Improvement proposal in the structural system of a15” R29 rigid mountain bike frame, with fea and geometric optimization

Main Article Content

Juan P. Guamán https://orcid.org/0009-0005-6245-8345
Hugo E. Crespo https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2404-2078
César A. Paltán https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8673-0909
Jorge I. Fajardo https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1047-398X

Abstract

Currently, the practice of cycling has had a considerable increase, as well as the use of mountain bikes (MTB) with rigid frames, used as a means of transportation and for competition, due to their affordable cost. This type of bicycles, when used for various purposes, present varied stresses in its frame, which leads to exceed the design requirements, presenting failures in the upper chainstays. This type of failure will be analized in this study, which is why the information regarding the frame material, acting loads and 3D modeling is collected. Subsequently, a homologation analysis of the failure is generated and an improvement proposal is determined by applying geometric optimization, where a thickness of 3,50 mm is determined in the upper sheaths, guaranteeing the resistance of the bicycle frame under the study conditions; that is, a drop of 60 cm and a load of 74 kg, this guarantees that the stress in the upper chainstays does not exceed the ultimate stress of the material of 890,94 MPa.