Energy Based Slider-Crank Mathematical Model

The slider-crank mechanism is frequently applied in various applications across mechanical devices. The main utility of the mechanism is for conversion of thermodynamic energy to mechanical work and vice-versa. This case is commonly encountered in heat engines, compressors and pumps. The mathematical model that is used to design and investigate the behavior of the mechanism is ideal and it takes the angular velocity of the crank as input. The model is mainly used to determine the dynamic loads that act on the mechanism relative to time and also to determine the slider position relative to crank angle. In this paper an alternative mathematical model is proposed. This model is the outcome of an energetic analysis of the mechanism starting from the assumption that the kinematic parameters of the mechanism are given by the total amount of kinetic energy that is stored at that moment in the system.