Modeling and Analysis of Motorcycle Wheel Rim with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic & Alloy Materials Under Various Loads

International Journal of Emerging Research in Science, Engineering, and Management

Vol. 2, Issue 6, pp. 08–13, June 2026

https://doi.org/10.66710/ijersem.v2i6.2

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License .

Modeling and Analysis of Motorcycle Wheel Rim with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic and Alloy Materials Under Various Loads

Syed Warees, G Ashok, P Sreenivasulu, M Talpagiri

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Gokula Krishna College of Engineering, Sullurupeta, India.

Abstract

The reduction of unsprung mass in motorcycles is an effective approach to improving vehicle handling, acceleration, fuel efficiency, and overall structural performance. This study presents the modeling and finite element analysis of a motorcycle wheel rim fabricated using three different materials: Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP), Aluminum Alloy, and Magnesium Alloy. A three-dimensional wheel rim model was developed using CATIA V5 and imported into ANSYS Workbench for static structural analysis. Identical loading and boundary conditions, including an applied force of 1900.13 N and a pressure of 0.193 MPa, were considered to evaluate the structural behavior of each material. The performance was assessed in terms of directional deformation, total deformation, equivalent (von Mises) stress, and equivalent elastic strain. The simulation results indicate that the CFRP wheel rim exhibits the lowest deformation, stress, and strain among the three materials, demonstrating superior stiffness and load-carrying capability while offering significant weight reduction. In comparison, the aluminum and magnesium alloy rims experience higher deformation and stress under identical loading conditions. The findings suggest that CFRP is a promising alternative to conventional alloy materials for high-performance motorcycle wheel rims, providing enhanced structural integrity and reduced vehicle mass. The outcomes of this study can assist designers and manufacturers in selecting lightweight materials for improved motorcycle performance and durability.

Keywords: Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP), Motorcycle Wheel Rim, Finite Element Analysis (FEA), Static Structural Analysis, Lightweight Composite Materials.

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DOI: 10.66710/ijersem.v2i6.2

Open Access • Peer Reviewed Article

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This article is part of Volume 2, Issue 6 (June 2026)

2026-06-31