Numerical optimization of large shade sail support

Abstract

To design an optimal support of a large shade sail it is necessary to determine forces in wire ropes that support the sail. Relations between a sail loading and ropes reaction forces, rope diameters and sail stresses were investigated. To simulate the sail behavior and set up these relations, numerical (FEM) models were created and analyzed. Most of the results show nonlinear relations between above mentioned parameters and they depend on the sail geometry, applied loads and the rope diameter. It means that for every specific geometry and loading of par-ticular sail an optimal rope diameter and support should be designed. The nonlinear numerical analysis is very suitable tool for this purpose and thus specialized systems based on the Finite Element Method (FEM) should be used to simulate and analyze such problems. © 2016, Published by Manufacturing Technology, All rights reserved.