Analysis and optimal design of fiber-reinforced composite structures: sail against the wind

The aim of the paper is to use optimization and advanced numerical computation of a sail fiber-reinforced composite model to increase the performance of a yacht under wind action. Designing a composite-shell system against the wind is a very complex problem, which only in the last two decades has been approached by advanced modeling, optimization and computer fluid dynamics (CFDs) based methods. A sail is a tensile structure hoisted on the rig of a yacht, inflated by wind pressure. Our objective is the multiple criteria optimization of a sail, the engine of a yacht, in order to obtain the maximum thrust force for a given load distribution. We will compute the best possible yarn thickness orientation and distribution in order to minimize the total fiber volume with some displacement constraints and in order to leave the most uniform stress distribution over the whole structure. In this paper our attention will be focused on computer simulation, modeling and optimization of a sail-shape mathematical model in different regatta and wind conditions, with the purpose of improving maneuverability and speed made good.