# Ideas for a catapult design for an engineering report

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1. Apr 7, 2017

### Buggsy GC

Afternoon every one. I am a first year engineering student in NZ, For my midterm break report I have to design and make a catapult that can meet these specifications.
- hit one target within a 0.1 m radius of a target that is 1 m away horizontally from the base of the model catapult.
- hit one target within a 0.2 m radius of a target that is 2 m away horizontally from the base of the model catapult.
- was built with no more than 20$NZ. - there is no restriction on the weigh or size of the projectile or catapult - the catapult doesn't need to be a traditional catapult, you just have to be able to tabulate the effect of different launch angles OR! initial launch velocity on the horizontal displacement of the projectiles. If anyone can recommend any books or website to look at for my design, that would be appreciated. The report is due in 24 days so I would like to have a working prototype by 14 days (8/04/2017) from now, at the lattest. Your's sincerely Buggsy 2. Apr 7, 2017 ### anorlunda Sounds like fun. Do the rules say that the projectile must be solid? With a liquid or gaseous "projectile" you could "hit" everything within the whole range. Sero=iously, the win may go to the team best able to find a loophole in the rules. Can you post the entire rule set? 3. Apr 7, 2017 ### Buggsy GC here the exact objective from the assignment: Objective: To design, build and test a model catapult that can hit the set targets. The experimental results are to be compared with the theory. (Note: this image is for reference only. Your model catapult can be of any design or shape.) Physics involved: Physics of catapults; projectile motion; energy conservation Tasks to complete (see Figure. 1):  hit one target within a 0.1 m radius of a target that is 1 m away horizontally from the base of the model catapult.  hit one target within a 0.2 m radius of a target that is 2 m away horizontally from the base of the model catapult.  You need to predict and plot the theoretical trajectory based on the parameters of your own model catapult using Excel and include the figure in your report (Section 8 - Results and Discussion). You may make any assumptions if needed, but they must be clearly stated in your report.  You will also need to use Excel to tabulate the effect of launch angle OR initial (launch) velocity on horizontal displacement. Figure 1: A model catapult that launches a payload to hit a set target. 2017 ENGR101 Assignment 3 Briefing Sheet 3 In your report, you need to provide a list of materials used for building your model and their costs. The total material cost of your model must not exceed NZD 20 (Recycled materials from your yellow bin are considered free). You MUST NOT purchase a commercially available catapult model. Although your main objective is to design, build and test your catapult model, you will need to carry out rational; quantitative (with numerical results) tests first. You should carry out tests to determine how far the payload can potentially hit based on the parameters include, but not limited to, the height of the payload above the base of the catapult, the level of the catapult relative to that of the target, the weight/size/shape of the payload, the form of energy added into the system etc. Then you should test your proposed design, quantitatively if at all possible. The engineering process taught in the lectures and the workshops may be useful when you consider the problem and work towards your final design. You should use any experience gained to show at least some degree of improvement in your design during the project. If you are in doubt about any aspect of this project, use your engineering judgement to make minor modifications to this specification and include these modifications in your report. Please do NOT email course tutors or lecturers to see if your proposed modifications or innovations are acceptable. Last edited by a moderator: Apr 10, 2017 4. Apr 8, 2017 ### anorlunda Cool. It really does sound like fun. So, a liquid projectile, or one made of small pellets, would make it easier to hit the target, but would make the calculation and plot requirements more difficult. May I suggest a balloon filled with water or paint as the projectile. Just be very very sure that the balloon bursts when it hits the floor rather than bounce. You can find many images of catapults on wikipedia, google images, and youtube. Keep in mind perhaps the most important of all engineering principles that is not taught in the books, the KISS principle. Your catapult is nor required to have a long life, nor be mobile, nor to throw heavy projectiles or the longest distances. The simplest catapult that meets the written requirements should be your goal. Simplicity also makes the calculation requirements easier to meet. There is no requirement for size, but too small makes it hard to throw 2m and too big makes it hard to throw such a short distance. It is also important that your catapult not break during testing. On the other hand, you should avoid the need to calculate strength of materials that would add greatly to the calculation burden. Therefore, size and generous safety margins on strength are among your most important design choices. That would be a good thing to put in your report, "all elements have a minimum 3:1 safety margin on strength", then state how you verified that. I recommend that you use pictures to inspire your design rather than written or video descriptions of catapult design. The reason is that almost all existing designs are made to meet requirements or goals that you do not share, and thus would be anti-KISS. Your team should hold a KISS review of any proposed design before building a prototype (you must overcome the predictable urges of nearly everyone to build something cool rather than KISS) It makes me wish that I could be there as part of your team. Please to post pictures of your catapult and your results on PF. We'll look forward to hearing about it. 5. Apr 8, 2017 ### 256bits I would think that is where you would make a start - possible paths of a projectile from catapult to target. And then make a design on paper to satisfy a chosen launch angle and initial velocity for a chosen projectile to hit the target. And be prepared to make a lot of scratches and pictures on paper on what is possible. Put your ideas in the open and trash them out. If you have to go back to start a few times that is not a setback, but rather optimization towards the goal. 6. Apr 9, 2017 ### Buggsy GC This is a solo project, and right know I am considering using a trebuchet design I found in a book and reducing its size and sling height so it fits the 20$ specification. I'm counting on the law of conservation of energy ( E= dKE+dPE )projectile, to allow me to calculate the final velocity and distance from the KE. Are there any issue I should be wary of with reducing the scale of my engine by 3/4 of its original design.

