The Freewheeler wheelchair was developed at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability for severely disabled individuals who require dependent mobility wheelchairs. In order to be certified for the public market, the wheelchair must pass a series of static, impact, and fatigue strength tests. Our goal was to determine the validity of the chair design and recommend possible action to prepare it for certification. First we designed a beam model of the Freewheeler using the finite element program Algor. Using this model, we conducted nine static and impact tests analytically. We then verified these tests experimentally using strain gages with the TTi Vips data-gathering application. Finally, we generated a list of critical stress areas. These results and recommendations provided critical information for the manufacturer and Hospital staff.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Zocchi, Michael Robert
• Heck, Melanie Angel
• Malmendier, Jan

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 99D077M

Advisor

• Rencis, Joseph J.
• Ault, Holly Keyes

Year

• 1999

Date created

• 1999-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Undecided
• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright