Altair Case Studies HyperWorks' Role in Developing a Race-Winning Yacht for Volvo Ocean Race 2009

	HyperWorks' Role in Developing a Race-Winning Yacht for Volvo Ocean Race 2009 Altair

HyperWorks' Role in Developing a Race-Winning Yacht for Volvo Ocean Race 2009

Altair

Technology Category	Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) Sensors - Level Sensors
Applicable Industries	Aerospace Marine & Shipping
Applicable Functions	Product Research & Development
Use Cases	Manufacturing Process Simulation Structural Health Monitoring
Challenge	ABstructures, a company specializing in innovative design solutions for lightweight structures, was tasked with the challenge of developing a structurally optimized racing yacht within a preset time frame for the Volvo Ocean Race 2009. The challenge was compounded by the strict boundary conditions of the Volvo Open70 Rule, which defined parameters such as the keel weight to be between 6.0-7.4 tons and the overall weight of the yacht to be close to 14 tons. The company needed to design and optimize the carbon structures of the yacht to achieve fundamental structural improvements compared to the older-generation yachts that competed in the 2004 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race. Read More
About Customer	ABstructures is a company that provides innovative design solutions for lightweight structures, both in advanced composite materials and high-performance metal alloys. With over a decade of experience operating at the highest level in international yacht racing, ABstructures has been involved in prestigious events from America's Cup to 'round-the-world yacht races, such as the Volvo Ocean Race. In addition to the yacht racing industry, ABstructures also provides its services to the aerospace industry and to development teams of racing cars. The company follows an optimized lightweight approach from project brief to concept development and product delivery. Read More
Solution	ABstructures employed the CAE suite HyperWorks to structurally design and optimize the yacht. The solution involved full structural design and structural multilayer optimization for maximizing performances like strength, stiffness, and minimum weight by using cutting-edge CAE technology. This included the optimization of all structurally relevant parts of the yacht such as the keel fin sections, the cant mechanism, and the associated structure. Advanced optimization concepts were applied to streamline the process for designing composite laminates. The solution also involved identifying the three key phases involved in the design process and coupling them with various optimization techniques. The application of free size optimization allowed the synthesis of concepts that utilize all the potential of a composite structure. The ply sizes generated at the concept stage were fine-tuned by applying a detailed ply sizing optimization for design performance and manufacturing requirements. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

Sensors - Level Sensors

Applicable Industries

Aerospace

Marine & Shipping

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Manufacturing Process Simulation

Structural Health Monitoring

Challenge

ABstructures, a company specializing in innovative design solutions for lightweight structures, was tasked with the challenge of developing a structurally optimized racing yacht within a preset time frame for the Volvo Ocean Race 2009. The challenge was compounded by the strict boundary conditions of the Volvo Open70 Rule, which defined parameters such as the keel weight to be between 6.0-7.4 tons and the overall weight of the yacht to be close to 14 tons. The company needed to design and optimize the carbon structures of the yacht to achieve fundamental structural improvements compared to the older-generation yachts that competed in the 2004 edition of the Volvo Ocean Race.

About Customer

ABstructures is a company that provides innovative design solutions for lightweight structures, both in advanced composite materials and high-performance metal alloys. With over a decade of experience operating at the highest level in international yacht racing, ABstructures has been involved in prestigious events from America's Cup to 'round-the-world yacht races, such as the Volvo Ocean Race. In addition to the yacht racing industry, ABstructures also provides its services to the aerospace industry and to development teams of racing cars. The company follows an optimized lightweight approach from project brief to concept development and product delivery.

Solution

ABstructures employed the CAE suite HyperWorks to structurally design and optimize the yacht. The solution involved full structural design and structural multilayer optimization for maximizing performances like strength, stiffness, and minimum weight by using cutting-edge CAE technology. This included the optimization of all structurally relevant parts of the yacht such as the keel fin sections, the cant mechanism, and the associated structure. Advanced optimization concepts were applied to streamline the process for designing composite laminates. The solution also involved identifying the three key phases involved in the design process and coupling them with various optimization techniques. The application of free size optimization allowed the synthesis of concepts that utilize all the potential of a composite structure. The ply sizes generated at the concept stage were fine-tuned by applying a detailed ply sizing optimization for design performance and manufacturing requirements.

Impact #1	The use of HyperWorks in the design process of the structural parts of the Ericsson 3 and 4 yachts allowed ABstructures to handle most of the development tasks in structural design within one software environment and under the same license agreement. This streamlined approach not only saved time by shortening development cycles but also enabled on-site repair options by defining and optimizing the structure of a panel before it was built. The result was a race-winning yacht that claimed victory in the Volvo Ocean Race on June 27, 2009, after 8 months and more than 37,000 nautical miles sailed around the world under the harshest conditions.

Impact #1

The use of HyperWorks in the design process of the structural parts of the Ericsson 3 and 4 yachts allowed ABstructures to handle most of the development tasks in structural design within one software environment and under the same license agreement. This streamlined approach not only saved time by shortening development cycles but also enabled on-site repair options by defining and optimizing the structure of a panel before it was built. The result was a race-winning yacht that claimed victory in the Volvo Ocean Race on June 27, 2009, after 8 months and more than 37,000 nautical miles sailed around the world under the harshest conditions.

Benefit #1	Achieved a weight reduction of 10% on structurally most important parts of the yacht
Benefit #2	Handled most of the development tasks in structural design within one software environment
Benefit #3	Saved time by shorter development cycles

Benefit #1

Achieved a weight reduction of 10% on structurally most important parts of the yacht

Benefit #2

Handled most of the development tasks in structural design within one software environment

Benefit #3

Saved time by shorter development cycles

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Overview

HyperWorks' Role in Developing a Race-Winning Yacht for Volvo Ocean Race 2009

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit