A Generative Approach to Hull Design for a Small Watercraft

Abstract

In the field of ocean engineering, the task of spatial hull modelling is one of the most complicated problems in ship design. This study presents a procedure applied as a generative approach to the design problems for the hull geometry of small vessels using elements of concurrent design with multi-criteria optimisation processes. Based upon widely available commercial software, an algorithm for the mathematical formulation of the boundary conditions, the data flow during processing and formulae for the optimisation processes are developed. As an example of the application of this novel approach, the results for the hull design of a sailing yacht are presented.

Keywords

• method
• generative design
• yacht
• optimisation
• genetic algorithm