Fluid-structure interaction analysis of crescent-shaped wingsails

Paper in proceeding, 2024

The use of wind-assisted ship propulsion is regarded as one of the effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This study combines wind tunnel experiments and advanced numerical simulations to investigate the model-scale effects and fluid-structure interaction (FSI) of a wingsail with a crescent-shaped profile. First, a wind tunnel test is carried out to study the aerodynamic loads and flutter of the wingsail. Next, a numerical method for analyzing FSI, fully coupling computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis, is established. By comparing the experimental and numerical results, the model-scale effect that has an influence on the accuracy of prediction, e.g., laminar-turbulent transition, is discussed. Then, a full-scale FSI simulation based on a simplified solid model was performed to study the flutter and its influence on the propulsive performance. The results indicate that the crescent-shaped profile causes notable periodic oscillations due to strong flow separation, significantly affecting propulsive performance. These insights are crucial for the design and optimization of wingsail structures in enhancing wind-assisted ship propulsion.