Design, Analysis and Manufacturing of Front Sprocket of a Bicycle using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics

Abstract

Sprocket is an essential part of a bicycle which converts rotating motion of the sprocket to linear movement of the bicycle. During operation, teeth of the sprocket mesh with the chain. Ride of a bicycle is a labour intensive process. Use of light materials parts in a bicycle instead of conventional materials can reduce a significant amount of weight, and rider need to apply lower force to drive it. In geared cycles, different sized sprockets are employed which incorporated a substantial amount of weight to it. Composite materials are very strong and lightweight materials. The strength to weight ratio of the composite materials is very high, and they are able to replace traditional metals and alloys in several applications. Along with strength, durability and lightweight, the use of composite material also improves the aesthetic look of the component. Carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) is a high strength composite material that is used abundantly in various industries. In this work, virtual and experimental analysis of CFRP bicycle sprocket was carried out. The attributes showed by the CFRP sprocket were compared with the traditional sprocket. The problems faced by the CFRP sprocket fitted bicycle in real life conditions is also documented.