Print Email Facebook Twitter Impact of bicycle tire parameter on the total rolling losses Title Impact of bicycle tire parameter on the total rolling losses Author Dijkman, Kirsten (TU Delft Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering) Contributor Dressel, A. (mentor) Moore, J.K. (graduation committee) Ubbens, Harm (graduation committee) Rooijakkers, Piet (graduation committee) Degree granting institution Delft University of Technology Programme Biomedical Engineering | Neuromusculoskeletal Biomechanics Date 2024-01-11 Abstract The cycling industry is influenced by the approval of the tire pressure control system in competitive cycling. This system allows real-time adjustments to the tire-road interaction during races. The total rolling losses is the resistance resulting from tire-road interaction, incorporating resistance due to tire deformation and the dissipation of vibrational energy within the rider-bicycle system. This research investigates the influence of tire parameters on the total rolling losses during road cycling through three key measurements: ink print test, drum test, and rolling losses measurement. The ink print test captures the contact area between the tire and road surface under specified loads, revealing significant impacts of tire type, width, inflation pressure and vertical load on the contact patch shape. In addition, this study shows that an increase in contact patch measures is related to an increase in the rolling resistance coefficient (𝐶𝑟𝑟). The drum test extracts 𝐶𝑟𝑟 values related to pure rolling resistance by measuring the power needed to maintain constant velocity of a rotating drum when in contact with a loaded tire. Results indicate a significant influence of tire type, width, inflation pressure, vertical load and velocity on 𝐶𝑟𝑟 estimates. Combining 𝐶𝑟𝑟 obtain with drum testing with 𝐶𝑟𝑟 determined with total rolling losses measurements, provides insights into the contribution of vibrational losses to the total rolling losses. The study employs a novel bike trailer measurement technique to estimate total rolling losses, measuring the cyclist’s power while cycling at constant speed with elimination of aerodynamic drag. Despite some limitations, the bike trailer method successfully identifies optimal tire parametersfor minimizing rolling losses on different road surfaces at varying speeds. Subject rolling resistancerolling Impedancetotal rolling lossesroad conditionsbicycle tirecontact patch To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:7d45c36f-5df4-46bf-a526-b3f28a4a9fab Embargo date 2026-01-11 Part of collection Student theses Document type master thesis Rights © 2024 Kirsten Dijkman Files file embargo until 2026-01-11