Flambement global et local des materiaux composites: Application aux mats de voiliers

The mast-rigging combination of a yacht is the structural element which transmits the aerodynamic forces on the sails to the yacht's structure. This load transmission element is in general made up of a mast, a long, thin tube, and the rigging which is a collection of cables linking the mast to the deck. These elements are long, often longer than the hull, with a high centre of gravity and it is essential to obtain as low a mass as possible, both for safety and performance. This search for weight gain imposes the use of lighter and lighter materials: wood, then aluminium alloys and most recently, since the early 1980's, composite materials. The use of the latter is the subject of this paper.