Applications of modular construction techniques for habitability spaces in naval ship design and production

Abstract

Traditional construction methods for habitability spaces in naval ships, particularly aircraft carriers, are manpower intensive and expensive. In response to decreasing defense spending, the Navy is considering methods to improve the affordability of aircraft carriers. Modular construction techniques for habitability spaces offer potential costs savings. Although cruise ship builders have utilized modular construction techniques for almost 30 years, these modules do not meet Navy survivability requirements. The Navy's Affordability Through Commonality (ATC) program is developing new joiner bulkhead systems and modular sanitary spaces to meet Navy performance requirements. However, very little is known about the cost benefits and area and weight penalties for using habitability modules in aircraft carriers. An arrangement design project was carried out on a new aircraft carrier design to quantify the cost, area, and weight benefits and penalties for using modular habitability spaces. With the assumptions made in this research, the results show that modular habitability spaces offer a 15 percent cost benefit, but suffer a 7-15 percent area penalty and 8-13 percent weight penalty. A plan for testing modular construction techniques on a new aircraft carrier is also presented. While modular construction techniques have many benefits in cruise ships, the benefits for aircraft carriers are more limited, and depend on the characteristics of the individual design.