Barge Design Optimization

In this project, three members of the Armed Forces tested the multi-disciplinary system design optimization approach to concept evaluation on a simplified platform, a barge. A barge is a non-self propelled vessel that incorporates the basic disciplines of ship building: hydrodynamics, hydrostatics, and structural mechanics. Using four bounded design variables, we attempt to optimize the payload, in tons, that a barge could carry within the physical constraints. We conduct a design of experiments to select an initial design to further optimize. Sequential quadratic programming (SQP) was used to solve the nonlinear program (NLP) in computer software MATLAB. The NLP was also solved using the genertic algorithm (GA) heurisitic. SQP converged quickly and found the optimal solution. The problem was expanded to include another objective, structural weight. The multi-objective problem was solved to create a Pareto front to show the trade-offs for each objective. The results of the study show this approach is feasible for these types of platforms and allow the opportubnity for expansion of included disciplines as well as increased fidelity of the model used. Thus, eventually, a warship or some other such complex system could be designed with this approach.