A design methodology for welded structures to be used on U.S. Navy surface combatant ships

The objective of this work is to integrate manufacturing considerations of arc welding processes in the early stages of welded structures design. This is accomplished through the development of a framework that allows design engineers to investigate the appropriate trade-offs between deposition rates, operator factors, deposition efficiency, welding position, accessibility, weldability, and joint design at an early stage in the design. The impact of different decision making alternatives made early in the product life cycle are supported by expected costs. The system details are demonstrated with the major welding processes and hull non-nuclear steels used in construction of surface combatant ships in the United States Navy.