In this paper, the mechanical behavior and performance of the onager, an ancient war machine, are analyzed. This study is based on torsional motors, as previously described. Because the onager has been investigated very little in modern times and the details given by ancient engineers are very scarce, this study starts from the available literature of both ancient and modern times. The mathematical models are developed through analytical mechanics along with integrations carried out numerically. Simulations performed provide interesting results which are in good agreement with the information recorded by ancient historians, and thus validating conjectures regarding the design of these machines. Finally, this investigation clarifies the role and effectiveness of these machines in ancient warfare, helping to understand many aspects of both ancient engineering design and historical events.
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March 2015
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Mechanical Behavior and Performance of the Onager
Arcangelo Messina,
Arcangelo Messina
Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Innovazione,
Università del Salento
,Lecce 73100
, Italy
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Cesare Rossi
Cesare Rossi
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale,
e-mail: cesare.rossi@unina.it
Università di Napoli “Federico II”,
Napoli 80125
, Italy
e-mail: cesare.rossi@unina.it
Search for other works by this author on:
Arcangelo Messina
Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell'Innovazione,
Università del Salento
,Lecce 73100
, Italy
Cesare Rossi
Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale,
e-mail: cesare.rossi@unina.it
Università di Napoli “Federico II”,
Napoli 80125
, Italy
e-mail: cesare.rossi@unina.it
Contributed by the Mechanisms and Robotics Committee of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL DESIGN. Manuscript received May 9, 2014; final manuscript received December 2, 2014; published online January 15, 2015. Assoc. Editor: Oscar Altuzarra.
J. Mech. Des. Mar 2015, 137(3): 034501 (5 pages)
Published Online: March 1, 2015
Article history
Received:
May 9, 2014
Revision Received:
December 2, 2014
Online:
January 15, 2015
Citation
Messina, A., and Rossi, C. (March 1, 2015). "Mechanical Behavior and Performance of the Onager." ASME. J. Mech. Des. March 2015; 137(3): 034501. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4029319
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