FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF A COMPOSITE CATAMARAN

SUMMARY In this paper, the catamaran of the AEROFLEET company is analyzed with the SAMCEF finite element code. The two hulls, the three crossbeams connecting these two hulls and the mast are made of materials like glass/epoxy, carbon/epoxy and sandwich constructions. In this paper, it is explained how CAD and CAE tool s are used to evaluate the stiffness and strength of this very particular comp osite structure. Proposals for the improvement of the structural design are also d iscussed. First, specificities of the geometry, such as trans verse panels used to stiffen the overall structure as well as the hull’s floor, are defined. Those make the catamaran acting like a composite box structure. Th e relevant load cases are discussed and modeled. The best way to determine the boundary conditions is also studied. The structural analysis is then carri ed out, first with a linear approach. This allows to identify the critical zone s based on classical Tsai-Wu and Tsai-Hill criteria. The results validate the cu rrent design, and possible improvements for future catamaran constructions are discussed.