Equivalent Beam Finite Element Model to Assess the Mechanical Behavior of a Composite Hydrofoil

Abstract This paper presents and validates a method to model the static structural behavior of composite hydrofoils with 1D beam finite elements. Classically, 3D solid and 2D shell finite elements are employed to predict the anisotropic and heterogeneous behaviors of composite hydrofoils. Modeling a hydrofoil with 1D beam elements drastically reduces its number of structural parameters and the computational time required for the finite element analysis. The present study investigates the static structural behavior of four hydrofoils, constructed in the same mold with different mechanical properties, leading to a specific bend-twist coupling for each foil. The static deformations of the foils are evaluated experimentally and numerically for different load cases. Two numerical models are considered, one with 3D solid and 2D shell elements and a second with 1D beam elements. Then, the results are compared to assess the validity of the 1D finite element model. The comparisons shows that both numerical models are in good agreement with the experimental results. The results also confirm that the 1D finite element model is able to correctly describe the impact of the fiber orientations on the structural responses of the hydrofoils. The computational time savings allowed by the 1D model are also quantified. Keywords Hydrofoil; Equivalent Beam; Laminate; Composite; Bend-Twist Coupling; Non-destructive testing; Section analysis