Engineering Mechanics Problems: Bicycle Pedal Fatigue and Crane Analysis

This lecture covers two engineering mechanics problems: fatigue failure of a bicycle pedal and analysis of a crane structure. The presentation starts with an introduction to structural mechanics and the 2016 Tour de France route. It then delves into the design and analysis of a bicycle crankset, CAD, finite element analysis, and the Paris Law for fatigue crack propagation. The lecture explores the mechanics of pedal crankshafts, stress analysis, and the determination of crank inspection intervals. It concludes with discussions on design improvements to increase the fatigue life of mechanical systems.