Hello.
I belive that best way to find out connecting rod strength is by using FEM. There are nice plugins for Solidworks. If you don't have access to it there are shareware tools around. Model your connecting rod. Place the restraints, chose material. Do a FEM analysis, check out the loads and flush all this Origami crap.
Doing rod strength analysis by cutting paper is like curing a cancer with herbs.
I have basic knowledge of CAD but managed to model an adapter plate and do FEM analysis of it in matter of few days.
P.S.
Snowman, you have been overrun by time/progress. I understand that you, being retired , feel great urge to teach the world & dog all your knowledge of physics, politics, engineering and whatnot but your ego is in terrible disproportion to your actual skills/knowledge. I find many of your posts inflamatoric, self-congratulatory and often plain wrong. Just in case you wonder why people react negativly on some of your posts.