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Rationale
In order to move in a real environment a bicycle requires frictional
interactions with the road surface. Wet or icy road surfaces can strongly
impact the ability of the cyclist to accelerate or change direction. Friction
also plays a role in the work required to move the bicycle as it is responsible
for energy dissipation in the bearings, in chain/sprocket interactions,
etc.. The steering force will also contain a friction component. Brake performance
is strongly dependent upon the friction between the brake pads and the
wheel rim, particularly on the wetness of the contact region. Some of these
energy dissipation processes also occur in other HPVs and increase the work
output required from the human engine if performance is to be maintained. Experience
has shown that friction forces may be modified through the use of lubricants.
This
laboratory will explore the friction interaction between
two materials and the effects of lubrication on this interaction. Various material
types will be employed. It will also study the behavior of a system
responding to friction forces as well as a force acting through the center of
mass of the system, a tip-slip trade off. The effect of these behaviors on
the design of HPVs should be the directing question. |
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