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Optimising a Trebuchet [video]

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Re: Optimising a Trebuchet [video]

#2
Most of the means of optimizing trebuchets make sense after the fact, but would not be intuitive to me at first glance.

For example, making the frame more rigid improved the outcome here, but if you put the whole thing on wheels you would likely still get more increase because the weight could take a more direct path downward as the frame moves.

Re: Optimising a Trebuchet [video]

#4
post #2

Most of the means of optimizing trebuchets make sense after the fact, but would not be intuitive to me at first glance. For example, making the frame more rigid improved the outcome here, but if you put the whole thing on wheels you would likely still get more increase because the weight could take a more direct path downward as the frame moves.

https://classes.engineering.wustl.edu/2009/fall/ese251/prese...

Re: Optimising a Trebuchet [video]

#7
post #2

Most of the means of optimizing trebuchets make sense after the fact, but would not be intuitive to me at first glance. For example, making the frame more rigid improved the outcome here, but if you put the whole thing on wheels you would likely still get more increase because the weight could take a more direct path downward as the frame moves.

>the weight could take a more direct path downward as the frame moves.

That should change how long it takes the arm to drop, but it shouldn't change the amount of potential energy released (and thus, projectile speed).

Re: Optimising a Trebuchet [video]

#8
post #6

Very interesting. Is it possible to make a trebuchet that can throw stuffs beyond escape velocity?

Probably not exactly what you had in mind, but there's something called a skyhook which might act kind of like an orbital trebuchet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyhook_(structure)

Re: Optimising a Trebuchet [video]

#10
post #2

Most of the means of optimizing trebuchets make sense after the fact, but would not be intuitive to me at first glance. For example, making the frame more rigid improved the outcome here, but if you put the whole thing on wheels you would likely still get more increase because the weight could take a more direct path downward as the frame moves.

>the weight could take a more direct path downward as the frame moves. That should change how long it takes the arm to drop, but it shouldn't change the amount of potential energy released (and thus, projectile speed).

It does, another commenter posted the same person's explanation. But, the idea is that it doesn't matter how much GPE is released, it matters what the velocity of the projectile at release is. If the trebuchet can't move then the weight starts to slow down before all it's GPE is used up. When it can move, it coincides with the time that the projectile is at maximum velocity.
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