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Construction of Recurve and Composite Bows
The Bow A bow consists of a pair of limbs, usually of wood, connected by a string. the limbs are curved and elastic. To project an arrow or other projectile energy is stored in the limbs then released to project the arrow. This is achieved by pulling backwards on the string and exerting compression force on the inner section of the bow and placing the back section under tension. The more force needed to draw back the string the more energy is stored by the limbs, and consequently, the projectile is expelled faster and further. This force is known as the draw weight. In a hand drawn bow the strength of the archer limits the draw weight and the speed and distance of the arrow. Mechanically drawn bows depend on the sophistication of the device used to cock the bow. The limb elasticity also affects the performance. larger draw weights are achieved with longer limbs but may not be suitable for all archers and all circumstances. A mounted archer will require shorter limbs and the size of a standing archer will determine what size bow can be wielded.Strain is placed on the limbs by the repeated bending.In a recurve bow the tips are bent back towards the archer, giving a greater draw weight but increasing the strain on the materials and also increasing the noise. Single Material Bows A durable, high tensile strength material is needed for the limbs and wood has traditionally been used, especially in single material bows. Sophisticated techniques emerged to take advantage of the properties of various woods, for instance Yew was widely employed in Europe as the heartwood is excellent for storing energy and the sapwood has high tensile strength. Composite Bows Composite bows, unlike single bows, use a combination of materials in their construction. Historically materials such as bamboo, horn and sinew were used in a laminated construction. These types of bow have a higher draw weight with shorter limbs but are not as sturdy as single material bows. they may also be made using water soluble glue so need to be kept dry. Nowadays fiberglass, carbon fiber, laminated wood and metals may all be used in their construction. The String The string used needs to be lightweight but resistant to stretching, unaffected by moisture but still hold the required draw weight. In the past animal sinew, guts and hair were used as well as some plant fibers such as hemp or linen. The plant fibers were more expensive to produce but had superior strength. Nowadays synthetic polymers are used that are resistant to moisture and have good mechanical properties. They are also cheap to produce. A compound bow will have also have a steel cable attached to a mechanical system for the string to pass when it is pulled. |
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This intel was contributed by janetra
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May, 2012
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