Calculating Flywheel Inertia: Get Answers Here

  • Context: Undergrad 
  • Thread starter Thread starter wun911
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Inertia
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the calculation of flywheel inertia, exploring how factors such as diameter and weight distribution affect inertia. Participants are interested in both theoretical and practical approaches to determining inertia, including potential testing methods.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether inertia depends solely on diameter or also on the distribution of weight throughout the flywheel.
  • Another participant explains that mass on the outer rim of a flywheel must travel faster than mass closer to the center, suggesting that reducing mass on the outer rim is more effective for lowering moment of inertia.
  • It is mentioned that calculating moment of inertia can be done through hand calculations or using CAD/FEA software, particularly for complex shapes like flywheels.
  • A link to a resource for calculating flywheel inertia is provided, indicating that there are tools available for this purpose.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying views on the factors affecting flywheel inertia, particularly regarding weight distribution and the methods for calculation. No consensus is reached on the best approach or the necessity of physical testing.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the uniformity of weight distribution and the complexity of calculations are not fully explored. The discussion does not resolve the implications of different weight distributions on inertia calculations.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in mechanical engineering, physics, or automotive performance may find this discussion relevant, particularly those looking to understand the dynamics of flywheels and inertia calculations.

wun911
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
Im interested in finding how they calculated the inertia of these flywheels.

http://todaracingusa.com/category?section=product&omid=6&cid=12&id=51

Even If I knew the diameter of the flywheel doesn't inertia also depend on how the weight is distributed thoughout the flywheel?

Ie its better to lose weight off the outer edge of the wheel than to shave the same amount of weight off the middle of the flywheel? (I want it to store less energy so I can plant my foot down and go faster)

Do I have to physically test it to find its inertia and if so how do I go about doing this?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Mass that has to travel fast takes more energy. If you have a circle, the mass on the outer rim has to travel much faster than the mass on the inside (the circumference is larger further out, hence the mass must move faster). So to lower the circles moment of inertia, you want to lose the fast traveling mass on the outside rim.

The equations are calculated using some calculus, which are more complicated if the weight is not evenly distributed.
 
As stated above what you are after is the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moment_of_inertia" . This can be found using simple hand calculations or by the use of CAD or FEA software. For something as complex as flywheel they probably used CAD software.
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Similar threads

Undergrad How to transfer angular momentum between two flywheels?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
3K
Undergrad How find moment of inertia for car in turn?
  • · Replies 49 ·
2
Replies
49
Views
6K
High School Flywheel Inertia: Calculating Mass & Radius
  • · Replies 31 ·
2
Replies
31
Views
6K
High School The physics of flywheel launchers (like tennis ball shooters)
  • · Replies 60 ·
3
Replies
60
Views
8K
Calculating Flywheel Inertia Using Conservation of Energy Equations?
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
2K
Undergrad What is the formula for calculating RPMs of a flywheel with external force?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
Undergrad Moment of inertia of human body with limbs at an angle
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
2K
Undergrad How Is Power Calculated in a Rotating System with Variable Speed?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Undergrad How Can I Calculate Flywheel Spin-Up Time for Various Mass and Shape Options?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
6K
Help with flywheel / clutch calculations
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
4K