An integrated computational approach to Ship Concept Design using optimization techniques and a knowledge base to control the optimization process has been developed. The system automates both synthesis and analysis; analysis by the repeated sequential use of Design Theory Modules and synthesis through the optimization process, which compromises conflicting requirements, subject to constraints. The intention of this work has been to find a better approach to automated design synthesis and at the same time employ detailed analytical tools such as a three-dimensional hull-form definition and engineering analysis modules. Optimization techniques and a knowledge base are combined to achieve the desired capabilities, taking advantage of the benefits optimization can bring using goal oriented methods and exploratory searches, alongside a knowledge base that controls the synthesis process rather than the design. A function mapping strategy has been developed to provide a multiple-parametric view of regions of the optimization objective function and constraints. A discussion is included on the role of further applications of expert systems to design systems in both synthesis and analysis and their possible interference with creativity and innovation. Two design examples are provided, one showing the application of the system using optimization and the other adding the use of the knowledge base. The results are compared and discussed.

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<p>The main contribution of this thesis is on the study of optimization methods in aft hull design. The optimization methods are inverse geometry design methods to find an aft hull with the flow velocities we specify. The analytic foundation for the flow is given by Stratford in [31], and gives a prescribed velocity distribution on the aft body. With the parameter β we have adjusted this flow to have a certain margin to separation along the pressure recovery region.</p><p>This principle and optimization method are successfully applied to design of ships with pram-type aft hull. The 2D optimized profiles corresponds to centerline buttock, and 3D hull sections are extended from this centerline buttock with a bilge radius. </p><p>Stratfords original pressure distribution for pressure recovery region were meant for Reynolds numbers up to 107. We have extended Stratfords formula to yield for ship full scale Reynolds numbers to 109. </p><p>Different optimization methods were programmed and tested. The best routine for our optimization of aft hull with Stratford flow, was when the offset y-value were the optimization parameter to be changed. When we tried to optimize a complete 2D profile with a given pressure distribution, it worked best to use the variables in a B-spline as the optimization parameter.</p><p>Extensive windtunnel tests and towing tank tests are carried out. The tests verified the hydrodynamic properties of the hulls.</p><p>Towing tests indicates that the optimized hull lines have lower total resistance than conventional ships with the same main dimensions. Both the frictional, viscous pressure resistance and wave making resistance are significantly lower. Further we can increase cargo capacity with the same power consumption, and achieve a more favourable distribution of the displacement in the aft hull.</p><p>This study has shown us that the slant angle for the bottom of the aft hull should not excess 15º with horizontal plane due to danger of separation over the bilge, and longitudinal vortices forming. </p>

The main contribution of this thesis is on the study of optimization methods in aft hull design. The optimization methods are inverse geometry design methods to find an aft hull with the flow velocities we specify. The analytic foundation for the flow is given by Stratford in [31], and gives a prescribed velocity distribution on the aft body. With the parameter β we have adjusted this flow to have a certain margin to separation along the pressure recovery region. This principle and optimization method are successfully applied to design of ships with pram-type aft hull. The 2D optimized profiles corresponds to centerline buttock, and 3D hull sections are extended from this centerline buttock with a bilge radius. Stratfords original pressure distribution for pressure recovery region were meant for Reynolds numbers up to 107. We have extended Stratfords formula to yield for ship full scale Reynolds numbers to 109. Different optimization methods were programmed and tested. The best routine for our optimization of aft hull with Stratford flow, was when the offset y-value were the optimization parameter to be changed. When we tried to optimize a complete 2D profile with a given pressure distribution, it worked best to use the variables in a B-spline as the optimization parameter. Extensive windtunnel tests and towing tank tests are carried out. The tests verified the hydrodynamic properties of the hulls. Towing tests indicates that the optimized hull lines have lower total resistance than conventional ships with the same main dimensions. Both the frictional, viscous pressure resistance and wave making resistance are significantly lower. Further we can increase cargo capacity with the same power consumption, and achieve a more favourable distribution of the displacement in the aft hull. This study has shown us that the slant angle for the bottom of the aft hull should not excess 15º with horizontal plane due to danger of separation over the bilge, and longitudinal vortices forming.

