Optimization of materials for bicycle crank adopting CES EduPack

A bicycle crank is one of the major design considerations which bear the load of the pedal Low-grade materials and ultimate loading can cause the cracking of bicycle crank therefore, the selection of suitable and desirable material for the crank is an imperative phase in designing. For this purpose, Cambridge Engineering Selector Education Package (CES EduPack) has been utilized to opt for the most desirable material for the fabrication of bicycle crank in this research. CES EduPack is a solution to a challenge for the designers of selecting a small set of suitable material from a list of choices. The preliminary process includes mathematical modeling of crank based on constraints, objectives, and functions. The process includes the translation of design requirements, screening, ranking, and seeking supporting information leading to an appropriate choice of material. Two candidate material choices: Beryllium, grade S-200, and Beryllium, grade I-250 were analyzed using CES EduPack. Finally, Beryllium, grade I-250 was selected as the most suitable material meeting the design requirements of bicycle crank.