A connecting rod is the core component of an engine which has a function to transmit power released from combustion from the piston to the crankshaft. Deformation is the most commonly occurring damage to connecting rods. The connecting rods made of structural steel, aluminium alloy and titanium alloy were designed using Autodesk Inventor and analysed using ANSYS. The simulations showed the following results. The connecting rod made of structural steel had the highest maximum stress of 82.791 MPa. The connecting rod made of aluminium alloy had the highest maximum deformation of 0.84071 mm. The three connecting rod materials had the same maximum safety factor, i.e. 15.

The combustion of fuel takes place inside the cylinder with the oxygen of the air, producing a very high-pressure combustion gas. The combustion gas does work on the piston and then passes through the connecting rod to the crankshaft. The reciprocating translational motion of the piston may damage the connecting rod. A simulation using ANSYS was performed on each of the three connecting rod materials. Results showed that the maximum deformation occurred in the connecting rod made of structural steel, aluminium alloy, and titanium alloy was 0.239 mm, 0.672 mm, and 0.496 mm, respectively.