Simulation Based Ship Design

Dr Ian Whitfield
CAD Centre Strathclyde University

A Future for European Shipbuilding

Purpose

Propose and defend the case for simulation based ship design, focussing on
Improved support for product modelling Increasingly integrated technologies Distributed collaborative design

Explore the need for this visionary outlook Highlight historical and current trends Defend our three core focuses Postulate on a future direction Define three statements encapsulating the vision

The Vision
The utilisation of simulation based ship lifecycle
Vision

technologies as a means to create a European Shipbuilding industry unified through integrating technologies and distributed collaboration

Product Modelling

Integrating Technologies

Distributed Collaborative Design

European Shipbuilding Status

Delivered Tonnage 2002 (000GT) New Orders 2002
EU Yards 7% Others 15% Japan 37%

Need

China 13%

Korea 28%

Korea delivered 12969 Japan delivered 11957 EU (incl. Poland) 4036

Lloyds Registers World Fleet Statistics

Drastic fall EU countries share from 13% in 2001 to 7% in 2002

German shipbuilding and ocean industries annual report 2002

2002 Market Characteristics

Low prices: Overcapacity due to expansion of South Korean and Chinese yards Exchange rate fluctuations due to weak US dollar Price cutting by South Korea estimated up to 27% below normal cost estimates.
German shipbuilding and ocean industries annual report 2002

European Shipbuilding Status

STRUCTURE

Far East yards benefit from the existence of a few large shipbuilding groups,
greater competitiveness arising out of volume building.
Need

derive benefits from economies of scale.

Map illustrating the clusters and structure of Far East yards

European Shipbuilding is a highly fragmented industry, resulting in,

distributed technologies and knowledge. difficulty capitalising on economies of scale reduced international competitiveness.

European Shipbuilding Status

TECHNOLOGY

Far East yards expanding - intrinsic improvement in production technology.

Need

However:
Investment in technology required to be consistent across the whole shipbuilding process. Benefits of isolated islands of high technology are dissipated in the lower technology areas. A process/product is only as strong as its weakest link.

European yards historically advanced in critical marine technologies. Technology is required to support current key marine issues include safety, reliability, and the environment.

European Shipbuilding Proposal

Propose

Based on our vision simulation based technologies can provide a vehicle for European Shipyard restructuring and lifecycle technology development to improve international competitiveness and meet key objectives in areas of safety, reliability and environment.

European Aerospace Study

European Aerospace Industry Characteristics
Pioneering. Forefront of technology. Introduced means to integrate information technologies into the very fabric of design and production R&D Expenditure one of highest of any industry sector,
14% of turnover increased by 400million in 2002 to 10.4billion

Study

Structurally similar to Far East shipbuilding industry.

Small number of large companies Large number of small supply companies

European Aerospace Study

European Aerospace Industry Success

From 95 to 01

Study

Growth p/y

Since 1995

Since 1995

For 4 year period from 92 to 95

AECMA facts and figures 2001

VRShips-ROPAX

Partnership

Visualisation
Current Work

VRS Open Architecture

Technology

Simulation

VRShips-ROPAX
Enables partners to use when required. Marine Domain

Current Work

Enables VR techniques to be implemented.

Partnership

Visualisation

VRS Open Architecture

Technology

Enables new technology to be integrated.

Simulation

Enables simulation modules to be used when required.

VRShips-ROPAX
2 Unique Platforms:
VRShips - A Virtual Computer Based, Generic, Platform supporting any application domain or ship type

Life Phases of Ship Systems Current Work

Safety Assessment

New Product Development

Marketing

ROPAX - An Integrated Ship Platform of ship system critical technologies

ROPAX

2000 passengers 400 cabins

2000 nautical mile range

38 knots

VRShips-ROPAX
Common model Information control Life-phase agents

Performance analysis and reliability

INTEGRATION
A C D B E

D
Life-phase process management Virtual interaction

SAFEDOR Proposal
The main aims of the integrated design architecture are to:
to provide an integrated environment that will support Risk-Based Design accommodate the integration of software applications between two domains, design tools and risk-based simulation tools

Support will be provided to the designer through a RBD user interface that will enable:
Hazard identification and ranking Scenario identification and selection Top level event selection
Proposed Work

