Abstract

This report shows the use of the Cambridge Engineering Selector (CES) software for
materials/manufacture processes in order to pick a suitable material to make a frame for a high
performance motorcycle following some constraints. Using all the data given in the handout,
the material that suits the most is the Low Alloy Steel and the manufacturing process is the
Extrusion.

Summary
Abstract ......................................................................................................................................... 1
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................... 3
2. Objectives .................................................................................................................................. 4
3. Constraints ................................................................................................................................ 4
4. Methodology and description of the work done ...................................................................... 4
5. Analysis of the results............................................................................................................... 8
6. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 10
7. Bibliography ............................................................................................................................ 11

1. Introduction
The field of materials is a vast and immense area of study. Historically, materials gave the name
to the ages since the appearance of man himself and without it; humankind could not achieve
so many things. [1]

Figure 1 The evolution of materials with time.

With the appearance of so many options and the current developments on the technologies to
make different types of materials, the design of it have become one of the most important
factors, since it is needed to have a proper design in order to apply the correct material to the
project desired without wasting or overdoing anything.
The design is the process of translating a new idea or a market need into the detailed
information from which a product can be manufactured. Each of its stages requires decisions
about the materials of which the product is to be made and the process for making it. Normally,
the choice of material is dictated by the design. However, sometimes it is the other way around:
The new product, or the evolution of the existing one, was suggested or made possible by a new
material. [2]
The frame in a motorcycle is one of the main components since it is the part which fits every
other component like the motor and the wheels so it is really important to have a frame made
of a reliable material that will hold up to the requirements given.

Figure 2 Example of a motorcycle

frame.

2. Objectives
The objective of this report is to show the selection of a suitable material(s) to make a frame of
a high performance motorcycle using the CES software, applying the correct constraints given in
the handout.

3. Constraints
The constraints given in the handout are:

Yield strength 100 MPa The Yield strength is the most commonly term used to
define the stress at which plastic deformation begins, in other words, the Yield strength
is defined as the stress at which a predetermined amount of permanent deformation
occurs. [3]

Fracture toughness 100 MPam0.5 Fracture toughness is an indication of the amount

of stress required to propagate a pre-existing flaw. It is a very important material
property since the occurrence of flaws is not completely avoidable in the processing,
fabrication, or service of a material/component. [4]

Cost 5.00 Kg-1 The cost of the material.

4. Methodology and description of the work done

As said before, the methodology consists in using the CES software to choose the material for
the motorcycle frame.
Below follow, the steps used to pick the material:

First Step: Open the CES software and select the Level 2 as shown in the figure below.

Figure 3 Initial page of the CES software with the Level 2 highlighted.

Second step: Create a new project going on the File menu and then on New Project.

Figure 4 Creating a new project.

Third step: Click on Select from and change it to MaterialUniverse: Edu Level 2 and
then click on Limit setting the constraints given in the correct fields, in this case the
Cost at the General properties tab and Yield strength and Fracture toughness at the
Mechanical properties tab.

Figure 5 Definition of the Limit and the input of the constraints.

Fourth step: Checking the materials remaining after the limit imposed. As shown in the
figures bellow, the two materials that fit the constraints are the Low Alloy Steel and the
Stainless Steal.

Figure 6 Page with the information about the Low Alloy Steel.

Figure 7 Page with the information about the Stainless Steel.

In each material page the values of all of the constraints can be taken, as displayed in the table
below:
Table 1 Values of Yield Strength, Fracture Toughness, Cost, Youngs modulus and Density for the two selected
materials.
Material
Low Alloy Steel
Stainless Steel

Yield Strength
(MPa)
400 1.5x103
170 1.3x103

Fracture Toughness
(Mpa.m 0,5))
14 200
62 150

Cost
(.Kg-1)
0.351 0.389
3.69 4.07

Youngs modulus
(GPa)
205 - 217
189 - 210

Density
(Kg.m-3)
7.8x103 7.9x103
7.6x103 8.1x103

Fifth step: Plotting the graph of Yield Strength against Fracture Toughness. Click on
Graph, set Fracture Toughness as the Attribute in the Y-axis, and set Yield
Strength as the Attribute in the X-axis.

Figure 8 Graph of Fracture toughness x Yield strength

As we can see, both of the materials are located in the right zone, i.e., above 100 MPam0.5 for
the Fracture toughness and above 100 MPa for the Yield Strength.

Sixth step: Choose an appropriate manufacturing process, changing in the Select from
to ProcessUniverse: Edu Level 2 Shaping, and then click on Limit setting the
constraints given in the correct fields, in this case the Shape to Circular prismatic
and in the Cost modelling the Production rate (units) to 6/hr since it is required
50000 per year.

Figura 9 Definition of the constraints to choose the manufacturing process.

Seventh step: Check the manufacturing processes in this case, the Extrusion process is
a good choice since it works with both of the materials selected (Low Alloy Steel and
Stainless Steel).

Figure 10 Page with the information of the manufacturing processes.

5. Analysis of the results

The first consideration in a frame for a high performance motorcycle design is the strength, as
it requires that the frame does not collapse in normal use. Stiffness is important as well and
since it is a high performance motorcycle, mass is a primary consideration, so the frame should
be as light as possible costing the lowest.
Analysing the values it could be said that the Low Alloy Steel and the Stainless Steel have a similar
density, so the mass of the frame in either material should be roughly the same. Therefore, the
analysis turn to a different factor, the price of the materials.
The stainless steel if more expensive than the low alloy steel, in fact, more than 10 times the
value, so it becomes clear that the material that brings the best cost/benefit is the Low Alloy
Steel.
Giving the fact that the cross section of the beam changed from a circular profile,

Figure 11 Beam and the cross section of

the beam

to an ellipse profile where =

2
6

Figure 12 Ellipse cross section with =

And, with the table below to calculate the required data:

Table 2 Moment of section

Changing the cross section change the value of the moment I from

= 3 (1 +

) , and, since =

2
6

= 3

to

:
2
3
3
= (1 + 6 )
4

3 2+
(
)
4
8

Once the Moment I changed, the attention of picking a material has to turn to the stiffness
cause the stiffness S of the beam is given by: [2]
=

1
= 3

it is clear that the stiffness change accordingly to the value of the moment I and the value of
the Youngs modulus E, supposing that a is approximately the same value of r. If that happens,
the value of the stiffness change being at least 4 times lower than it was before, so, in this

case, the best option is to choose the material with the higher Youngs modulus, that, by
chance, is the Low Alloy Steel again.

6. Conclusion
The use of the CES software is proven to be really helpful in order to choose different types of
materials and manufacturing processes. It provides a giant database and various types of filters
that guides the design process. The material of the frame of a high performance motorcycle, in
this coursework, was the Low Alloy Steel and the manufacturing process the Extrusion.

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7. Bibliography

[1] COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND PUBLIC POLICY; DIVISION ON ENGINEERING

AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES; Materials and Mans needs. Materials Science and Engineering -Volume I, The History, Scope, and Nature of Materials Science and Engineering. National
Academy of Sciences, Chapter 1.
[2] ASHBY, M. F.; Materials selection in mechanical design. Elsevier Ltd. 2011.
(

[3] Yield Strength Strength (Mechanics) of Materials. Available at:

<http://www.engineersedge.com/material_science/yield_strength.htm>. Accessed
01/03/2015.
[4] Fracture Toughness. Available at: < https://www.ndeed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Materials/Mechanical/FractureToughness.htm
>. Accessed 04/03/2015.

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