INFLUENCE OF BICYCLE BRAKE SYSTEM ON USERS SAFETY

摘要

In many big cities, for example, Silesia Conurbation, in order to limit the negative results of automotive vehicles operation, toll bicycle rental stations have been actuated. Their users are incidental persons. Therefore, the safety of a traffic participant on bicycle ways and on areas with bicycle traffic depends on the sufficiency of braking systems. In the bicycle industry, there are many of types of brake systems from mechanical to hydraulic. A common part of the brake systems is a friction contact. In this paper, the results of tribological examination of materials used for bicycle brakes have been presented. Tribological investigation (coefficient of friction, wear rate) of classic (the oldest) rubber pad/AW-6061 alloy wheel band, composite with thermoplastic matrix/steel and AW-6061 alloy wheel band as well as friction composite with duroplastic matrix/steel brake disc contacts have been conducted. Microscopic observations of examined materials surfaces have been done and the wear mechanisms have been explained. A preliminary estimation of the influence of used materials on the safety of a traffic participant has been done.