Altair Case Studies HyperWorks Assists [AB]structures in Developing Record-Breaking Racing Yachts

	HyperWorks Assists [AB]structures in Developing Record-Breaking Racing Yachts Altair

HyperWorks Assists [AB]structures in Developing Record-Breaking Racing Yachts

Altair

Applicable Industries	Aerospace Marine & Shipping
Applicable Functions	Product Research & Development
Use Cases	Structural Health Monitoring
Challenge	The engineers at [AB]structures, an Italian structural design and engineering company, were tasked with the challenge of developing three structurally optimized but unique racing yachts within a preset time frame. The yachts were to be used in the 2011 – 2012 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race. The challenge was further complicated by the Volvo Open70 Box Rule, which sets specific parameters for the yachts, such as the keel weight to be between 6.0-7.4 tons and the overall measured weight of the yacht to be no less than 14 tons. Each of the teams required different solutions from [AB]structures, pushing the design envelope and demanding innovative and efficient solutions. Read More
About Customer	[AB]structures is an Italian structural design and engineering company that provides innovative design solutions for lightweight structures in both advanced composite materials and high-performance metal alloys. With over a decade of experience in international yacht racing, from America’s Cup to round-the-world yacht races like the Volvo Ocean Race, [AB]structures has established itself as a leader in the field. In addition to the yacht racing industry, [AB]structures also provides its services to the aerospace industry and to the development teams of racing cars. The company is currently focused on structurally designing the Artemis Racing AC72 catamaran and wings for the 34th America‘s Cup 2013. Read More
Solution	To meet the demands of the three professional teams, [AB]structures engineers utilized several HyperWorks tools in the development of the successful yachts. HyperWorks, with its capability of simulating complex carbon-composites laminate sequences, was particularly useful for this project as the VO70 yachts are designed and built completely from carbon composite. The engineers used HyperMesh to create finite element models, OptiStruct for optimization, the RADIOSS solver for linear and non-linear analysis, and HyperView to postprocess the results. These tools were used extensively to design and optimize the carbon structures of all three Volvo Open 70 yachts, resulting in fundamental structural improvements over the older-generation yachts that competed in the 2008 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Applicable Industries

Aerospace

Marine & Shipping

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Structural Health Monitoring

Challenge

The engineers at [AB]structures, an Italian structural design and engineering company, were tasked with the challenge of developing three structurally optimized but unique racing yachts within a preset time frame. The yachts were to be used in the 2011 – 2012 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race. The challenge was further complicated by the Volvo Open70 Box Rule, which sets specific parameters for the yachts, such as the keel weight to be between 6.0-7.4 tons and the overall measured weight of the yacht to be no less than 14 tons. Each of the teams required different solutions from [AB]structures, pushing the design envelope and demanding innovative and efficient solutions.

About Customer

[AB]structures is an Italian structural design and engineering company that provides innovative design solutions for lightweight structures in both advanced composite materials and high-performance metal alloys. With over a decade of experience in international yacht racing, from America’s Cup to round-the-world yacht races like the Volvo Ocean Race, [AB]structures has established itself as a leader in the field. In addition to the yacht racing industry, [AB]structures also provides its services to the aerospace industry and to the development teams of racing cars. The company is currently focused on structurally designing the Artemis Racing AC72 catamaran and wings for the 34th America‘s Cup 2013.

Solution

To meet the demands of the three professional teams, [AB]structures engineers utilized several HyperWorks tools in the development of the successful yachts. HyperWorks, with its capability of simulating complex carbon-composites laminate sequences, was particularly useful for this project as the VO70 yachts are designed and built completely from carbon composite. The engineers used HyperMesh to create finite element models, OptiStruct for optimization, the RADIOSS solver for linear and non-linear analysis, and HyperView to postprocess the results. These tools were used extensively to design and optimize the carbon structures of all three Volvo Open 70 yachts, resulting in fundamental structural improvements over the older-generation yachts that competed in the 2008 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race.

Impact #1	The use of HyperWorks tools in the development of the yachts led to significant operational benefits for [AB]structures. The ability to handle most of the development tasks in structural design within one software environment streamlined the design process, making it more efficient and cost-effective. The optimization tool allowed for the reduction of the yachts' vertical centre of gravity, leading to a higher righting moment and improved performance. Furthermore, the ability to define and optimize the structure of a panel before it was built provided on-site repair options, enhancing the flexibility and adaptability of the design process.

Impact #1

The use of HyperWorks tools in the development of the yachts led to significant operational benefits for [AB]structures. The ability to handle most of the development tasks in structural design within one software environment streamlined the design process, making it more efficient and cost-effective. The optimization tool allowed for the reduction of the yachts' vertical centre of gravity, leading to a higher righting moment and improved performance. Furthermore, the ability to define and optimize the structure of a panel before it was built provided on-site repair options, enhancing the flexibility and adaptability of the design process.

Benefit #1	[AB]structures was able to handle most of the development tasks in structural design within one software environment and under the same license agreement using HyperWorks.
Benefit #2	With a minimum weight rule in place for overall yacht and keel, [AB]structures was able to reduce the yachts vertical centre of gravity, resulting in a higher righting moment, by using the HyperWorks optimization tool in the central part of the yacht’s design.
Benefit #3	[AB]structures was able to use on-site repair options by defining and optimizing the structure of a panel before it was built.

Benefit #1

[AB]structures was able to handle most of the development tasks in structural design within one software environment and under the same license agreement using HyperWorks.

Benefit #2

With a minimum weight rule in place for overall yacht and keel, [AB]structures was able to reduce the yachts vertical centre of gravity, resulting in a higher righting moment, by using the HyperWorks optimization tool in the central part of the yacht’s design.

Benefit #3

[AB]structures was able to use on-site repair options by defining and optimizing the structure of a panel before it was built.

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Overview

HyperWorks Assists [AB]structures in Developing Record-Breaking Racing Yachts

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit