Six of the Group’s companies involved in boat construction
Six Safran group companies and more than 180 engineers were involved in every stage of the boat’s construction, contributing their expertise in a range of fields including composite materials, modeling, hydraulic engineering and of course onboard electronics.
© Jean-Marie Liot / DPPI
Snecma Propulsion Solide determined the mechanical qualities of composite assemblies by testing samples to establish their tensile strength and resistance to abrasion. This helped optimize the structure of each part of the boat, with a view to saving as much weight as possible. The company also inspected the structural quality of the carbon fiber sections in the keel using ultrasound scanning. The rudders on the other hand were inspected using X-rays.
Sagem developed lithium-ion batteries that are very dependable as well as very light, saving more than 100 kg over traditional batteries. The company developed a system for detecting UFOs (unidentified floating objects), consisting of an infrared camera incorporating three mini-gyroscopes attached to the masthead, with a processing unit and screen inside the cabin. Dedicated software analyzes the images and triggers an aural and visual alarm when a dangerous object is identified in the boat’s path. Sagem also supplied the skipper with rangefinding binoculars incorporating an electronic sight.
Aircelle cured the carbon “blank” of the central beam of the keel at high pressure in its autoclave (one of the biggest in France), then machined the blank into a hydrodynamically efficient shape.
Messier-Bugatti assessed and validated the architecture of the hydraulic mechanism for tilting the keel, and took part in the sea trials. Tilting a keel to port or starboard is a little like raising or lowering an aircraft’s landing gear.
Snecma supplied various alloys (titanium, stainless steel and Inconel, an austenitic nickel-chrome superalloy), used for example in keel bearings or hydraulic jack casings. The company also carried out mechanical stress tests on the keel and boom, and inspected all mechanical parts using the dye penetrant method.
As the writer of servicing documents for commercial aircraft engines, Snecma compiled a database listing all of the boat’s technical specifications. In the event of an incident or failure, this database enables the skipper and his shore-based team to quickly find the information needed and solve the problem, with minimal risk of error or misunderstanding.
Safran Engineering Services (SES) Expert modeling and structure calculations, SES has delivered various calculations applied to appendages such as calculating dynamic behaviors of the keel.
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