Induction heat treatment is a common method for hardening and tempering of crankshafts, which are necessary components in almost every internal combustion engine for cars, trucks, and machinery, as well as pumps, compressors, and other devices. Similar to crankshafts, camshafts also belong to the same group of the critical engine/powertrain components. This article focuses on induction technologies used for surface hardening and tempering of automotive crankshafts, and provides general information on U-shaped inductors with crankshaft rotation and clamshell or split inductors without crankshaft rotation and their pros and cons. It also describes the effect of post-heat-treatment processes in crankshafts. The article concludes with a discussion on induction hardening of camshafts that focuses on those used in automobiles and truck engines.

This article focuses on friction, lubrication, and wear of internal combustion engine parts, improvements in which provide important gains in energy efficiency, performance, and longevity of the internal combustion (IC) engine systems. It discusses the types, component materials, and Friction and Wear Control of IC engine. The article explains the process of friction reduction by surface textures or coatings. It provides information on surface hardening of iron and steel, which is commonly employed for engine and powertrain components such as crankshafts, cams, and cylinder liners. The article also discusses advanced surface engineering technologies, such as diamondlike carbon coatings and surface texture technology. Information on thermal-spray methods that have led to improvements in engine components is also provided. The article describes IC engine-components wear, namely, piston assembly wear, valvetrain wear, cylinder-bore wear, and engine bearing wear. It concludes with information on inlet valve and seat wear of IC engine.

Failure analysis is an investigative process that uses visual observations of features present on a failed component fracture surface combined with component and environmental conditions to determine the root cause of a failure. The primary means of recording the conditions and features observed during a failure analysis investigation is photography. Failure analysis photographic imaging is a combination of both science and art; experience and proper imaging techniques are required to produce an accurate and meaningful fracture surface photograph. This article reviews photographic principles and techniques as applied to failure analysis, both in the field and in the laboratory. The discussion covers the processes involved in field and laboratory photographic documentations, provides a description of professional digital cameras, and gives information on photographic lighting and microscopic photography. Special techniques can be employed to deal with highly reflective conditions and are also described in this article.