Water Tunnel Testing of Downwind Yacht Sails

Ignazio Maria Viola, Jean-Baptiste R. G. Souppez

Research output: Chapter in Book/Published conference outputConference publication

Abstract

Downwind yacht sails, such as spinnakers, are low-aspect-ratio, highly-cambered wings with a sharp leading edge. In this talk, we will present water tunnel tests, including particle image velocimetry, of the downwind sails of a racing yacht. We will consider six model-scale rigid models at average-chord-based Reynolds numbers ranging from 5 870 to 61 870. We will discuss the critical Reynolds number above which the forces remain constant, and we will demonstrate that the sharp force increase with increasing Reynolds number is associated with the suppression of the relaminarization rather than with the laminar-to-turbulent transition. We will also discuss the upwash of the mainsail on the spinnaker and the excellent agreement between the overall performances of the sails measured in the water tunnel and those estimated by the sail designers with computational fluid dynamics.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationBulletin of the American Physical Society
Subtitle of host publication77th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics
PublisherAmerican Physical Society
Publication statusPublished - 24 Nov 2024
Event77th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics - Salt Lake City, United States
Duration: 24 Nov 202426 Nov 2024

Conference

Conference77th Annual Meeting of the Division of Fluid Dynamics
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySalt Lake City
Period24/11/2426/11/24

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