An innovative tool to study and optimize racing yacht appendages using fluid-structure interactions

Abstract

SEA Design developed a fluid structure method (FSI) suitable for early design

stage of appendage with complex shapes dedicated to the America’s Cup flying catamarans. The aerodynamic loading and the boat weight are counteracted by the appendages and mainly the dagger-board. Consequently, the appendage structural design is very critical. Based on a 3D lifting line and a modified beam element method, the GSEA Design FSI method takes less than one minute to compute. An illustrating example on a L-shape appendage shows that the FSI results compared to a non-FSI results can be particularly different at the elbow. Thanks to the short computational time of the method, multi-objective optimizations can be performed. For instance a second ilstrating example shows the optimization of the appendage weight and

stiffness.