Static and dynamic aeroelastic tailoring with composite blending and manoeuvre load alleviation

In aircraft design, proper tailoring of composite anisotropic characteristics allows to achieve weight saving while maintaining good aeroelastic performance. To further improve the design, dynamic loads and manufacturing constraints should be integrated in the design process. The objective of this paper is to evaluate how the introduction of...

Aerodynamics of wind-assisted ships: Interaction effects on the aerodynamic performance of multiple wind-propulsion systems

The shipping industry is currently under pressure to reduce its pollutant emissions and, thus, to alleviate its negative impact on the environment and human health. With this aim, in the last years, the International Maritime Organization issued significant measures to improve the energy efficiency of ships (see the Energy Efficiency Design...

Case study: Wind-assisted ship propulsion performance prediction, routing, and economic modelling

In this paper, a vessel model for the performance of wind-assisted ships is combined with a routing tool to assess the fuel savings available from the installation of both one and two Flettner rotors when travelling along a Great Circle Route path. This is combined with an economic analysis to assess commercial viability for these hybrid...

Experiments on a Flettner rotor at critical and supercritical Reynolds numbers

The Flettner rotor is attracting increasing attention as a viable technology for wind-assisted ship propulsion. Nonetheless, the influence of the Reynolds number on the aerodynamic performance of rotating cylinders is still unclear and under debate. The present study deals with a series of wind-tunnel experiments on a large-scale Flettner...

Wind-tunnel experiments on the aerodynamic interaction between two rigid sails used for wind-assisted propulsion

Surrogate-based aerodynamics for composite wing box sizing

The main objective of this paper is to propose an aeroelastic optimization approach capable of performing structural sizing optimization considering structural and aerodynamic constraints. The proposed approach uses a detailed FE model of a composite wing with shell elements in order to obtain realistic weight estimation and structural...

Aeroelastic tailoring for static and dynamic loads with blending constraints

In the present paper the authors want to investigate the effect of different load configuration in order to identify the ones driving the optimization. A set of static loads, gust loads and static loads with maneuver load alleviation (MLA) are tested. Gust loads have been included in the optimization via an equivalent static load (ESL)....

Validation of a simple aerodynamic model capable to predict the interaction effects occuring between two generic wind propulsion systems

Wind-assisted Propulsion for Commercial Ships. Towards a Reliable Assessment of Wind Energy Potential

Derivation and application of blending constraints in lamination parameter space for composite optimisation

The present paper proposes a set of blending constraints expressed in lamination parameter space, applicable during the continuous optimisation of composite structures. Thicknesses and ply orientations of large composite structures are often locally optimised in response to unequal spatial load distribution. During this process, ensuring...

Aeroelastic Optimization of Variable Stiffness Composite Wing with Blending Constraints

Optimizing the laminates of large composite structures is nowadays well-recognized as having significant benefits in the design of lightweight structural solutions. However, designs based on locally optimized laminates are prone to structural discontinuities and enforcing blending during the optimization is therefore crucial in order to achieve...

Validation of a simple aerodynamic model capable to predict the interaction effects occuring between two generic wind propulsion systems

In recent years wind-assisted propulsion for commercial ships has gained an increasing interest as valuable alternative to reduce fuel pollutant emissions. However, the development of feasible and commercially viable wind propulsion systems to partially (or fully) propel a ship is nowadays hindered by the difficulties of modelling the...

Wind-assist ship propulsion

Development of a Performance Prediction Program for Commercial Ships

Wind-Assisted Propulsion for Commercial Ships. Wind Energy as a Possible Solution to Reduce Emissions and Fuel Cost

Wind-assisted ship propulsion: A review and development of a performance prediction program for commercial ships

The Aero-Hydrodynamic Characteristics of Yachts Sailing Upwind in Waves