Research Experience

This thesis examines the development and study of a shaft-driven mechanism for a bicycle that uses a hypoid gear to transmit pedaling effort to the rear wheel. Shaft-drive bicycles have been around since the late 1800s, but new innovations in technology and design have sparked fresh interest in them, especially for use in urban commuting and bike-sharing systems. The primary goals of this study are to choose suitable materials for the gear, design the gear using Solidworks, perform finite element analysis using ANSYS, design the bicycle using Solidworks, and simulate the frame and body using ANSYS. Shaft-driven bicycles with hypoid gears provide various advantages over their chain-driven counterparts, including lesser noise, less maintenance, and improved efficiency at higher gears, which are more prone to chain slack. By carefully designing and analyzing the bicycle's gear, frame, and body, the research surmounts the biggest hurdles of the system's overall weight and complexity. The results of this thesis may help pave the way for environmentally friendly and user-friendly transportation options in populated regions. The study's overarching goals are to improve the performance of shaft-driven bicycles, maximize the performance of the hypoid gear, optimize the design of the hypoid gear's frame, and reduce the hypoid gear's frame weight and environmental impact through simulation and gear meshing. Starting with a determination of the required force and torque, the thesis will then proceed to the design of hypoid gears in Solidworks with varying tooth ratios. The last step is to utilize ANSYS simulation to find and fix any issues with the rider's response to the bicycle's motion.