Application of optimization techniques to Naval surface combatant ship synthesis.

Abstract

This thesis presents a method of reducing the time required to accomplish ship design feasibility studies by coupling a naval surface combatant synthesis model with a general purpose nonlinear optimizer. Brief descriptions of optimization techniques and synthesis models are presented. The selection of design variables, constraints, and objective function is presented via a design example. Further examples are given illustrating the ability to start with infeasible designs and proceed, through optimization, to feasible designs. Examples of ships developed using different objective functions are also presented. The synthesis/optimizer system provides results in a rapid and descriptive manner which compare favorably with existing designs and provides the naval architect with an efficient tool to use in the conceptual design phase of naval surface combatants.