ABSTRACT
A growing trend in computer aided ship design, particularly in the early stages, is the utilisation of approaches and numerical methods developed in other disciplines. Examples include genetic algorithms, financial methods of risk assessment and the use of network science. Networks can provide an abstract mathematical representation of many types of connected features, properties and information, such that the associated network analysis metrics and approaches can offer new ways of investigating and evaluating ship designs. This paper reports on ongoing UCL investigations into the application of network science in assisting human analysis of the general arrangements of existing ship designs. This work includes designs of complex service vessels (research vessels) as a comparison with naval ships and makes use of freely available network analysis software. This project makes use of the experience in naval vessel concept design at UCL by enabling a comparison of expert judgement and interpretation of designs with the quantitative network metrics. This paper describes the network analysis approach adopted, the findings for the arrangements analysed, and also discusses the future work required to further the approach.
