EXTENSION AND APPLICATION OF SHIP DESIGN OPTIMIZATION CODE (SHIPDOC)

Abstract

ABSTRACTAn existing nonlinear ship design optimization program designated SHIPDOC has been extended and a new surface effect ship (SES) description input file is being developed under the sponsorship of the Naval Sea Systems Command's surface ship concept formulation (CONFORM) program. SHIPDOC is currently being used in support of several feasibility and preliminary level SES designs.The program has several novel features including an open‐ended, user‐created ship description and the potential to model all types of ships both enhanced and conventional, surfaced and submerged. This capability has been combined with a nonlinear optimization algorithm that solves for the minimum weight ship subject to user controlled constraints.This paper presents a brief overall description of SHIPDOC and its current capabilities followed by a synopsis of ship types, both surface and submerged, which have been designed with the program in order to illustrate SHIPDOC's practical design capability.