Shipboard integrated engineering plant survivable network optimization

Abstract

Due to the complexity of naval ship systems, and the iterative nature of classical design, the U.S. Navy has struggled to meet the spirit of Cost-as-an-Independent Variable (CAIV) policy. In particular, distinguishing between best-value concept variants is not well suited to Pareto-style tradeoff analysis unless the variants can be shown to be at or approximately minimum cost. This thesis presents a systematic process for minimum cost, survivable design of an integrated engineering plant (IEP). The mathematical optimization techniques used are suitable for early-stage design. There are three major contributions of this work. First, a straightforward method for "designed-in" survivability of early stage concepts at guaranteed minimum cost is presented, and with flexibility for multiple operating and casualty conditions. Second, interdependence between the electrical and cooling domains is modeled in detail, forming a new computational structure that could be extended to other domains as well. Third, a method for the integral design of minimum cost shipboard stored energy in consideration of casualty and operating conditions is shown. The overall methodology developed in this work can provide program managers assurance that design concepts all represent minimum cost and best value, thus reducing the trade space at an early stage when cost savings can be maximized in the acquisition program.