A PARAMETRIC METHOD FOR CHARACTERIZING THE DESIGN SPACE OF HIGH SPEED CARGO SHIPS

摘要

This paper presents a parametric investigation into meeting high speed cargo requirements. A five-parameter method is derived and discussed. The five parameters are: Ship Lift/Drag ratio; Weight of Power; Weight of Cargo Carriage Capability; Overall Propulsive Coefficient; Specific Fuel Consumption. A design space is derived using assumed values for these five parameters. Then the five-parameter method is used to analyze an existing ship, and to derive a sealift ship based on this parent. The ships thus derived are compared to the design space initially developed. Finally, another use for the parametric is explored, by using it to investigate the limiting values bounding the desired design space. This method offers a very rapid tool for determining if a proposed design is worth pursuing further. It can be used to evaluate claims of 'breakthrough' performance, in order to decide whether the claim has merit. It is most emphatically NOT a design method. Rather it is a tool for indicating where, in the universe of ship concepts, a satisfactory design might be found. The method has proven to be a useful tool for gaining insight into a complex problem.