Simulating the operation of a novel variable camber hydrofoil

Small marine vehicles such as boats and particularly windsurfers, employ winglike lifting surfaces, such as daggerboards, rudders and fins, on the underside of the hull to resist the sideways force of the sail and also for directional control. Because these lifting surfaces must operate on both tacks, a geometrically symmetrical cross-section is normally used, which inhibits the maximum values of lift that can be generated by a given surface area. To improve the performance it is proposed to develop a cross-section with camber, even though this presents a problem for a lifting surface which has to operate on both tacks. This paper discusses the process and reasoning behind the development of a cambered lifting section for marine vehicles and the way in which aerodynamic data, theory and computational techniques are being applied in this process.