Integrated design and production of advanced sails

Project Information

ID-PASS

Grant agreement ID: BRST985332

Project closed

Start date 15 November 1998

End date 14 November 2000

Funded under

• Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

No data

Coordinated by

Toni Tio Velas SA
Spain

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Exploitable results

Integrated design and production of advanced sails (ID-PASS)

The project focussed on two technical objectives: -To develop a finite element code (Q-SAIL) to simulate the aerodynamic and structural behaviour of sails. -To install the new production system. A number of new sails will be manufactured and fully tested both in laboratory and on sailing as to verify the efficiency of the system. Q-SAIL is a finite element code to simulate the aerodynamic and structural behaviour of the sail-boat-sea assemblage. This numerical model describes the application of the Finite Element Method (FEM) in the prediction of the flow past sail as a way of understanding better sail behaviour and performance. Basic FEM analysis of the sail material deformation due to aerodynamically loads was also performed. The numerical tools used are Shyne for the fluid dynamics calculations, (http://www.cimne.upc.es/shyne ), Calsef for the structural analyses (http://www.cimne.upc.es/calsef ) and GiD (http://www.gid.cimne.upc.es ) as the Pre/Postprocessor. This software is developed at CIMNE. The particularity of Q-SAIL is, that-even if it can run on any type of platform (SGI,Linux)-it is designed to run on normal, average PCs. Thus, solving a fluid dynamics problem and a structural analysis is within the reach of small companies or even private persons, as no special, expensive computer resources are needed. New production system: Before the starting of the project, sails producer TTV had a sails production system whose main limitation was the lack of accuracy in the final shape of the sails (this fact hindered mass production of the same sail). Other constraints dealt with excessive weight of the sail and with high sensitivity to ultraviolet rays. The aim of this research is to overcome these three restrictions: -Higher accuracy will be gained by using more powerful software governing the cutting of pieces (allowing generating templates for the desired shapes) and by using cutting devices yielding more precise results. -Sun sensitivity will be reduced by filters incorporated to the mylar layers. -Weight will be lessened by using lighter fabric and by joints requiring less glue. The original project objectives have been achieved. A new software system (Q-Sail) for aerodynamic and structural analysis of sails has been developed, implemented and tested. The new Q-Sail software is an essential tools of enhanced sail design. In addition, a new manufacturing system for advanced composite sails has been developed. The new sails produced in the project have been successfully tested in open sea conditions. The project outcomes will be of industrial benefit to the SMEs participating in the project. The partners will exploit both internally and externally the Q-Sail system and the sail manufacturing system developed in the project.