Page 99 - Practical Design Ships and Floating Structures

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5 OUTLOOK
A new approach to parametric hull form design has been presented. Three prominent levels of
topology have been introduced - Topology of Appearance. Topology of Design and Topology of
Representation. These levels serve to characterize more clearly the various stages of specification,
definition and realization typical of today’s ship design process, comprising the complete spectrum
from the abstract description to the mathematical detail. The new modelling approach is placed at the
intermediate level of topology of design. Form parameters are utilized as the descriptors to express
design ideas. They can be specified flexibly and problem-dependently. A hierarchical, context-related
and rule-based system has been presented to support the naval architect, the hydrodynamicist and the
designer in their mutual task to create, vary and optimise the hull geometry quickly and effectively.
Examples are given to illustrate the design philosophy and to demonstrate the applicability of the
method. The approach is well-suited for the integration into formal techniques of systematic
optimisation.
Further work is needed to accommodate additional hull features like appendages, gondolas etc.
Moreover, current and future applications focus on the automated optimisation of the hydrodynamic
performance associated with the hull geometry, covering calm water resistance and propulsion as weH
as seakeeping.

Acknowledgement
Parts of this work are funded by the EC GROWTH programme, contract no. G3R D-CT2000-00096.

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