PSI - Issue 76

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ScienceDirect

Procedia Structural Integrity 76 (2026) 145–150

© 2025 The Authors. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0) Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the FDMD 2025 chairpersons Keywords: Type your keywords here, separated by semicolons ; Abstract The paper presents a methodology for the computational assessment of the fatigue strength of bicycle frames, taking into account the specific characteristics of their manufacture and operation. Several technologies are used in the manufacture of bicycle frames, including welding, gravity casting, pressure casting, hydroforming, etc. Each technology creates a different microstructure and carries a risk of defects. The design also requires a computational estimate of the fatigue life, which is then experimentally verified according to standards for bicycle frame testing (ISO 4210/EN 14766, Zedler test, etc.). The engineering calculation of fatigue life assumes the same cyclic properties of the frame material and ideal geometry of the structure. The paper analyzes defects in industrially manufactured aluminum alloy frames and geometric deviations of their design from the ideal shape. An experimental simulation methodology for determining the relevant load spectrum for individual operating conditions of bicycle frames is proposed and discussed. 1. Introduction The current focus on finding environmentally friendly solutions and sources of transport is very favorable for cycling. In recent years, sales of electric bicycles have been rising, even significantly outpacing sales of conventional bicycles. A bicycle frame is a cyclically stressed structure that requires safety in terms of fatigue strength. For the 5th International Symposium on Fatigue Design and Material Defects FDMD 2025 Influence of manufacturing defects in bicycle frames on their fatigue strength Filip Likavčan a , Miroslava Kučerková a , Katarína Jevčáková a , Vladimír Chmelko a * a Slovak University of Technology, Námestie slobody 17, 81231 Bratislava, Slovakia

* Corresponding author. Tel.: +421257296225; E-mail address: vladimir.chmelko@stuba.sk

2452-3216 © 2025 The Authors. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0) Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the FDMD 2025 chairpersons 10.1016/j.prostr.2025.12.298