Sensitivity analysis of the performance of olympic rowing boats

Abstract

A multidisciplinary approach is implemented to model and analyze the performance of Olympic rowing boats. A reduced-order model that couples rowers motions with the hull, oars and hydrodynamic and hydrostatic forces is detailed. This model is complemented with a sensitivity analysis carried out by means of a non intrusive polynomial chaos expansion. Different strategies for the evaluation of the polynomial chaos expansion coefficients are implemented and tested. Sensitivity analysis results for a lightweight single scull are presented and discussed. This analysis contrasts the effects of varying forces exerted by the rowers, weights of rowers and cadence of motions on the boat performance. \ua9 2010 by A. Mola, M. Ghommem and M. R. Hajj