Roll no:-403,440 D Div 4th semester Mechanical.

CASE STUDY ON THE MIDDLE CYLINDER OF THE PEDAL

The bicycle pedal is the part of a bicycle that the rider pushes with their foot to propel the
bicycle. It provides the connection between the cyclist's foot or shoe and the crank allowing the
leg to turn the bottom bracket spindle and propel the bicycle's wheels. A pedal usually consists
of a spindle that threads into the end of the crank, and a body on which the foot rest is
attached, that is free to rotate on bearings with respect to the spindle.

Middle cylinder of the pedal

The middle part of the pedal plays the important role because the load total applied to the
pedal is basically applied to this component. This component is majorly used in the vintage type
of platform pedals many new bicycle pedals have avoided this component because of various
reasons which we will discuss in the later part. This part is fixed to the pedal body through
mechanical fasteners. Both ends of this hollow cylinder is internally threaded to support the
assembly.
DESIGNING OF THE COMPONENT
 Functions of the component
1. To provide the structural support to the pedal body.
2. To withstand the weight of the person.
3. To be aesthetically appealing.
 Forces acting on the component.

1. Bending force acting perpendicular to the axis of the component due to the
persons peddling action. Since the foot of the person applies uniform force on
the pedal we consider the bending force to be uniformly distributed load.
2. Torsional force due to the rubbing and peddling action of the person.
 Selection of suitable material.
1. The part should have high weight to strength ratio.
2. The part should have high machinability because the part is produced by
machining.
3. The part should be corrosion resistant.

Considering all the above design parameters the material used in the manufacture of the
middle part of the bicycle pedal is the ‘Low carbon stainless steel’ grade 316L this metal
satisfies all the above parameters.
Observations/Assumptions considered in the designing of the
component.
 We consider a person of 80 kg rides the bicycle.
 We do not consider any stress concentration factor as the cross section of
the component is uniform and so not change abruptly.
 Length of the component=55mm.
 Outer diameter of the component=28mm.
 Inner diameter of the component=25mm.
 Load factor A=1 for bending.
 Load factor A=0.6 for torsion.
 Size factor=0.85.
 Reliability factor D for 50% reliability=1.
 Ultimate stress of the low carbon steel 316L=847Mpa.
 Yield stress of the low carbon steel 316L=247Mpa.
 Surface factor C=0.9.
CONCLUSIONS THROUGH CASE STUDY
 The component is assumed to have infinite life cycles since the stresses acting on the
part are very less compared to the strength of the component.
 The component has less Factor of safety when designed for bending and torsional
combined stresses.
 The component has higher Factor of safety when designed for impact.
 The component is prone to fail due to impact as its factor of safety is more than the
bending/torsional combined stresses.
 Deflection in the component due to bending is negligible in the practical application.
 This component is avoided in the modern bicycle pedals due to high manufacturing cost,
poor aesthetics according to the modern standard.