan Stevenson of JE Pistons. “In forced induction (FI) applications, erring on the low side is much safer than pushing your luck on the high side. The tuning window widens and provides more of a safety envelope in the event of a fuel pressure or delivery problem, or even a bad batch of gas. And, if the power isn’t quite there, another pound or two of boost easily makes up the difference.”


The deck clearance volume will be affected by the deck height of the block, the crankshaft stroke, the rod length and the compression height of the pistons. Note how the wrist-pin bore is further away from the crown of the piston on the left. The piston with the shorter compression height on the right allows the use of longer rods, a longer stroke or a shorter deck height. The piston manufacturer will supply the compression height for your calculations.
A number of sanctioning bodies restrict the engine’s compression ratio, depending on the class or application. If the CR is not calculated correctly, then the racer could be penalized for cheating if officials discover it’s too high. On the flip side, if the CR is lower than the allowed maximum, then the racer is giving up horsepower. Even if there are no rules for CR, the racer may be restricted to a specific of fuel. Knowing the CR will provide a strong foundation for the tuning strategy.


A burette and task-specific fixtures are needed to measure the combustion chamber volume. Much like measuring piston dome volume, the key is sealing off the chamber with a clear plate and measuring the amount of fluid it takes to fill up the chamber.
For non-racers it’s a good idea to know and understand the data necessary to calculate the CR—especially if building an engine from scratch. When ordering pistons, for example, the company’s tech reps will need to know a number of factors to ensure the desired, or at least a safe, compression ratio can be provided. If you have a used block and don’t know the deck height, or you purchased a set of heads and don’t know the combustion chamber volume, then the potential for the types of problems mentioned by Stevenson is quite probable.


To calculate dome volume: first, position the piston a measured distance into the cylinder, making sure the dome is below the deck. In this example, the piston is .150-inch in the hole. Calculate the exposed cylinder volume.
Volume= (π) x (bore radius squared) x (exposed cylinder height).
In this example, the bore (4.600in) and exposed cylinder 1.5in equals 40.9 cc. Using a burette and clear deck plate, fill the cylinder with fluid and take note of how much was needed. Here it was about 35.8 cc. Subtract the amount of fluid used from the calculated cylinder volume. The difference is the dome volume.
Doing the Math


In the old days, calculating the CR meant getting out the slide rule (really long time ago) or working through a set of formulas on a hand-held calculator. Today, finding online calculators that quickly spit out the results is only Google click away. But as the old saying goes, a computer is only as good as the quality of information it gets.

Measurements needed to determine the CR:

  • Cylinder bore diameter
  • Crankshaft stroke length
  • Head gasket bore diameter
  • Head gasket compressed thickness
  • Combustion chamber volume
  • Piston dome volume
  • Piston deck clearance volume
There are a couple of high-tech calculators online that ask for even more, such as rod length and distance from the first compression ring to the top of the piston. The latter will help provide volume above the top ring, but this measurement doesn’t usually affect the final calculation significantly and is used only in very critical applications.


Most gaskets, such as this JE Pro Seal unit, provide the gasket volume and compressed thickness values to help compute the CR.
Online calculators generally offer a choice of entering all measurements in either inches or metric, except for the combustion chamber and piston dome volumes, which are always entered as cubic centimeters or cc.

Many of today’s aftermarket suppliers provide their respective measurements for off-the-shelf parts, which is more than half the battle in quickly determining your engine’s CR within a reasonable accuracy.

“Too many people get hung up on tenths of a point in CR but fail to understand the effects of fluid dynamics due to appropriate cam selection and phasing, for example,” says Stevenson. “If everything else is well-matched, a difference in 0.1 of ratio is negligible for anything shy of maximum effort professional racing.”

Is it Decked?

The deck height is the one measurement that the engine builder will have to make for an accurate calculation. Even with a new cylinder block, new rods and new pistons, there can be a significant difference with adding up the deck height and trying to subtract half the stroke, rod length and compression height. And if the block is used and you’re not sure of its history, there’s a possibility it could have been surfaced milled—which would alter the deck height.


In order to calculate cylinder head CCs, use a piece of clear acrylic with a hole in it. Tip the head slightly so the hole is at the highest point. Use a burett and measure how much liquid it takes to fill the combustion chamber.
“The most overlooked dimension is block height. This is critical to accuracy of compression ratio since a difference in deck clearance of .020-inch yields a significant change in CR,” warns Stevenson.

