Parametric design and optimization of SWATH for reduced resistance based on evolutionary algorithm

This study develops a numerical simulation-based optimization procedure of Small Waterplane Area Twin Hull (SWATH) design. The procedure integrates the parametric geometry model, numerical analysis of total resistance, response surface methodology (RSM) model, and evolutionary optimization (EVOL) algorithm. The parametric hull form model is constructed based on general characteristic curves and several parameters to achieve model fully automated geometry variation quickly in the process. The resistance numerical simulation is performed and the results of resistance forces are taken as the optimization objective. The RSM model is built by stepwise selection method to accelerate the optimization process. The EVOL algorithm is applied to solve the optimization problem. A 32 m SWATH has been taken as an example to present the efficiency of the optimization. The optimization result shows that the optimized hull form has lower resistance than the original hull. The effect of the design parameters on the total resistance is discussed, which offers a few suggestions for the improvement of SWATH.