Weeks 11 15: Team Project

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Weeks 11 - 15 Team Project

• Project Objectives
• Provide teaming experience
• Develop software simulation using Matlab of an
  engineering system
• Apply simulation as a design tool

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Engineering System to be DesignedMedieval
Trebuchet

• Trebuchet
• a remarkably effective device developed in the
  12th and 13th centuries for propelling heavy
  objects long distances
• Application
• propelling large boulders to break through
  castle walls
• Original design procedure
• Trial and error

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How Trebuchets WorkRef The Grey Company
Trebuchet Pagehttp//members.iinet.net.au/rmine/
gctrebs.html Initial Position
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How Trebuchets Work (cont.) Acceleration of
Sling
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How Trebuchets Work (cont.) Release of
Projectile
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How Trebuchets Work (cont.) After Release of
Projectile
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Videos of Trebuchet in MotionReference
http//www.trebuchet.com/story.php/video.html
Video 1 Video 2 Video 3 Video 4 Video 5 Video
6 Video 7 Video 8 Video 9 Video 10
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Links to Trebuchet Information

• The Grey Company Trebuchet Page http//members.i
  inet.net.au/rmine/gctrebs.html
• Trebuchet.com
• www.trebuchet.com
• History Channel video
• http//www.trebuchet.com/video/marvels.html
• The Art and Science of Punkin Chunkin
• http//www.trebuchet.com/story.php/video/punkin.
  html
• To Ride a Trebuchet (a really bad idea!)
• http//www.trebuchet.com/articles/ron/trebuchet.
  html
• PBS Nova Series
• http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/trebuch
  et/

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Trebuchet Simulators
MacTreb4.05 http//www.algobeautytreb.com/
The FAT/F2K Simulator Program http//www.trebu
chet.com/sim/fat/
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Trebuchet Mechanics
Report by Donald B. Siano http//www.algobeautyt
reb.com/trebmath35.pdf Other Resources http//w
ww.algobeautytreb.com/mathdetails.html
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Trebuchet Design Parameters
Beam pivot point Height of pivot point Sling
length Sling release angle Projectile mass
Counterweight mass Counterweight size Beam
length Beam mass Beam shape
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Project Schedule
Week 1 (4/8,10) Project introduction Solving
differential equations with Matlab Team
Assignments Week 2 (4/15,17) 1st team
assignment simple pendulum motion Quiz 3
(4/17)
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Project Schedule (cont.)
Week 3 (4/22,24) Trebuchet mechanics Developmen
t of trebuchet simulation (team activity) Week 4
(4/29,31) Development of trebuchet simulation
(continued) Apply simulation as design
tool Prepare presentation Week 5 (5/6) Final
presentation
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Todays Activity
PBS Nova Video Secrets of Lost Empires Episode
II - Medieval Siege