Again, the CR is calculated by dividing the total swept volume by the total compressed volume. Here’s what’s involved in determining each of those totals:

The swept volume is equal to the cylinder volume + clearance volume + piston volume + gasket volume + chamber volume. The compressed volume is equal to the clearance volume + gasket volume + piston volume + chamber volume.

All of the factors must be in the same numeric value. When calculating by hand, that’s usually in cubic centimeters or CCs. Most online calculators will automatically convert standard measurements into metric and calculate such values as the clearance volume as long as you’ve correctly entered the cylinder bore and the deck-height clearance. The online calculators can also figure out the gasket volume with the correct thickness and bore, but many gasket manufacturers will provide this information in their catalogs or on the packaging.


Use a dial indicator to determine top dead center. A magnetic base makes this a quick and accurate job.
Identifying Speaks Volumes


Again, performance aftermarket companies usually supply the required numbers with new parts. Piston manufacturers will provide the dome/dish volume in + or – CCs, and cylinder head companies offer their products with different volumes to help achieve the desired compression ratio. However, it never hurts to confirm with your own measurements.

“By necessity, IC engines demand fairly tight dimensional control to operate reliably so dimensional variation must be within accepted tolerances. Quality control at the manufacturing level keeps non-conforming product from being released into service,” explains Stevenson. “Nothing is ever 100 percent, of course, which is why careful measurements are standard practice for machine shops and engine builders. Assuming and not measuring almost assures an expensive and messy outcome.”

Experienced engine builders have the proper tools for taking all the required measurements, such as a bore gauge and dial indicator. The most tedious measurements are the piston volume and the combustion chamber volume. A burett, colored liquid and task-specific fixtures are required, as noted in the accompanying photos.


Variations in machining can affect the piston's deck clearance. For that reason, it is important to check each piston and write the measured clearance on the crown.
Big-Block Chevy Example


As an example, let’s calculate the CR for a popular big-block Chevy application. Starting with a .060 over bore (4.130-inch) and 4.250-inch stroke, the swept volume of each cylinder is 62.006ci, which equates to a 496ci V8.

Rounding out the rotating assembly will be 6.385-inch rods and pistons with a 1.270-inch compression height and 18cc dome. We’re using a seasoned block that required a bit of surface finishing, so the final deck height is 9.780. The chosen cylinder heads have 118cc combustion chambers, and the head gasket has a bore of 4.375 and compressed thickness of .040. The manufacturer says the gasket volume is 9.854cc.

With that deck height and rotating assembly, there is 0.000 deck clearance. Plugging all those numbers into an online calculator we get 10.25:1. If the engine had a new block with a standard 9.800-inch deck height, the CR would drop to 9.86:1 because there would be .020-inch deck clearance.

If calculating by hand, here’s how the formula would work with the surfaced deck model:

  • Cylinder volume = 1016.094cc [(bore ÷ 2)2 x 3.1416 x stroke x 16.387]
  • Clearance volume = 0.000cc [(bore ÷ 2)2 x 3.1416 x deck height x 16.387]
  • Gasket volume = 9.9854cc [from manufacturer but formula is (bore ÷ 2)2 x 3.1416 x gasket thickness x 16.387]
  • Chamber volume = 118cc [Value from manufacturer but could be determined and/or confirmed through measurement]
  • Piston volume = -18cc [Value from manufacturer but could be determined and/or confirmed through measurement. Expressed as a negative volume because piston shape is domed. If the piston were dished or flat-top with valve reliefs, it would be expressed as a positive.]
With those numbers we add up the swept volume as 1016.094 + 0.000 + 9.985 + 118 – 18 = 1126.079. The compressed volume is 0.000 + 9.985 + 118 – 18 = 109.985. Dividing the swept volume by the compressed volume we get 10.24:1. The slight difference between the hand calculation and the online calculator is probably explained by the latter carrying out more decimals in the equation.

Once the CR is calculated, the engine builder has few options to change it without different parts or additional machining. A thicker gasket will lower the compression slightly, and a thinner gasket will boost the compression slightly. Otherwise, different pistons will have to be ordered, or the cylinder head will have to be surfaced milled to reduce the combustion chamber volume and boost the CR.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jextyKc2UN4
Altering head gasket thicknesses can help fine tune compression ratio.
Static Versus Dynamic Compression


On a final note, these calculations will compute the static compression ratio of the engine. There is also the dynamic compression ratio to consider, which is relevant to the camshaft timing. A high-CR engine will lose some of that compression pressure if the intake valve remains open t after the piston starts the compression stroke. This is refered to as intake valve closing point.

