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Solico Engineering Uses Full-Structure FEA to Cut 12% Weight from ISO-Optimized Composite Hull
How FEA Found an Extra 12% Weight Savings in an Already ISO-Optimized Composite Hull
Executive Overview
Solico Engineering applied full-structure FEA in FEMAP with Nastran to a 12.7-meter glass fiber/vinyl ester foam-cored hull already optimized to ISO 12215-5, achieving an additional 12% structural weight reduction (roughly 337 kilograms).
Manufacturing & Process Note
Full-structure FEA adds engineering time but reveals uneven conservatism in ISO-optimized composite hulls, enabling targeted ply removal and local reinforcement; shipyards must weigh the 12% weight saving against doubled engineering hours and ensure FEA boundary conditions reflect actual shop-floor connections.
Conveyor Composite Laser Cutting SystemSource: CompositesWorld · compositesworld.com