Parametric finite element analysis of bicycle frame geometries

This paper has outlined a FE model using beam elements to represent a standard road bicycle frame. The model simulates two standard loading conditions to understand the vertical compliance and lateral stiffness characteristics of 82 existing bicycle frames from the bicycle geometry project and compares these characteristics to an optimised solution in these conditions. Perhaps unsurprisingly smaller frames (490mm seat tube) behave the most favourably in terms of both vertical compliance and lateral stiffness, while the shorter top tube length (525mm) and larger head tube angle (74.5°) results in a laterally stiffer frame which corresponds with findings from literature. The optimised values show a considerable improvement over the best of the existing frames, with a 13% increase in vertical displacement and 15% decrease in lateral displacement when compared to the best of the analysed frames. The model has been developed to allow for further develop to include more detailed tube geometry, further analysis of more frame geometries, alternative materials, and analysis of other structural characteristics.