A doe approach for evaluating the effect of bicycle properties on stability

The effect on stability of mass, geometric and stiffness parameters of a bicycle with compliant frame, fork and wheel is studied. Critical stiffnesses of the structural elements are identified by means of specific experimental tests based on modal analysis and static stiffness measurement. Numerical stability analysis is carried out by means of a MATLAB code and simulations are planned with the design of experiment (DOE) approach. Numerical results show that the rigid body properties that have the main influence on self-stability are front wheel radius, longitudinal position of the center of mass and trail. Compliance of structural elements has a small effect on self-stability, but causes the appearance of a wobble mode that may be unstable at high speed.