ABSTRACT
Structural analyses, both numerical and experimental, have been made of a composite windsurf fin. Structural analyses, both numerical and experimental, have been made of a composite windsurf fin. An FE model was developed employing commercial software ANSYS using both linear and nonlinear analyses of the structural response due to external loads (selected to give an approximation of the in-service longitudinal deformation) giving the resulting stresses and deflections. To calibrate the numerical model, experimental tests using a servo-hydraulic mechanical test machine was performed. To try to estimate the failure load of the fin Tsai-Wu, Maximum Stress and Maximum Strain failure criteria were applied.
