SHIP DESIGN MARGINS‐ISSUES AND IMPACTS

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe generally accepted categories of Design and Construction Margins and Future Growth Margins are discussed briefly, and a third major category, Assurance Margins, is introduced and discussed in more detail. The connection between Assurance Margins and the probability of successful performance is shown. The feasibility of reducing margins to reduce ship size and cost is examined.Following a brief discussion of certain significant aspects of a version of the Naval Ship Engineering Center DD07 destroyer computer synthesis model and of the baseline ship employed, the results of some computer studies of margin impacts on that baseline ship are presented and interpreted. Changes in margins on weight, vertical center of gravity, space, accommodations, propulsion power, and electrical power are investigated and their impacts expressed primarily as changes in full load displacement and in acquisition cost. The effects of combinations of margins are illustrated, and attempts are made to explain the mechanisms by which interactions occur.