Structural analysis

Olimpic Sails has always been responsive to technological developments. In order to foresee the behaviour of a sail before moving on to the definitive design, we have acquired a specific software which makes it possible to simulate the flow of air over the sail’s surface. First of all, the designer must determine the dimensions and volume of the sail; then the force that every part of the sail will need to withstand with changes in wind intensity and the angle of incidence of the wind with the sail is reproduced ‘virtually’. At this point, we are able to effect an accurate analysis of the deformations, stresses and forces the sail will have to sustain. This analysis enables us, for each single sail, to establish the quantity and type of fibre that will need to be inserted into the membrane constituting the body of the sail (see screen above). Using this process, we are thus able to supply a specific product for each vessel, optimised for the conditions of use not only in aerodynamic terms but also in the realisation of its structure.