Numerical simulations started to be used in the beginning of the 80s. In these years, reduced hardware capacities only allowed to solve simple problems. It was then realistic to solve 2D structural problems but impossible to tackle most 3D flow problems. Only defence and aerospace industries had access to the required supercomputers. With the raise of vector supercomputers, by 1985, it became possible to use CFD softwares to compute steady state solutions and in the structure domain to tackle dynamic analysis problems. Between 1987 and 1990, we have been involved in the development of CATHARE, a thermal-hydraulic code meant to simulate Nuclear power plants accidents and then joined the RADIOSS development team (dynamic structural analysis and fluid-structure interaction).
Birth of industrial products (1992-2004)
The last decade of the 20th Century saw the spread of supercomputers in the industry and the development of most of the simulation software that are still used as of today. (Structural codes : NASTRAN, ANSYS, RADIOSS and CFD solvers : STAR, FLUENT, CFX…). These software needed the resources of multi-million euro super-computers to solve industrial problems. The most advanced application during that period being the aerospace and auto industries. Regarding CFD applications to yachting, solvers using simplified equations became available (the well known ‘panel codes’). These tools allowed the study of regular flow patterns (upwind sails, smooth hull geometries). In 1995, such software was used by Team New Zealand on SGI parallel servers and workstations. Meanwhile we have carried on developing RADIOSS and working with many industrial users worldwide including Ford and Siemens in the USA, Honda in Japan, Volvo, Opel, Renault and PSA in Europe. We have also performed consulting studies for America True and le Défi Areva (I) on the hydrodynamic side. During the 30th and 31st America’s Cup our aero expert worked with Team New Zealand performing CFD simulations, wind tunnel testing and validation of sails and rig aerodynamics.
Yachting applications (2004-2009)
As CFD software matured, the first decade of the 21st saw a tremendous acceleration of affordable hardware making possible for small and medium companies to use simulation tools which, until then, were reserved to large industrial corporations. Today it is possible on high end PCs to perform simulations that required million euro supercomputers in the year 2000. However the use of these tools can only bring valuable results if they are controlled by highly experienced users. Results otherwise might be aesthetic but not realistic.
Since the year 2004, our activity has shifted almost exclusively to the America’s Cup. Dimitri Nicolopoulos was design coordinator for K-Challenge for the 32nd Cup. Dr Stephen Collie has been in charge of aero simulations for Shosholoza since completing his PhD for Team New Zealand. In late 2007 we both joined the German Team for the 33rd Cup, under the leadership of Jochen Schuemann. Since the team shut down we have set up and performed a full research program sponsored by K-Challenge until the end of 2008. The outcome of our combined efforts is a set of fully validated, predictive numerical models and an in depth understanding of the physics of yacht design. Applying today our tools and methods can help generate competitive advantages for most yachting projects.
10 Key Projects
1990 Benetton-Ford Formula 1 crash simulation.
1992 First worldwide ‘car to car’ crash simulation for OPEL.
1996 First folded airbag deployment simulations for FORD US.
1997 Fluid Structure Interaction study for America True
2000 CFD aero simulations for Team New Zealand (30th America’s Cup)
2001 Aero acoustic fluid-structure simulations of exhaust lines for HONDA Japan.
2005 CFD hydro for K-Challenge and aero for Shosholoza (32nd America’s Cup)
2008 Extensive aero and hydro validation campaign toward the 33rd America’s Cup.
