In ship structural design, scantling optimization using mathematical algorithms is not yet largelyimplemented in industry. Optimization with mathematical algorithms can be very helpful to find the bestsolution (minimum weight, minimum cost, maximum inertia,…). Typically, finite element analysis (FEA)tools are used in ship structural assessment. But, to build a FEM model from a CAD one is not easy. Itneeds a big amount of manual work. In the present work, an innovative optimization workflow wasdeveloped. The following steps are carried automatically without any manual intervention. First, fromthe 3D CAD model, an idealized CAD model is created by the idealization module to take into accountthe FEM needs. Then, the idealized CAD model is transferred to the FEM tool. After that, the FEMmodel is meshed and loaded. After FEM solving, the results (stress, displacement, volume etc.) aretransferred to the optimizer. The optimizer evaluates the values of the objective function and theconstraints previously defined and modify the design variables (plate thickness and the stiffenerscantling) to create a new structural model. After several iterations, the optimum solution is evaluated.
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