Advanced Wing Systems
Inalia designed and implemented a structural monitoring system for AWS’s Americas Cup concept wingsail, enabling real measurement of aerodynamic and structural loads under operational conditions.
Aerodynamic and Structural Load Monitoring for Flexible Wingsails
NEED
- Measure real structural loads at the wingsail base.
- Estimate aerodynamic thrust contribution.
- Understand sail structural behaviour and its relationship with vessel motion and wind conditions.
CHALLENGES
- Separation of aerodynamic, vessel dynamic, and sail vibration load contributions from a single set of field measurements.
- Durability and remote data acquisition in marine environment.
- Data analysis and structural assessment from real operational data.
SOLUTION
- Definition of the monitoring strategy and sensor architecture to capture bending moments at the wingsail base.
- Installation of strain, acceleration, and motion sensors.
- Proprietary load separation algorithm to resolve aerodynamic, dynamic, and vibratory components.
- Total load histograms and structural assessment under real operating conditions.
- Full calibration and commissioning.
- Load relationships mapped against wind speed and direction, camber, sail rigging, sail orientation, vessel motion, sea state, and slamming events.
