1. What is Piston Speed?

Piston speed, also known as mean piston speed, is the average speed of a piston moving up and down in the cylinder bore during one complete crankshaft revolution. It's an important parameter in engine design and performance analysis.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the piston speed formula:

Where:

• Stroke — Length of piston travel in meters
• RPM — Engine revolutions per minute
• 300 — Conversion factor to get result in m/s

Explanation: The formula calculates the average speed by considering how far the piston travels (stroke × 2) per revolution and how many revolutions occur per minute, then converting to meters per second.

3. Importance of Piston Speed Calculation

Details: Piston speed affects engine durability, performance, and efficiency. Higher piston speeds increase mechanical stress and heat generation, requiring stronger components and better cooling.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter stroke length in meters and engine RPM. Typical values range from 5-25 m/s for automotive engines at maximum RPM.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a typical piston speed for car engines?
A: Most production car engines have maximum piston speeds between 15-20 m/s, while high-performance engines may reach 25 m/s or more.

Q2: Why is piston speed important?
A: It helps determine engine durability requirements, valve timing, and indicates potential limitations for increasing RPM.

Q3: What's the difference between mean and maximum piston speed?
A: Mean speed is what this calculator shows. Maximum speed occurs mid-stroke and is about 1.57 times higher than the mean speed.

Q4: How does stroke length affect piston speed?
A: Longer stroke increases piston speed at the same RPM, which is why short-stroke engines can typically rev higher.

Q5: What piston speeds do Formula 1 engines achieve?
A: Modern F1 engines with short strokes can achieve mean piston speeds over 25 m/s at their 15,000+ RPM limits.