Frame components of performance bicycles
Today the issue of composite materials have become the norm in the manufacturing industries. People prefer the combinations because of the less engineering problems involved as well as the efficiency on the outcome. The issue of reinforcement of two or more merged but differing materials catalyzes the formation of better products.
The production of the composite bicycle frame that combines a metal spine in the midst of a fibre reinforced plastics have been in the market for quite a while but the materials keep changing to allow better performance and cater for improvements. The combination involves metal lugs and plastics that reinforcements with fibre. The modern frames mainly comprise of steel and fibre but the most recent combination involves carbon fibre tubes. (Jeukendrup, 17)
The bicycles made of composite high strength and lightweight metal tubes such as titanium or tubes and carbon fibres have indicated better performance at lower rates. The main aim of the performance bicycles manufactures is to come up with a lightweight but relatively strongly framed bicycle for a good quality ride.
Today’s technology demands for a bicycle frame that is able to withstand the shocks of the rough roads. The combination of materials ought to give out lightweight as well as strength. The most preferred metals may arguably be titanium, aluminium, steel and some plastics reinforced with carbon fibre. Metals such as titanium provides the required low weight and improved steel structure, which supports transmission power even under the harsh and complex motions during the performance.
Comparison between the leg movement and wheel rotation during activity causes the sideways overload especially at the lower part of the frame. According to US Patent Storm (2006), “the carbon fibre provides light weight and strength with requisite stiffness and shock absorption for steering and power transmission under the load imposed in the top region of the bicycle”.
The main difference between the composite metals is their isotopic nature. They have a directional dependent behaviour such that they behave similarly in all the directions. The main differences between these materials and non-composite ones, is the product formed during production process.
The versatility of fibrous composites materials is higher as opposed to metals. Modification utilized meets performance requirements as well as complexity of the activities. The carbon fibre enforced alloy has four to five times more strength over steel or aluminium. The flexibility and shock absorbent ability enables them to endure fatigue more than other metals.
Enhancement of the metal
The carbon-reinforced epoxies provide support for very high strengths or heavy loads and at the some time has low weights and huge freedom for shape. Carbon is a flexible material that allows simple production of complex parts and ease in modification. It has elevated scale for integration where stiffeners and other core units need implementation to suit specific needs.
They have excellent fatigue survival ability compared to single metals. Investigations indicate that such allowances resist chemicals such as acids. The alloys are long lasting due to their ability to resist environmental harsh conditions such as water resistance to avoid corrosion. Their thermal seclusion ability, ability to retard fire and ability to perform under high temperatures enables it to be preferred over other general metals. (Mitchell, 2006)
Current design and usage problems
The bicycles have unique parts produced differently on a daily basis, which requires one to contact the manufacturing industry even for the simplest spare parts such as treads. The user might not have a choice other than place an order. There is need for manufacturing standards that allow every new product to comply to facilitate interchanging of parts.
Today’s bicycles parts manufacturing involves different manufactures. The assembling to single units applies later on. The manufacturing standards ensure perfect fits and functionality. The bicycle components often fracture and this calls for standardizing the testing units and procedures.
Conclusion
People ought to know that current bicycles undergo standardization for various weights and thus we should not bleach the usage. There are quite a number of benefits associated with the standards such as diversity of the equipments, establishment of performance criterion and enhancement of safety.
Works Cited
Jeukendrup, Asker. E. High-performance cycling. Human Kinetics, 2002 113
Mitchell, David. A. ‘Bicycle Safety and Bicycle Standards’. ASTM InternationalWest Conshohocken, PA 2006. Web.
US Patent Storm. Metal and reinforced plastic composite bicycle frame. 2006. Web.