Design of a Bicycle Wheel with Shock Absorption Ability

Abstract

Wheel is an important part in the overall structure of bicycles. So performances of wheels have a great influence on the performances of bicycles. For example, if we improve the shock absorption of wheels, the bicycle will have better riding comfort. Traditional bicycle wheel absorbs shock from rough roads using the tire. In this paper, we propose a new design concept for the bicycle wheel with shock absorption ability. Firstly, we perform force analysis for the bicycle wheels. In order to verify our calculation, we conduct the finite element simulation analysis. The calculations and simulations have good consistency. Based on the calculations and simulations, we replace the steel spokes with some soft materials. Through impact test, we find that the bicycle with shock absorbing wheels has better riding comfort than traditional one. Meanwhile, the soft materials reduce the weight of wheels. So the overall performances of bicycle are improved significantly.