Altair Case Studies Optimizing High-Speed Catamaran Design with HyperWorks

	Optimizing High-Speed Catamaran Design with HyperWorks Altair

Optimizing High-Speed Catamaran Design with HyperWorks

Altair

Technology Category	Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Event-Driven Application Sensors - Level Sensors
Applicable Industries	Aerospace Marine & Shipping
Applicable Functions	Product Research & Development
Use Cases	Building Automation & Control Intelligent Urban Water Supply Management
Challenge	The École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS) Team Rafale faced the challenge of building a high-speed, lightweight catamaran for the 'Little America’s Cup'. The class rules stipulated that the catamaran should be less than 25ft long with a maximum width of 14ft and less than 300sq ft. sail area. This presented a challenging opportunity to drive innovation and use the best materials possible. The catamaran needed to be built in less than 18 months. The hydrofoils, despite being less than two square feet in surface area, needed to be able to lift the entire boat and its two-man crew out of the water. The 30ft mast at the heart of the rigid wingsail carries almost 4000 lb. of compression while weighing less than 30lbs. Read More
About Customer	The École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS), founded in 1974, is part of the Université du Québec’s network and is one of the biggest engineering schools in Canada. It is located in the center of Montréal and has more than 7000 students in several programs covering all major parts of industry. Team Rafale, a group of aerospace engineers, faculty members and students from ÉTS, took on the ambitious challenge to design, build and race a C-Class catamaran in the ‘Little America’s Cup’. They faced some of the biggest names of the sailing world including Franck Cammas, skipper of the America’s Cup team Groupama, Olympic sailors and several times world champions. Read More
Solution	To meet these challenges, Team Rafale utilized Altair’s OptiStruct and its composite optimization process. OptiStruct allowed the team to quickly cycle through multiple design iterations, taking the requirements and manufacturing limitations into account. All major components, including both cross-beams, the hydrofoils and the foiling rudders, benefited from this design approach. Each component was run through the three-phase laminate composite design optimization process. The high level of automation and OptiStruct’s ability to directly import, optimize and export composite data helped the team drastically reduce turnaround times between iterations. This allowed the exploration of various options to meet the aggressive weight targets. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Event-Driven Application

Sensors - Level Sensors

Applicable Industries

Aerospace

Marine & Shipping

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Building Automation & Control

Intelligent Urban Water Supply Management

Challenge

The École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS) Team Rafale faced the challenge of building a high-speed, lightweight catamaran for the 'Little America’s Cup'. The class rules stipulated that the catamaran should be less than 25ft long with a maximum width of 14ft and less than 300sq ft. sail area. This presented a challenging opportunity to drive innovation and use the best materials possible. The catamaran needed to be built in less than 18 months. The hydrofoils, despite being less than two square feet in surface area, needed to be able to lift the entire boat and its two-man crew out of the water. The 30ft mast at the heart of the rigid wingsail carries almost 4000 lb. of compression while weighing less than 30lbs.

About Customer

The École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS), founded in 1974, is part of the Université du Québec’s network and is one of the biggest engineering schools in Canada. It is located in the center of Montréal and has more than 7000 students in several programs covering all major parts of industry. Team Rafale, a group of aerospace engineers, faculty members and students from ÉTS, took on the ambitious challenge to design, build and race a C-Class catamaran in the ‘Little America’s Cup’. They faced some of the biggest names of the sailing world including Franck Cammas, skipper of the America’s Cup team Groupama, Olympic sailors and several times world champions.

Solution

To meet these challenges, Team Rafale utilized Altair’s OptiStruct and its composite optimization process. OptiStruct allowed the team to quickly cycle through multiple design iterations, taking the requirements and manufacturing limitations into account. All major components, including both cross-beams, the hydrofoils and the foiling rudders, benefited from this design approach. Each component was run through the three-phase laminate composite design optimization process. The high level of automation and OptiStruct’s ability to directly import, optimize and export composite data helped the team drastically reduce turnaround times between iterations. This allowed the exploration of various options to meet the aggressive weight targets.

Impact #1	The team successfully built a catamaran with full carbon fiber composite design including a 45ft tall 300sq ft. rigid wing-sail and hydrofoils. The team's ambitions were not a podium position; it was a great accomplishment for the team of students to be on the starting line of this prestigious event. The first goal was to reach the starting line with a true and state of the art C-Class catamaran, the second to compete in all the races with a boat holding up to the loads along with professional level competition. The team was received extremely warmly and admired throughout the competition. Members of other teams provided them with valuable input and took action to improve the boat further. The Hydros Foundation – organizer of the Little Cup - wished to present them a Special Prize for their passion, hard work and tenacity in this high level competition.

Impact #1

The team successfully built a catamaran with full carbon fiber composite design including a 45ft tall 300sq ft. rigid wing-sail and hydrofoils. The team's ambitions were not a podium position; it was a great accomplishment for the team of students to be on the starting line of this prestigious event. The first goal was to reach the starting line with a true and state of the art C-Class catamaran, the second to compete in all the races with a boat holding up to the loads along with professional level competition. The team was received extremely warmly and admired throughout the competition. Members of other teams provided them with valuable input and took action to improve the boat further. The Hydros Foundation – organizer of the Little Cup - wished to present them a Special Prize for their passion, hard work and tenacity in this high level competition.

Benefit #1	The main cross beam, which can sustain up to 3000 lbf of load from the mast compression, weighs only 18lbs.
Benefit #2	The final hydrofoil design has less than 2sq ft. projected area and weighs less than 30lbs while being able to produce up to 1000lbf of vertical lift.
Benefit #3	The team reached a top speed of 26.7 knots (30.7 mph).

Benefit #1

The main cross beam, which can sustain up to 3000 lbf of load from the mast compression, weighs only 18lbs.

Benefit #2

The final hydrofoil design has less than 2sq ft. projected area and weighs less than 30lbs while being able to produce up to 1000lbf of vertical lift.

Benefit #3

The team reached a top speed of 26.7 knots (30.7 mph).

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Overview

Optimizing High-Speed Catamaran Design with HyperWorks

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit