Altair Case Studies Optimizing High-Speed Catamaran Design with IoT Technology

	Optimizing High-Speed Catamaran Design with IoT Technology Altair

Optimizing High-Speed Catamaran Design with IoT Technology

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, a group of aerospace engineers, faculty members, and students, faced the challenge of designing, building, and racing a C-Class catamaran for the 'Little America’s Cup'. The rules of the competition stipulated that the catamaran had to be less than 25ft long, with a maximum width of 14ft, and less than 300sq ft. sail area. This presented a significant challenge as 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. The team needed to drive innovation and use the best materials possible to meet these requirements. 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 within ÉTS, is composed of aerospace engineers, faculty members, and students. They took on the ambitious challenge to design, build and race a C-Class catamaran in the ‘Little America’s Cup’. The team began building the catamaran in December 2014, and completed the build-phase mid-July 2015. Read More
Solution	To meet the challenge, 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. The final design was a catamaran with full carbon fiber composite design including a 45ft tall 300sq ft. rigid wing-sail and hydrofoils. 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, a group of aerospace engineers, faculty members, and students, faced the challenge of designing, building, and racing a C-Class catamaran for the 'Little America’s Cup'. The rules of the competition stipulated that the catamaran had to be less than 25ft long, with a maximum width of 14ft, and less than 300sq ft. sail area. This presented a significant challenge as 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. The team needed to drive innovation and use the best materials possible to meet these requirements.

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 within ÉTS, is composed of aerospace engineers, faculty members, and students. They took on the ambitious challenge to design, build and race a C-Class catamaran in the ‘Little America’s Cup’. The team began building the catamaran in December 2014, and completed the build-phase mid-July 2015.

Solution

To meet the challenge, 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. The final design was a catamaran with full carbon fiber composite design including a 45ft tall 300sq ft. rigid wing-sail and hydrofoils.

Impact #1	The team's first goal was to reach the starting line with a true and state of the art C-Class catamaran, and the second to compete in all the races with a boat holding up to the loads along with professional level competition. Both of these goals were fully accomplished. The team was warmly received and admired throughout the competition, with members of other teams providing valuable input and taking 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. This success has set a strong foundation for the team's future competitions.

Impact #1

The team's first goal was to reach the starting line with a true and state of the art C-Class catamaran, and the second to compete in all the races with a boat holding up to the loads along with professional level competition. Both of these goals were fully accomplished. The team was warmly received and admired throughout the competition, with members of other teams providing valuable input and taking 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. This success has set a strong foundation for the team's future competitions.

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 was able to complete the build-phase in less than 18 months.

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 was able to complete the build-phase in less than 18 months.

Download PDF Version

Overview

Optimizing High-Speed Catamaran Design with IoT Technology

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit