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With
the use of composite materials for the wheel structure the design needs to be
reconsidered to gain the maximum advantage from this material change. In the
wheel shown, which is fabricated from carbon reinforced epoxy, the three spokes
are in compression and are rigidly connected to the rim which is made from
the same material. The diagrams, a, b, show the aerodynamic cross-section
of the spokes and the rim-tire combination. This shape selection reduces
the aerodynamic drag of the wheel to about 30% that of a 36-spoke wheel and
50% of that for a 24-spoke wheel. Lift in a cross-wind is increased with this
design. Diagram, c, shows a computer mesh used to compute the stress in
the wheel/spoke structure using finite element techniques. |
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