a b s t r a c tExperimental tensile tests were performed on polyamide-based (PA66) woven strap samples. A strain measuring device was used to measure the strain in the middle and effective part of the woven tensile sample. The tests were performed, on the one hand under monotonous tension at different strain rates and on the other hand under sophisticated cyclic loading histories, including relaxation and creep sequences. The analysis of experimental results was made through a visco-elasto-hysteresis model, based on the superimposition of three stress components. The proposed method allows for characterizing the steady state viscous stress as a function of strain and strain rate, the time-independent irreversible behaviour and the instantaneous modulus increasing with the strain. Based on the visco-elasto-hysteresis model, an analysis enabled us to understand and predict the change in relaxation and creep orientations during complex loading histories.

International audienceA performance prediction program dedicated to merchant ships was developed to assess fuel saving abilities of a kite. The solving of the parameterization presented led to kite velocities and tethers tensions prediction continuously along a flight path within the wind window, including especially wind gradient and ship velocity. Both static and dynamic flight cases were considered regarding optimization strategy for kite tow efficiency. For dynamic flight case azimuth, elevation and orientation of the trajectory are continuously optimized in the present algorithm. Magnitude orders of towing forces induced by the kite were compared to those obtained in the literature. Especially in upwind conditions, which are the most frequent point of sail for fast vessels, results are dramatically improved. Finally, using a 320 m2 kite on a 50,000 dwt tanker, the fuel saving predicted is about 10% for a wind velocity of 9.77 m s−1 (Beaufort 5) and reaches more than 50% for a wind velocity of 15.68 m s−1 (Beaufort 7)

This paper deals with the modelling of the mechanical behaviour of coated woven fabric. The proposed model takes into account the individual behaviours of the yarns, the coating and their interactions including the influence of the angle variation between warp and weft yarns. This model is able to describe simultaneously the non-Newtonian viscous behaviour, the timeindependent irreversibility, the anisotropy and the cyclic loading behaviour. The model was implemented in the finite element code ABAQUS and enables calculations on structures such as complete sails.

No abstract