Consequence analysis through enactment and evaluation of risk simulation tools Risk evaluation and determination of risk control options Guidance for additional design activity to reduce risk

SAFEDOR Proposal
RBD User interface Design Domain Event & Scenario Selection
Collision Structural Integrity

Consequence Analysis
Flooding Prediction

Tribon Napa

System Flooding

Sinkage Capsize

Fire Explosion

Evacuation

Structural Integrity Intact Stability

Competitive Design Solution

CATIA
Ship Systems

Fire Risk

Etc

Decision Support
Unacceptable Acceptable

Collision & Grounding

Proposed Work
Ship & Environment Model

Risk Balance Risk Data RCOs Cost Data Earning Data Performance

Risk & Knowledge Model

Risk Evaluation

VIRTUAL BASIN Proposal

Existing simulation tools generally provide point solutions to particular performance issues. Challenge is to provide mechanisms to simulate the performance of the vessel from a holistic viewpoint by managing the interactions between the various applications. Achieved through the effective management of data.
Proposed Work

Need to provide an overarching (integration) management framework that manages and coordinates the simulations to ensure that data is being transferred at the correct time for the correct reason.

VIRTUAL BASIN Proposal

Integration framework
Virtual towing tank 1 2 3 4 5 Virtual sea keeping tank 1 2 3 4 5 Virtual manoeuvring tank 1 2 3 4 5 Virtual cavitation tank 1 2 3 4 5

Proposed Work

VIRTUAL BASIN Proposal

Develop and define data management techniques to facilitate data transfer between currently disparate tool sets. Develop and implement the integrated platform for process and data management. Develop a user interface to support distributed collaborative working. Develop an integrated optimisation toolkit.
Proposed Work

Support the evolution of the platform through the development of data mining tools. Develop a holistic visualisation interface through integrated post processing of simulated data.

DIGIT Proposal
Supporting early design and management through digital technology Collaboration involving:
engineering, computer science, information technologies. virtual reality, intelligent interface development and multimedia technologies. Researchers, engineers, comp. Scientists, physiologists, managers, industrial designers, system providers, vendors and end users

Aims to:
Proposed Work

Consolidate and integrate currently dispersed European activities. Develop and test a prototype computational environment Support the most advanced and relevant technologies Develop a framework of digital support for design

DIGIT Proposal
Digital Techniques including:
Computer supported co-operative working AI techniques, GA, CBR, ML, Knowledge Modelling Digital computing, simulation, animation, graphics, virtual reality

To support:
Product Design
Decision making analysis and optimisation Life-phase systems modelling Structuring, configuration, variants, platforms, modularity Sketching, vague geometric modelling

Proposed Work

Process Management
Evolutionary goal and solution management Integrated design development and cross-functional collaboration Team and distributed working and management

Vision Development
Product Data
STEP application protocols ~ standard unit of shipbuilding data but evolve with technology. Intelligent data such that the simulation and its management would essentially be part of the model. Models would appear monolithic to user but could be distributed across many knowledge partners. Computationally viable within ten years.

System Interfaces
Future Vision

Standardised interfaces to achieve a truly seamless integration.

Vision Development
Model views
Currently the model is a snapshot of the design activity A paradigm shift to enable real time distributed design of ship systems.
Adoption of computer games technology Users can immerse themselves and interact within the design environment in spite of distributed locations. Alleviates unnecessary computation Continuous depiction of the design activity Simulation servers would enable an evaluation of performance within any particular life-phase

Future Vision

Vision Development
Benefits:
Viable solution to effective management of ship product models Supports distributed working practices
Increased opportunity for cross-collaboration

Supports all life-phases incl. post-commissioning;

Whole ship model can be immersed in virtual environments Sea-keeping, cargo handling, re-commissioning performance can be ascertained

Simulation of performance in life-phases from early design;

Future Vision

Ships can be designed to meet more rigorous customer requirements

Results in significant commercial advantage.

A Vision for EU Shipbuilding

A step change towards techniques enabling seamless integration, intelligent data and environment immersion will provide a viable solution to maintaining EU shipbuilding competitiveness through simulation based design.

Statements