Multi-Fidelity Structural Modeling For Set Based Design of Advanced Marine Vehicles

This thesis demonstrates that a parametrically-modifiable Advanced Marine Vehicle Structural (AMVS) module (that can be integrated into a larger framework of marine vehicle analysis modules) enables stakeholders, as a group, to complete structurally feasible ship designs using the Set-Based Design (SBD) method. The SBD method allows stakeholders to identify and explore multiple solutions to stakeholder requirements and only eliminating the infeasible poorer solutions after all solutions are completely explored. SBD offers the and advantage over traditional design methods such as Waterfall and Spiral because traditional methods do not adequately explore the design space to determine if they are eliminating more optimal solutions in terms of cost, risk and performance.

The fundamental focus for this thesis was on the development of a parametrically modifiable AMVS module using a low-fidelity structural analysis method implemented using a numerical 2D Finite Element Analysis (FEA) applied to the HY2-SWATH. To verify the AMVS module accuracy, a high-fidelity structural analysis was implemented in MAESTRO to analyze the reference marine vehicle model and provide a comparison baseline. To explore the design space, the AMVS module is written to be parametrically modified through input variables, effectively generating a new vessel structure when an input is changed. AMVS module is used to analyze an advanced marine vessel in its two operating modes: displacement and foil-borne. AMVS demonstrates the capability to explore the design space and evaluate the structural feasibility of the advance marine vehicle designs through consideration of the material, stiffener/girder dimensions, stiffener/girder arrangement, and machinery/equipment weights onboard.