Application of CFD simulation to the design of sails

A finite-volume method was applied to a simulation of the flow about the sail system of IACC sailing boats. The interface boundary technique was employed to generate a proper grid system for the two-sails system, which is composed of head and main sails. The turbulence model was carefully chosen by numerical test, and the most reliable simulation method was completed and used to design the sails. The suitability of the method is demonstrated by some examples of design applications. Received for publication on March 14, 2000; accepted on March 16, 2000