# Propulsion par cerf-volant : envol et pérégrinations

Abstract : Kites exist since ancient times, but their use as wind energy harvesting device is relatively recent. Still, their light weight and ability catch strong and steady winds in altitude make them a competitive mean to generate electricity or to tow commercial ships. Indeed, a kite can typically produce $10$ kW.m$^{-2}$. This implies that a $1000$ m$^2$ kite could provide substantial assistance ($20$ $%$) to the propulsion of the biggest current tankers. This thesis focuses on two issues associated with the development of such kites:How can one perform autonomous take off and landing without the risk of losing them? Kites with inflatable structures take advantage rigidity and lightness during flight and from high compactness during storage. It also allows them to float if they crash on the ocean. To design those kites, we study in the first part of the thesis the behavior of inflatable structures under static and dynamic loadings.How can one achieve a stable flight? Once it takes off, it appears that under certain conditions, the kites undergo large amplitude oscillations that eventually lead to their fall onto the ground. Using wind tunnel experiments, we examine in the second part of the thesis the origin of these oscillations and the conditions which prevent them from occurring.
Keywords :
Document type :
Theses

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### Identifiers

• HAL Id : tel-01476873, version 1

### Citation

Emmanuel Du Pontavice. Propulsion par cerf-volant : envol et pérégrinations. Mécanique des fluides [physics.class-ph]. Université Paris-Saclay, 2016. Français. ⟨NNT : 2016SACLX015⟩. ⟨tel-01476873⟩

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