Advanced Wing Systems

AWS — Aerodynamic and Structural Load Monitoring for Flexible Wingsails

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.

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.