3-Dimensional FE Analysis and Optimization of Bike Structure

The major challenge in design of bike structure is to produce a lightweight and potentially stiff bike frame structure, which takes the structural response of the original bike frame into account. This is done by performing a topology optimization with the objective to improve the structural stiffness and to reduce the weight of the bike space frame structure. Four different load cases are applied to the bike frame, one rider weight case, one bump hit case and two fork moment cases which are, weighted equally when optimizing. When comparing the result of the analyses, the maximal displacement, the Von Mises stresses, stiffness and the weight of the bike frame are considered. The final optimized bike frame has overall homogenous stress distribution with a reduction of the maximal displacement thus it increases stiffness.