CFD Aerodynamic Optimization for F1 Powerboat: Enhancing Lift and Stability

Baruffi Composites Solutions, a leading company in the design and production of advanced composite materials, engaged Asotech to perform a CFD fluid dynamic analysis on an innovative powerboat intended for the inshore motorboating championship. The goal was to test the aerodynamic lift and longitudinal stability of the vessel, crucial elements for ensuring high performance and safety in races.

The Asotech team conducted advanced simulations to optimize the boat’s stability and address critical issues such as the risk of overturning at high speeds. The suggested modifications led to a significant improvement in performance, increasing lift by 30% and ensuring greater safety and speed.

Increased lift and improved stability at high speeds

+ 0 %

Enhanced overall performance compared to previous models

Initial Requirement

The vessel featured advanced characteristics, such as a flat bottom with optimized geometries for improved navigation efficiency and a survival cell made of lightweight and resistant materials. The objective was to ensure that the powerboat achieved high performance while maintaining longitudinal stability and adequate lift for planing, avoiding potentially dangerous instabilities for the driver.

The main challenge concerned controlling the boat's lift and stability, critical elements for preventing overturning at high speeds and ensuring that the boat behaved as a planing vessel rather than a simple displacement vessel.

Solution

The Asotech team performed a CFD fluid dynamic analysis using FLUENT software in the ANSYS Workbench environment to simulate the boat's navigation conditions and performance. After simplifying the 3D model provided by the client, fluid dynamic models were created to examine the lift and drag forces under different inclination conditions (from 0° to 12°) and speeds (up to 200 km/h). The simulations analyzed the behavior of air and water flows, showing how these forces influenced the vessel's stability and performance.

After careful analysis of the results, it was found that the powerboat had a destabilizing rear section, responsible for instability at high speeds, with the risk of overturning. Design modifications were then proposed to improve the hydrodynamic behavior, working with the client to optimize lift and correct longitudinal stability defects. Through CFD analysis, the team identified areas of flow separation that reduced the boat's efficiency, suggesting modifications that improved overall performance.

Benefits for Ecolibrì

The collaboration between Baruffi Composites Solutions and Asotech resulted in a highly optimized and safe powerboat for the inshore motorboating championship. The modifications suggested by the CFD analysis increased the boat's lift by 30%, significantly improving stability and safety. Additionally, the aerodynamic enhancements led to a 5% increase in overall performance, with higher speed and reduced fuel consumption compared to competing models. These results provide Baruffi Composites Solutions with a competitive edge in motorboating competitions.

Client

Baruffi Composites Solutions

Category

CAE Analysis

Tags

Nautical, F1 Boat

Team

Marco Simonelli
Yauheni Parfionau

CFD Fluid Dynamic Analysis of an F1 Powerboat