“Physics dictates the formula used to calculate CR, and none of the constants input into that formula change with RPM,” explains Stevenson. “The only exception is the change in deck clearance due to rod stretch, particularly with aluminum rods, and component deflection such as crank flex."
 
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ID point out that the fuels octane, level and consistency,
both have a huge effect on the engines potential power,
and tendency to be damaged, by detonation.
theres a great many more factors than just the fuels octane rating,

going into designing a good & durable engine combo.
for most pump gas engines, (lets say 87 octane)
your looking at about 10:1 static and maybe 8:1 dynamic as close to ideal

for most race gas engines,(lets say 105 octane)
your looking at about 12.7:1 static and maybe 10:1 dynamic as close to ideal

for most race gas, super charged or turbo engines (lets say 105 octane)
(intercoolers and oil coolers help a great deal)

your looking at about 8.5:1 static and maybe 7:1 dynamic as close to ideal

for most race gas/ alcohol engines, (E85)(averages about 102 octane)

but burns much cooler than gas
your looking at about 14.7:1 static and maybe 10:1 dynamic as close to ideal

camcomp.jpg


ethanolvsgas.jpg

intercooled-compression-ratio-chart.jpg


Octane_Requirement.gif





Quench%20and%20Squish%20area%20explained.jpg


related useful threads


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the problem with posting videos is too many people don't watch them.
(several times and all the way through if thats required)
and take notes if that's required to let you gain and retain the info/ tips and skills .
they potentially impart






ok first some facts
(1)cylinders will not be honed to true round as they will be in use with out the use of a deck plate to simulate and duplicate the bolt clamp stress on the cylinder walls, bores in blocks without a head or deck plate with the bolts or studs torqued to spec are not nearly the same shape before having the torqued studs bolts stress applied, theres almost no chance of getting a good ring seal without having the bores honed with a deck plate
always read, understand and follow the piston manufacturers guide for piston to bore clearance and how you measure that correctly
YOU NEED TO KNOW what is the piston to bore side clearance, where on the piston in relation to the pin,it will need to be accurately measured,in relation too the piston pin bore axis and piston top,surface, and how you measure it according to the manufacturer, and how did you measure both the piston and the bore and whats your ring gap supposed too be set at?
think carefully about both the initial cost and the structural strength of the engine block you select, the OEM blocks used in production car engines will RARELY accept a .030 plus over bore with out having one or more cylinders having marginally thin bore walls, this results in inadequate bore to ring sealing if its in the wrong area and promotes stress cracks. A .060 over bore in a SBC is rather commonly pushing that bore wall thickness up to or over a reasonable limit so you need to sonic and magnetically check the block for cracks and wall thickness.
you could easily dump $500-$1500 into machine work on a block that won't last more than a few months under high stress if its not carefully checked PRIOR to the machine work being done.

DSC02897.jpg

ringapl1.jpg

be sure you, measure EACH bore and EACH piston,
(CORRECTLY with the proper tools in the way the tool and piston manufacturers suggested)
and number them on an engine build sheet indicating the bore and piston diam.
from large to smallest on each and install them on each cylinder to get the most consistent piston to bore clearance's
yes the difference may only be a few ten thousands if the bores are machined correctly, but you'll get the best results , most consistent lubrication, best durability and less heat build up that might result in detonation issues that way. its the little things that add up to making a good durable engine assembly,
BTW check rod orientation, so the beveled sides don't fact the adjacent rods, and check the bearing clearances with plasti guage

ringgapl1.jpg
btw
its standard practice to cc the combustion chambers, in the cylinder heads and the piston domes,(obviously check quenck and piston pin height, and clearances , mpisyton to head clearance, valve to piston cleances also,
(usually the piston domes volume is generally measured with the piston deck or quench surface rotated down the bore , exactly 1 inch) use your caliper or dial indicator and piston bridge)and the rings sealed temporarily with a bith of grease or paraffin to make sure you'll be dealing with as close as possible to the exact same compression ratio, in each cylinder, mark each piston with a indulable black magic marker A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H
and the bores 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 so you don't get measurements on the build sheet confused between bore diam and piston diam, and you can also not confuse dme volume on each piston
ringgapl2.png
 
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