Integrated design of semi-displacement patrol crafts

Abstract

Early stage ship design and assessment continues to be a challenge for naval architects and ocean engineers. The complex and multifaceted interactions between the different components of the ship and the broad spectrum of disciplines required in ship design make it difficult to fully realize the effects of any one change on the entire system. The initial design of smaller patrol craft is especially difficult due to the lack of design tools able to deal with ships of small size operating in the semi-planing region. This paper puts forth a method for narrowing the design space for patrol craft design. Using a systems approach, a Patrol Craft Assessment Tool (PCAT) was created and tested to aide designers in the initial design and assessment of patrol craft of < 200 ft. PCAT is an open source MATLAB code that incorporates resistance, engine selection, structures, and mission profiles into one design program to aide a designer in optimizing a patrol craft.