Development of a Parametric Model for Analysing Temperature Effects of Solar Radiation on Yachts

High quality aesthetics is a de-facto necessity on luxury vessels such as large yachts. However, high thermal loads due to solar radiation cause uneven expansions in the hull. The classic colour of the conventional yacht fleet is thus unsurprisingly white. However, recent trends see owners opting for darker colours such as black, which absorb much more solar heat, resulting in deformations that destroy the aesthetics of the yacht. To compound matters, other problems such as degradation of hull coatings, increased energy needs to maintain thermal comfort are manifested. Currently, stronger scantlings and more expensive hull coatings are being used, besides larger ship cooling systems. More systems dramatically increase a ship’s weight and cost. In order to study in detail this subject, a joint research program has been started by Baglietto Shipyard of La Spezia and the University of Genova, aimed at investigating the influence of thermal loads on superyacht hull shells. The preoject has been divided into two phases, starting from the analysis of temperature effects of solar radiation on yacht hulls, up to the evaluation of the interaction between finishing filler and hull plates, both in aluminium light alloys and steel. In this paper the results of the first phase are presented where the temperature distribution over a yacht’s hull has been set up based on an analytical approach, parametric modelling and experimental investigations.