Research on the performance optimization of the cam linkage mechanism for marine diesel engines

Abstract In this paper, the impact of friction and wear in the flat bottom mechanism of a diesel engine on the reliability and durability of the valve train is investigated. A method for establishing a dynamic contact model is proposed, including the establishment of the cam profile equation, force analysis at the contact point, calculation of the curvature radius, and derivation of contact stress. Through the derivation of wear depth and structural optimization analysis, the proposed method can be used to optimize the cam profile and improve the service life and work efficiency of the valve train. The results show that the optimized cam follower’s life is increased by 31.8%, and the contact stress is decreased by 16.5%. This study is of great significance for improving the power and efficiency of diesel engines.