This thesis describes and assesses a simplified tool for modeling underwater explosion shock effects during early naval ship concept design. A simplified fluid model using Taylor flat-plate theory is incorporated directly into the OpenFSI module code in Nastran and used to interface with the structural solver in Nastran to simulate a far-field shockwave impacting the hull. The kick-off velocities and the shock spectra captured in this computationally efficient module is compared to results from a high-fidelity CASE (Cavitating Acoustic Spectral Element) fluid model implemented with the ABAQUS/Nastran structural solver to validate the simplified framework and assess the sufficiency of this very simple but, fast approach for early stage ship design. / Master of Science / This thesis describes and assesses a simplified tool for modeling underwater explosion shock effects during early-stage naval ship design. Far-field explosions have a significant effect in terms of damage to equipment and mission capability of a ship. A simplified fluid-structure interaction model using the concept “Taylor flat-plate theory” is developed to simulate a far-field shockwave impacting the hull. This model is directly incorporated inside ‘OpenFSI’, a module used to couple an external code with the Nastran structural solver software. The initial peak velocity in the time-history and the shock spectra characteristics captured in this computationally efficient module is compared to results from a high-fidelity “CASE” (Cavitating Acoustic Spectral Element) fluid-structure interaction model. The “CASE” model implemented with the ABAQUS/Nastran structural solver is used to validate the simplified framework and assess the sufficiency of this very simple, but fast approach for early stage ship design.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited / The VAX/VMS UIS graphics library routines were used in the creation of a menu driven, interactive program which solves basic preliminary ship design problems. The program uses a menu with active mouse and keyboard to select options, enter data, and control program execution. At present, the program solves transverse and longitudinal static stability problems and predicts the effects of shifting weight in three planes. It also calculates the hydrodynamic derivatives for maneuvering performance and predicts the turning circle characteristics of the ship. Provisions for a hardcopy, detailed report are also included. Space has been allocated to include future program modules or user supplied programs.

O presente trabalho discorre sobre os principais fatores que influenciam o projeto do sistema de posicionamento dinâmico (SPD) de um navio aliviador. Os fatores discutidos estão relacionados às questões de confiabilidade de sistemas e às características dos atuadores tipicamente utilizados em embarcações com SPD, tais como, dutos e azimutais. Em relação à confiabilidade de sistemas, os métodos de avaliação por diagramas de blocos e análise de modos de falha e efeitos (FMEA) são discutidos com a aplicação direcionada aos navios aliviadores com SPD. O uso de banco de dados de incidentes de operações com sistemas flutuantes com SPD também é comentado. As alternativas mais utilizadas de arranjo propulsivo para navios aliviadores são apresentadas e analisadas. As interações hidrodinâmicas entre casco-atuador, atuador-atuador e atuador-corrente são apresentadas e comentadas. Ensaios realizados em tanque de provas com propulsores em duto e azimutais instalados em modelos em escala reduzida são apresentados. O texto apresenta a execução de um projeto de dimensionamento propulsivo de um navio aliviador com SPD que opera em águas brasileiras. Para tanto, um procedimento de projeto é sugerido com as seguintes etapas: estudo dos pontos de operação, definição de requisitos de projeto, cálculo de estimativas iniciais, tomada de decisão para a escolha do arranjo propulsivo pelo método de análise hierárquica (AHP), análise de confiabilidade do SPD por FMEA e, por fim, avaliação de desempenho. A avaliação do desempenho do sistema propulsivo projetado é realizada por diagramas de capacidade e simulações dinâmicas. Uma breve comparação entre navios aliviadores com classificações diferentes é realizada e comentada. / This work discusses the main factors that influence the design of dynamic positioning system (DPS) of a shuttle tanker. The factors discussed are related to issues of reliability of systems and the characteristics of the thrusters typically used on DPS vessels, such as ducts and azimuth. Regarding the reliability of systems, methods of reliability evaluation by block diagrams and analysis of failure modes and effects (FMEA) are discussed in the application on DPS shuttle tankers. The utilization of incidents database of offshore vessels with DPS are discussed. The most used alternatives of propulsive arrangement for shuttle tankers are presented and analyzed. Hydrodynamic interactions between hull-thruster, thruster-thruster and thruster-current are presented and commented. Tests with duct and azimuth propellers installed in scale models are presented. This work presents the design of the propulsive subsystem of a DPS shuttle tanker which operates in Brazilian waters. Thus, a design procedure is suggested with the following steps: a study of the operation points, definition of the design requirement, initial estimates, choice the propulsive arrangement by Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), reliability analysis of DPS by FMEA and performance evaluation. The performance evaluation of propulsive subsystem is evaluated by wind and current capability plots and dynamical simulations. A brief comparison of shuttle tankers with different classifications is performed and discussed.

