Optimization and an Investigation on Different Optimum Design Configurations of an Eccentric Twin-Cam Compound Bow

Many patents have been issued for compound bows since they were invented. However, there is just a limited number of research articles on the subject. Besides the dynamics of the compound bow and arrow, the kinematics of the compound bow configuration is significant for the compound bow performance. In this article, an eccentric circular twin-cam compound bow, reported in [7,8] is optimized and several different design configurations of it are investigated. The objective of the optimization in this study is to maximize the stored potential energy at the drawn position. Only three parameters are chosen in this study: the distances between large and small cam geometric centers from the axle, and the angle subtended at the axle between geometric centers of the small and large cams while keeping the main geometry of the compound bow (limb lengths, cam radii and riser length) intact. A total of nine different optimum design configurations are investigated by changing the boundary conditions for the design variables. These are presented and results are discussed.