Best Suspension System for Bicycles | BE Student

  • Thread starter Thread starter Hareesh Venkatraan
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Bicycle Suspension
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the best type of suspension system for bicycles, particularly in the context of a bicycle designed to carry a flywheel and motor. Participants also explore the specifications for a motor capable of driving a load associated with this setup. The conversation includes technical considerations, design requirements, and the implications of using different materials for the flywheel.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants inquire about the specific type of bicycle for which the suspension is needed, noting that different bicycles (racer, mountain, commuter) have varying suspension requirements.
  • There is confusion regarding the load specifications, with some participants clarifying that the bicycle will carry a 15 kg flywheel, a motor, and a driver, rather than just a 5 kg load.
  • Participants discuss the need for a suspension system that can withstand an overall weight of 90-100 kg, with suggestions to consider standard mountain bike suspension components.
  • One participant questions the necessity of a suspension based on the intended use of the bicycle, suggesting that if it is for city streets, a suspension may not be needed.
  • Concerns are raised about the implications of mounting a heavy flywheel on a light bicycle, with calls for clarification on what is meant by a "special type" of flywheel.
  • There is a discussion about the material of the flywheel, with one participant stating that aluminum is chosen for its lighter weight compared to iron or steel, while another questions the choice of material based on energy storage needs.
  • Participants emphasize the importance of specifying design calculations and requirements to better assist in the discussion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best suspension system or the specifications for the motor. There are multiple competing views regarding the necessity of suspension, the type of flywheel, and the overall design requirements for the bicycle.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the design parameters, including the intended use of the bicycle, the specific requirements for the flywheel, and the implications of using different materials. There are unresolved questions about the design calculations and how they relate to the overall project.

Hareesh Venkatraan
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
Hello,
I need to know what is the best type of susension system for bicycles.And also rating of a motor to drive a 5 kg load.I am still studying B E .Please it is urgent. Thaks for helping.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Engineering news on Phys.org
Hello Hareesh, :welcome:

Best type of suspension for what bicycle ? Racer bikes have no suspension; mountain bikes have front and rear, my commuter bike has front only (and I don't like it).

A BE student should understand a specification like "drive a 5 kg load" is inadequate. Does it have to lift 5 kg in a month ? Then a toy motor is good enough.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: billy_joule
BvU said:
Hello Hareesh, :welcome:

Best type of suspension for what bicycle ? Racer bikes have no suspension; mountain bikes have front and rear, my commuter bike has front only (and I don't like it).

A BE student should understand a specification like "drive a 5 kg load" is inadequate. Does it have to lift 5 kg in a month ? Then a toy motor is good enough.
For running a flywheel.I am sorry it is a 15 kg flywheel.The suspension should withstand an overall of 90-100 kg.So can you prefer a cheap one, please?
 
I'm very weak at telepathy. What's this about ? Running a 15 kg flywheel with a "5 kg load" motor, designing suspension for a racing bike that carries 5kg load, a 15 kg flywheel plus a motor and perhaps also a car battery ?
:smile:
 
Hareesh your questions are not clear ,I think there are two things which need two answers
 
No its a 15 kg flywheel,not a 5 kg load.The cycle carries the flywheel, motor and the driver.
 
Hareesh Venkatraan said:
I need to know what is the best type of susension system for bicycles.And also rating of a motor to drive a 5 kg load.I am still studying B E .Please it is urgent. Thaks for helping.
Hareesh Venkatraan said:
For running a flywheel.I am sorry it is a 15 kg flywheel.The suspension should withstand an overall of 90-100 kg.So can you prefer a cheap one, please?
Why not just use standard mountain bike suspension components? They come in a wide range of prices...

http://www.davescheapbikes.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/cheap-dual-suspension-mountain-bikes.png
cheap-dual-suspension-mountain-bikes.png
 
Hareesh Venkatraan said:
Please it is urgent
Perhaps this is too late then. But you started a potentially interesting thread. Maybe next time it'll go better if you are a bit more complete in describing what you are after. My post #4 was intended to be slightly ironic -- sorry, I can't help it :rolleyes:.

But even after a week it isn't clear to me what kind of bike this is for, whether you need front and rear or only one of the two and, especially: why you would want a suspension at all. Comfort ? Performance ? Or because it was a requirement in the design assignment you were given ?

The PF homework fora all have a template starting with

Homework Statement

and a full statement would have been very helpful here !
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: berkeman
Just about any size motor will turn a flywheel at a constant speed. What matters is how fast it must go and how fast it must reach that speed. You also need to know the moment of inertia and the operating voltage.
 
