RoPax Structural Design- Multi-Level Decision Support Methodology

摘要

The novel decision support methodology for the concept and preliminary design of a multi-deck ship structures is described together with its application to the structural design of large RoPax ship. The multi-criteria, multi-stakeholder design problem was solved with the support of the ship-owner; the Classification Society and the shipyard, within the EU FP6 project IMPROVE. Approach combines three design steps for the fast generation of different design variants regarding topological (no. of decks), geometrical (bulkhead and deck positions) and scantlings variables. For each design step different structural FEM models, load models and optimization models have been established. In the final step the full ship 3D FEM model was developed to validate and synthesize the optimal design variant using safety, weight, cost and fatigue criteria. Decision making implied MODM and MADM (optimization) procedures based on dual SLP and MOPSO solvers combined with the stakeholders' subjective decision making (selection) on the generated Pareto frontiers. The procedure resulted in the optimal structural design of the RoPax ship with two superstructure decks, increased parking area on lower decks, lower VCG position, etc., combined with the considerable savings in the ship lightweight and related savings in the fuel and other operational costs.