Predictions of the environmental loading and induced motional and structural responses are among the most important aspects in the overall design process of offshore structures and ships. In this thesis, attention is focused on the wave loads and excited bodily motion responses of large offshore structures and special vessels. With the aim of improving the existing theoretical methods to provide techniques of theoretical effectiveness, computational efficiency, and engineering practicality in marine and offshore applications, the thesis concentrates upon describing fundamental and essential aspects in the physical phenomenon associated with wave-structure interactions and deriving new methods and techniques to analyse offshore structures and unconventional ships of practical interest. The total wave force arising from such a wave-structural interaction is assumed to be a simple superposition of the potential and the viscous flow force components. The linear potential forces are solved by the Green function integral equation whilst the viscous forces are estimated based on the Morison's damping formula. Forms of the Green function integral equation and the associated Green function are given systematically for various practical cases. The relevant two-dimensional versions are then derived by a transformation procedure. Techniques are developed to solve the integral equation numerically including the interior integral formulation and, in particular, to tackle the mathematical difficulties at irregular frequencies. In applying the integral equations to solve problems with various offshore structures and special vessels, some modified, improved or simplified methods are proposed. At first, simplified method is derived for predictions of the surge, sway and yaw motions of elongated bodies of full sectional geometry or structures with shallow draft. Then, a new shallow draft theory is described for both three- and two-dimensional cases with inclusion of the finite draft effect. Furthermore, a three-dimensional strip method is formulated where the end effects of the body are fully taken into account. Finally, an approximation to the horizontal mean drift forces of multi-column offshore structures are presented. Some new findings are also discussed including the multiple resonances occurring in the motions of multi-hulled marine structures due to the wave-body interaction, the mutual cancellation effect of the diffraction and the radiation forces arising from a full shaped slender body, and so on. Further to those verification studies for individual methods developed, more comprehensive example investigations are given related to two industrial applications. One is a derrick barge semi-submersible with zero forward speed; and the other, a SWATH ship with considerable speed. By correlation of all the proposed approaches with available analytical, numerical and experimental data, the thesis tries to demonstrate a principle that as long as principal physical aspects in the wave-structure interaction problem are properly treated, an appropriately modified or simplified method works, performs well and, sometimes, even better.

