Load Path U* Analysis of Motorcycle Frame Structure

Abstract

The present study is the first trial in which load path U* analysis has been applied to a motorcycle. Since an aluminum die cast frame cannot be regarded as a thin-walled structure, three-dimensional elements are used for FEM calculation. This is the first time that U*analysis of a FE model with three-dimensional elements has been attempted. From the results of U* analysis, we can see the bolted engine shows effective load transfer. A removed bolt changes the load transfer rate between the upper and lower frames, verifying the sensibility test result by a test driver.