  • #10
Hareesh Venkatraan said:
No its a 15 kg flywheel,not a 5 kg load.The cycle carries the flywheel, motor and the driver.
It would seem that the flywheel should be a special type if you are going to mount it on a bicycle. A 15kg flywheel on a light bicycle can do some scary things if you don't use a special type of flywheel. Can you comment on that @Hareesh Venkatraan?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Rx7man
  • #11
berkeman said:
It would seem that the flywheel should be a special type if you are going to mount it on a bicycle. A 15kg flywheel on a light bicycle can do some scary things if you don't use a special type of flywheel. Can you comment on that @Hareesh Venkatraan?
After design calculations I found the actual weight of the flywheel to be fitted as 7 kg.It is an aluminium flywheel.So I need a motor to rotate the flywheel and am thinking about powering the motor by solar energy.
 
  • #12
Still unclear. As mentioned above, the faster you want to accelerate the flywheel then the more force and power you need. If the flywheel delivers any energy to the bicycle then that has to be known, and some recovery rate must be specified. If the bike is going to ride on city streets then no suspension is needed. If it's going to ride along railroad ties then a very compliant suspension is needed.

Try to fill in the unknowns and the community will try to help.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Hareesh Venkatraan
  • #13
Hareesh Venkatraan said:
After design calculations
What design calculations ? Do you understand it still isn't clear what it is you are trying to do ? You start with a question about suspension and end up with the outcome of a design calculation for a flywheel. Please be complete. Is there a problem statement ?

You tell us it's an aluminum flywheel. Why ? Because aluminum is lighter than iron :smile: ?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Hareesh Venkatraan
  • #14
Hareesh Venkatraan said:
After design calculations I found the actual weight of the flywheel to be fitted as 7 kg.It is an aluminium flywheel.So I need a motor to rotate the flywheel and am thinking about powering the motor by solar energy.
Did you understand my comment below? It's pretty important...
berkeman said:
It would seem that the flywheel should be a special type if you are going to mount it on a bicycle
 
  • #15
berkeman said:
Did you understand my comment below? It's pretty important...
Can't understand what is "special". Please can you elaborate?
 
  • #16
OldYat47 said:
Still unclear. As mentioned above, the faster you want to accelerate the flywheel then the more force and power you need. If the flywheel delivers any energy to the bicycle then that has to be known, and some recovery rate must be specified. If the bike is going to ride on city streets then no suspension is needed. If it's going to ride along railroad ties then a very compliant suspension is needed.

Try to fill in the unknowns and the community will try to help.
Do you know about the roads in India?I am designing for these roads
 
  • #17
BvU said:
What design calculations ? Do you understand it still isn't clear what it is you are trying to do ? You start with a question about suspension and end up with the outcome of a design calculation for a flywheel. Please be complete. Is there a problem statement ?

You tell us it's an aluminum flywheel. Why ? Because aluminum is lighter than iron :smile: ?
Its density is less and occupies less weight fo given volume than iron or steel.

I need to design a bicycle with a flywheel and I also decided to put a suspension in it.
 
  • #18
Hareesh Venkatraan said:
Its density is less and occupies less weight fo given volume than iron or steel.

A flywheel made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) would occupy even less weight for a given volume than aluminum, iron or steel :-)

Is the flywheel for energy storage or stability or ?

If it's for energy storage then how much energy do you want it to store? That dictates how fast it must spin and it's moment of inertia. The moment of inertia effects it's weight and size. If the size is constrained then the heavier the flywheel the more energy it can store. So why would you want to use an aluminium flywheel?
 
  • #19
CWatters said:
A flywheel made from expanded polystyrene (EPS) would occupy even less weight for a given volume than aluminum, iron or steel :-)

Is the flywheel for energy storage or stability or ?

If it's for energy storage then how much energy do you want it to store? That dictates how fast it must spin and it's moment of inertia. The moment of inertia effects it's weight and size. If the size is constrained then the heavier the flywheel the more energy it can store. So why would you want to use an aluminium flywheel?
It is cost effective and also occupies less volume .
It is used for storage purose.
 
  • #20
An aluminium flywheel would require MORE volume than an iron or steel flywheel.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
3K
Replies
13
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 40 ·
2
Replies
40
Views
7K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
7K
Replies
3
Views
4K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 58 ·
2
Replies
58
Views
9K
  • · Replies 14 ·
Replies
14
Views
3K