Application of knowledge-based engineering in ship structural design and optimization

This paper presents an application of knowledge-based engineering in containership cargo tank structural design and optimization. Ship design is such a complicated multi-discipline task that design experiences and examples are indispensable. In this proposed knowledge-based system, experiences of design experts, design rules and successful previous designs are stored in the knowledge base. In the design process of new ship structures, the relevant knowledge are automatically distracted from knowledge base and executed together with the knowledge reasoning technique. Both design rules method and Interpolation method are introduced into this system. The design results fulfill the design constraints and requirements, therefore design errors and mistakes can be avoided. What's more, design cycle can be reduced significantly. So it can be an appropriate way applying knowledge-based engineering in ship structural design. What's more, Finite Element Method is employed to carry out the strength analysis, and reliability analysis is performed with Monte Carlo Simulation by introducing uncertainty of design variables under seawater corrosion. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.