Materials and structure

L'Hydroptère's foils function like the wings of an airplane. The pressure on a foil, however, can be two times larger than the pressure on the wing of a military aircraft. Yet it is important to make the foil as light as possible. Improving performance therefore requires cutting-edge research on fabrication and assembly processes, from the microscopic scale all the way to the global structure of the boat.

Optimization of materials and fabrication processes (LTC)

The composite materials used in building the L'Hydroptère often have a sandwich structure : two carbon-fiber reinforced «skins» surround a very light honeycomb material. Under extreme conditions, even the smallest imperfection in the material can lead to a catastrophic rupture of the part.

The results of EPFL research are used in various different ways: in the selection of materials for building new sailboats, for defining the optimal fabrication parameters that make it possible to combine rigidity and lightness, and for finding the optimal specifications for assembling the various components. Tests conducted on samples will directly influence the overall design of future versions of the L'Hydroptère.

As in other leading-edge domains such as aeronautics or Formula 1 racing, going after pure power alone is not enough to guarantee maximum performance and safety. In Formula 1 racing, for example, the combined behavior of the chassis and the wheel set is at least as important as the motor. With the goal of studying and optimising the flight of L'Hydroptère above the waves, simulations will be run to represent the combined behavior of the structure and the foils. Using modern methods of simulation, it will be possible to determine the deformations and stresses generated in the structure in normal and extreme sailing conditions. The results obtained will allow us to define the navigable limits of the sailboat as well as improvements that could be made to the structure to increase the speed at which it can fly. This research will lead to new developments in simulation methods that can then be applied in other state-of-the-art technologies.