O presente trabalho discorre sobre os principais fatores que influenciam o projeto do sistema de posicionamento dinâmico (SPD) de um navio aliviador. Os fatores discutidos estão relacionados às questões de confiabilidade de sistemas e às características dos atuadores tipicamente utilizados em embarcações com SPD, tais como, dutos e azimutais. Em relação à confiabilidade de sistemas, os métodos de avaliação por diagramas de blocos e análise de modos de falha e efeitos (FMEA) são discutidos com a aplicação direcionada aos navios aliviadores com SPD. O uso de banco de dados de incidentes de operações com sistemas flutuantes com SPD também é comentado. As alternativas mais utilizadas de arranjo propulsivo para navios aliviadores são apresentadas e analisadas. As interações hidrodinâmicas entre casco-atuador, atuador-atuador e atuador-corrente são apresentadas e comentadas. Ensaios realizados em tanque de provas com propulsores em duto e azimutais instalados em modelos em escala reduzida são apresentados. O texto apresenta a execução de um projeto de dimensionamento propulsivo de um navio aliviador com SPD que opera em águas brasileiras. Para tanto, um procedimento de projeto é sugerido com as seguintes etapas: estudo dos pontos de operação, definição de requisitos de projeto, cálculo de estimativas iniciais, tomada de decisão para a escolha do arranjo propulsivo pelo método de análise hierárquica (AHP), análise de confiabilidade do SPD por FMEA e, por fim, avaliação de desempenho. A avaliação do desempenho do sistema propulsivo projetado é realizada por diagramas de capacidade e simulações dinâmicas. Uma breve comparação entre navios aliviadores com classificações diferentes é realizada e comentada. / This work discusses the main factors that influence the design of dynamic positioning system (DPS) of a shuttle tanker. The factors discussed are related to issues of reliability of systems and the characteristics of the thrusters typically used on DPS vessels, such as ducts and azimuth. Regarding the reliability of systems, methods of reliability evaluation by block diagrams and analysis of failure modes and effects (FMEA) are discussed in the application on DPS shuttle tankers. The utilization of incidents database of offshore vessels with DPS are discussed. The most used alternatives of propulsive arrangement for shuttle tankers are presented and analyzed. Hydrodynamic interactions between hull-thruster, thruster-thruster and thruster-current are presented and commented. Tests with duct and azimuth propellers installed in scale models are presented. This work presents the design of the propulsive subsystem of a DPS shuttle tanker which operates in Brazilian waters. Thus, a design procedure is suggested with the following steps: a study of the operation points, definition of the design requirement, initial estimates, choice the propulsive arrangement by Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), reliability analysis of DPS by FMEA and performance evaluation. The performance evaluation of propulsive subsystem is evaluated by wind and current capability plots and dynamical simulations. A brief comparison of shuttle tankers with different classifications is performed and discussed.

This dissertation describes the development and application of a naval ship distributed system architectural framework, Architecture Flow Optimization (AFO), and Dynamic Architecture Flow Optimization (DAFO) to naval ship Concept and Requirements Exploration (CandRE). The architectural framework decomposes naval ship distributed systems into physical, logical, and operational architectures representing the spatial, functional, and temporal relationships of distributed systems respectively. This decomposition greatly simplifies the Mission, Power, and Energy System (MPES) design process for use in CandRE. AFO and DAFO are a network-based linear programming optimization methods used to design and analyze MPES at a sufficient level of detail to understand system energy flow, define MPES architecture and sizing, model operations, reduce system vulnerability and improve system reliability. AFO incorporates system topologies, energy coefficient component models, preliminary arrangements, and (nominal and damaged) steady state scenarios to minimize the energy flow cost required to satisfy all operational scenario demands and constraints. DAFO applies the same principles as AFO and adds a second commodity, data flow. DAFO also integrates with a warfighting model, operational model, and capabilities model that quantify tasks and capabilities through system measures of performance at specific capability nodes. This enables the simulation of operational situations including MPES configuration and operation during CandRE. This dissertation provides an overview of design tools developed to implement this process and methods, including objective attribute metrics for cost, effectiveness and risk, ship synthesis model, hullform exploration and MPES explorations using design of experiments (DOEs) and response surface models. / Doctor of Philosophy / This dissertation describes the development and application of a warship system architectural framework, Architecture Flow Optimization (AFO), and Dynamic Architecture Flow Optimization (DAFO) to warship Concept and Requirements Exploration (CandRE). The architectural framework decomposes warship systems into physical, logical, and operational architectures representing the spatial, functional, and time-based relationships of systems respectively. This decomposition greatly simplifies the Mission, Power, and Energy System (MPES) design process for use in CandRE. AFO and DAFO are a network-based linear programming optimization methods used to design and analyze MPES at a sufficient level of detail to understand system energy usage, define MPES connections and sizing, model operations, reduce system vulnerability and improve system reliability. AFO incorporates system templates, simple physics and energy-based component models, preliminary arrangements, and simple undamaged/damaged scenarios to minimize the energy flow usage required to satisfy all operational scenario demands and constraints. DAFO applies the same principles and adds a second commodity, data flow representing system operation. DAFO also integrates with a warfighting model, operational model, and capabilities model that quantify tasks and capabilities through system measures of performance. This enables the simulation of operational situations including MPES configuration and operation during CandRE. This dissertation provides an overview of design tools developed to implement this process and methods, including optimization objective attribute metrics for cost, effectiveness and risk.