Simulating the Motion of a Bicycle on a Flat Surface
Application ID: 32581
This model demonstrates the motion of a bicycle with a hands-free rider when given an initial forward velocity and perturbed with a lean about the forward axis.
This is implemented through the Multibody Dynamics module in COMSOL.
The wheels of the bicycle have been modelled assuming knife-edge contact with the ground and pure rolling constraints have been implemented.
Stability analysis was conducted through parametric studies to understand the effect of variation of initial forward velocity and steer axis tilt.
This model example illustrates applications of this type that would nominally be built using the following products:
however, additional products may be required to completely define and model it. Furthermore, this example may also be defined and modeled using components from the following product combinations:
The combination of COMSOL® products required to model your application depends on several factors and may include boundary conditions, material properties, physics interfaces, and part libraries. Particular functionality may be common to several products. To determine the right combination of products for your modeling needs, review the Specification Chart and make use of a free evaluation license. The COMSOL Sales and Support teams are available for answering any questions you may have regarding this.