MESSAGE FROM
THE DEAN
It’s with great admiration of the work of the team of ESPS I write this message to Gauge 2015, the annual publication of ESPS
(Engineering Students’ Publication Society).
Gauge magazine, an initiative of ESPS, is a great opportunity available for students to develop closeness to journalism, sharing current topics of importance of the Faculty, with its readership worldwide. This exercise of the ESPS certainly helps those involved, to
develop good writing and communication skills, which are very important to the Engineering students.
I am delighted to see a high quality of the articles and graphics contributed by the students of Faculty of Engineering, with comparable professional touch and quality, covering a range of Engineering disciplines.
I am certain that the tremendous enthusiasm of our students, and ESPS in particular, on bringing out Gauge will continue to maintain high quality journalism and timely delivery of important news of the Faculty.
PROF. LEELANANDA RAJAPAKSHA
Dean, Faculty of Engineering
University of Peradeniya
COVER STORY: BLAST FROM THE PAST
The image which decorates the cover of this issue of the magazine is a photograph of Alvis Leonides- Radial Aero Engine,
yet another valuable and unique resource at Applied Mechanics Laboratory of Department of Mechanical Engineering. Two
of these engines were donated to the Applied Mechanics Laboratory in early 80s by Sri Lanka Air force, one kept sectioned
at the entrance of the laboratory and the other one is dismantled into parts for the convenience of studying.
Dr. T. Vinayagalingam, a former Senior Lecturer, initiated the sectioning of the engine so that the elements of the engine
could be studied easily.
Alvis Leonides Radial Engine was first developed in 1936 by Alvis in the UK led by Capt. George Thomas Smith Clarke.
Further development of the engine was retarded due to the Second World War and in 1950 this was further developed as
Alvis Leonides Major.
This is a 9 Cylinder four stroke air cooled static radial aero engine with a super charger and a reduction gear with a maximum cruising altitude of 9,000ft (2,750m) and maximum fuel consumption of 50 gal/hr (190 L/hr). Its rated at a maximum
take-off power of 500BHP (370kW). Note that most radials have an odd number of cylinders.
In an aero engine the Power to Weight ratio is one of the most important parameters and this is optimized in a radial engine
by placing the pistons radially. If these nine pistons are kept in line it would occupy approximately 2m whereas this space
requirement is minimized by placing them radially.
These engines dominated the aircraft industry during 1940s and 1950s until they were replaced by turbo engines. Nowadays
this type of radial engines could be found still functioning in light aircrafts.
Cover Story by PRASAN PREMATHILAKA
Photographed by PRASANNA RODRIGO
A cut-away model of a radial engine showing the internal working could be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyPvpdy4dgg
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Gauge Newsletter
University of Peradeniya