Mean effective pressure
| Mean effective pressure | |
|---|---|
| Common symbols | p | 
| SI unit | Pascal (Pa) | 
| In SI base units | 1 kg⋅m−1⋅s−2 | 
| Derivations from other quantities | p = W·V−1 | 
| Dimension | |
The mean effective pressure (MEP) is a quantity relating to the operation of a reciprocating engine and is a measure of an engine's capacity to do work that is independent of engine displacement. Despite having the dimension of pressure, MEP cannot be measured. When quoted as an indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP), it may be thought of as the average pressure acting on a piston during the different portions of its cycle. When friction losses are subtracted from the IMEP, the result is the brake mean effective pressure (BMEP).