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: