Ship Hull Structural Multiobjective Optimization by Evolutionary Algorithm

An evolutionary algorithm for multiobjective optimization of the structural elements of the large spatial sections of ships is presented. The evolutionary algorithm where selection takes place based on the aggregated objective function combined with domination attributes as well as distance to the asymptotic solution is proposed and applied to solve the problem of optimizing structural elements with respect to their weight and surface area on a high-speed vehicle passenger catamaran structure with several design variables such as plate thickness, scantlings of longitudinal stiffeners and transverse frames, and spacing between longitudinal and transversal structural members. Details of the computational models were at the level typical for conceptual design. Scantlings were analyzed using the selected rules of a classification society. The results of numerical experiments with the use of the developed algorithm are presented. They show that the proposed genetic algorithm can be a foundation of the effective multiobjective optimization tool for ship structure optimization. Further development of the tool should include more advanced methods for ship structural analysis.