The S.A.E. National Aeronautic Meeting

THE maximum advantage from the use of titanium in a reciprocating engine should come from the substitution of alloys equal in strength to present steels for crankshafts and connecting rods. Titanium alloys are in use which have tensile properties at the temperatures involved equal to those of alloy steels used in the engine considered for example. On this engine the weight‐saving would be about 77 lb. Full scale testing is necessary before the effects of titanium's tendency to cold welding, and low elastic modulus, can be evaluated. Laboratory research into wear‐resisting properties of surface‐hardened titanium has not gone far enough to be conclusive and its use for crankshaft centres and gears should be deferred.