Abstract: A connecting rod includes a connecting rod body having a piston end, an opposing crank end, and a shank extending between the piston and crank ends. The connecting rod body aligns along a longitudinal plane that extends between respective centers of the piston and crank ends. The shank has a cross-sectional area that is symmetric about the longitudinal plane. The shank includes a web having a web wall that includes a central portion. The web wall defines a pair of first cavities and a pair of second cavities wherein the central portion is positioned between the pair of first cavities and the pair of second cavities such that the first cavities are offset from the second cavities. The first cavities are larger than the second cavities. The first cavities are positioned closer to the piston end and the second cavities are positioned closer to the crank end.

Abstract: A connecting rod including a connecting rod body having a piston end, an opposing crank end, and a shank extending between the piston and the crank ends. The connecting rod body has a longitudinal plane LP that extends between respective centers of the piston and the crank ends. The longitudinal plane LP extends between a center axis at the piston end and a center axis at the crank end of the connecting rod. The shank has an I-beam cross-sectional shape and stiffness that are asymmetrical relative to the longitudinal plane LP. The shank includes a first column portion having an offset side surface, a second column portion having an anti-offset side surface, and a web positioned closer to the anti-offset side surface. The anti-offset side surface and the offset side surface are each substantially parallel to the longitudinal plane.