Estimation of the Lift-to-Drag Ratio Using the Lifting Line Method: Application to a Leading Edge Inflatable Kite

The use of kites for auxiliary propulsion reduces oil consumption for vessels. But the complexity of the kite numerical simulation induces the development of computationally efficient models based on lifting line theory to evaluate the aerodynamic characteristics of the kite. The presented 3D lifting line model takes into account the three-dimensional shape of the kite and the viscosity of the fluid. The proposed model was applied to a F-one Revolt Leading Edge Inflatable kite to predict its lift-to-drag ratio. Finally, this method is in very good agreement with CFD simulations in the case of a paragliding wing, but needs a much smaller computational effort.