Assessing New Technology For Naval Ships

Abstract

ABSTRACTA unique physics‐based whole ship design synthesis model for assessing the impact of new technologies and mission requirements on naval ship design is presented. This tool permits the cost and performance impact and implications of new technology to be properly understood by the mission analyst, the technologist, and the naval architect. The mission analyst can use the information provided by the design synthesis model as inputs to war‐gaming exercises or to help determine the preferred combination of affordable mission requirements. The technologist can use the model to determine whether the benefits of a specific technology warrant the required investment. The naval architect can use the tool to assess the overall impact of a new technology on the ship design. A discussion on how the model accommodates the competing requirements of speed versus accuracy and flexibility versus ease of use to satisfy the needs for all users is presented. Finally, the benefits of the model to each type of user are demonstrated by specific examples drawn from real applications.