Fluid-structure interaction of a triple-wingsail system

Paper in proceeding, 2026

The decarbonization of shipping has accelerated interest in wind-assisted ship propulsion (WASP) as a viable path to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Among different WASP technologies, rigid wingsails offer high aerodynamic efficiency, but their integration in multi-sail configurations raises challenges regarding aerodynamic interference, structural response, and overall propulsion efficiency [1, 2]. This study presents a fluid–structure interaction (FSI) analysis of a triple wingsail system with crescentshaped profiles, designed for large commercial vessels. 

A two-way coupled simulation framework was developed, combining computational fluid dynamics (CFD) with finite element analysis (FEA). The aerodynamic flow field was resolved using the improved delayed detached eddy simulation (IDDES), while the structural response was captured with a simplified solid representation of the wingsail. Mesh morphing based on radial basis functions (RBF) was applied within an arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) framework to maintain grid quality during large deformations. The analysis focused on three apparent wind angles (AWA = 60°, 90°, and 120°) at a fixed angle of attack (AOA = 20°).