7. Apr 11, 2017

### Ion Aguirre

Hi
The calculation of a trebuchet is not simple. Its composed by a double pendulum, working as a whip. The rigid arm is the only one which swinging angle is limited by design, while the sling angle isn't. Its not a hard device to be built, but its performance prediction calculation is not trivial.
I'd go for a simple catapult where Energy and hence, motions are easier to be predicted. Most catapults, from Rome to the middle ages, where moved by counterweights or twisted ropes.

8. Apr 12, 2017

### Buggsy GC

is this difficulty in terms of predicting the trajectory of the projectile using different initial velocities because that is the only thing i really need to measure.

9. Apr 12, 2017

### Ion Aguirre

Well, the problem with a Trebuchet, is that double pendulum. The dimensions and weight of both, the rigid arm(the lever) and the sling, are critical in order for the projectile to be shot at the required angle.
It must be noted that, while at a simple catapult, the lever is stopped at a pre-designed point, in a Trebuchet, the sling is able to freely move. The impulse provided by the lever, makes the sling swing, providing more centripetal force. At a given point, and only due to the basket design, the projectile is released. The calculation for that releasing point, intial velocity and shot angle are not easy.
I dont know whats your level in maths, but ..... building a mathematical model of a Trebuchet, is not simple.
Weights and lenghts of every part are critical, and hence making predictions requires a good maths modeling and a fine construction.

If it was only a matter of building one, and no predictions were required, thats not so complex. But as you explained at the beggining, predictions are a requirement.

10. Apr 12, 2017

### anorlunda

The trebuchet compared to the catapult is very anti-KISS. So you ignored the advice I have advice is this thread. L

11. Apr 12, 2017

### Buggsy GC

Thank you for the input Ion Aguirre. It sound like you saved be a headache further down the road of this, project.

12. Apr 12, 2017

### Buggsy GC

Not intentially I saw the trebuchet and it looked the easiest to build, but I have seen the error of my ways

13. Apr 12, 2017

### anorlunda

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14. Apr 12, 2017

### anorlunda

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15. Apr 12, 2017

### anorlunda

16. Apr 13, 2017

### Buggsy GC

17. Apr 13, 2017

### anorlunda

Yup. You need two calibrated positions.

I think you're on your way.

18. Apr 20, 2017

### Buggsy GC

Unlike the Ballista the Mangonel does not release its energy in a linear fashion. The arm makes an arc (part of a circle) with radius equal the arm length. Therefore the Potential Energy is transferred in the Rotational Kinetic Energy. The w stands for the angular velocity and r for the length of the arm. I is the moment of inertial as the arm is a rod and its rotating on its end, I=1/3mr2
U=KErot
U=1/2kx^2=KErot=1/2Iw^2

1/2kx^2=1/2w^2(1/3mr^2)
w=sqrt(2kx^2/mr^2)

The angular velocity is then transferred into linear velocity when the arm comes to an abrupt halt and the missiles continues in the direction of their linear velocity.
does any one the angular velocity in this example is = to w=sqrt(2kx^2/mr^2) instead of w=sqrt(kx^2/ 1/3mr^2)

Also another site shows this equation = √ 3kx^2/mr^2

Last edited: Apr 20, 2017
19. Apr 20, 2017

### Buggsy GC

The maths of the second website makes sense to me. so my new question is how do you experimentally calculate the force of the spring since I dont know the spring constant for the rope wheel spring I've made, I'm thinking of just seeing how many rocks it takes to set the catapults arm in firing position and then using weighing those rocks and using newtons second law to convert the g to Newtons. F=ma, m*-9.81=F

Last edited: Apr 20, 2017
20. Apr 24, 2017

### Buggsy GC

the torsion mangonel is extremely anti kiss