Design and Fabrication of Hollow Structured Flat-Free Non-Pneumatic Tyres for Bicycle

Abstract

Non-Pneumatic Tyres (NPT) are a single entity which replaces the conventional pneumatic tyres in transportation applications. Major research has been conducted to design and fabricate a working prototype of such tyre which can replace the pneumatic tyres in all type of vehicles. However, so far only NPT designed and tested are targeted in the heavy machinery and military transportations to replace the presence of air in the tyre. Design and prototyping of a non-pneumatic tyre for high-speed automobiles, three-wheelers and bikes remains a challenge till now. Major cause of this is the shearing of the material of non-pneumatic tyres which occurs at high-speed maneuvering of vehicle. Air causes potential problems linked with puncture, leaks, thermal stresses, and high internal pressure. This research focuses on the analysis, and study of materials and hollow structural elements which can form the basis of a fully functional non-pneumatic tyre, design of NPT targeted to be used in a bicycle and fabrication of a pair of NPTs which can replace a conventional air-tyre in a utility bicycle.