Friction coefficient definition in compression-fit couplings applying the DOE method

This work aims at defining a general-purpose method of calculating the starting friction coefficient µll of the fork-pin compression fit couplings of motorbike front suspensions. The research was carried out applying the Design of Experiment method and performing some Finite Element analyses compared with the results produced by theoretical equations. The investigated couplings are different because of the material (steel or aluminium) and the coupling surfaces condition. The second purpose of this work is to update, by means of the new defined mathematical models, an innovative software (Fork Design©), realized by the authors in Visual Basic® programming language. This software, useful to design and to verify the fork-pin compression fit couplings of motorbike front suspensions, can be applied to different geometries and material conditions.