Application of a new multi-agent Hybrid Co-evolution based Particle Swarm Optimisation methodology in ship design

In this paper, a multiple objective 'Hybrid Co-evolution based Particle Swarm Optimisation' methodology (HCPSO) is proposed. This methodology is able to handle multiple objective optimisation problems in the area of ship design, where the simultaneous optimisation of several conflicting objectives is considered. The proposed method is a hybrid technique that merges the features of co-evolution and Nash equilibrium with a ε-disturbance technique to eliminate the stagnation. The method also offers a way to identify an efficient set of Pareto (conflicting) designs and to select a preferred solution amongst these designs. The combination of co-evolution approach and Nash-optima contributes to HCPSO by utilising faster search and evolution characteristics. The design search is performed within a multi-agent design framework to facilitate distributed synchronous cooperation. The most widely used test functions from the formal literature of multiple objectives optimisation are utilised to test the HCPSO. In addition, a real case study, the internal subdivision problem of a ROPAX vessel, is provided to exemplify the applicability of the developed method

Çok Kriterli Karar Verme Yöntemlerinin Gemi İnşaatı ve Gemi Makineleri Mühendisliğinde Uygulamaları

Decision-making processes are important in naval architecture and marine engineering, similar to all engineering fields. T he well-known branch of decision making is the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) which involves both quantitative and qualitative factors. In this study, the applications of Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods in naval architecture and marine engineering were examined with 21 Turkish postgraduate theses and 21 English international articles. It is find out that the most frequently used MCDM method is firstly AHP and secondly TOPSIS, and the most frequently used purpose is firstly ship systems selection and secondly ship design. MCDM, a sub-field of operations research, is presented for naval architecture and marine engineers who are new and inexperienced to the subject. With this study, one another aim is to help researchers to bring original MCDM approaches to the original MCDM problems

An interactive layout exploration and optimisation method for early stage ship design

This paper presents a novel, highly interactive genetic algorithm-based layout exploration and optimisation method for generating spatial configurations of ships in the early stages of the design process. The method draws upon the principles of design-driven architecturally centred ship design processes by enabling the naval architects to make important decisions in a hybrid design process. The method utilises a genetic algorithm-based optimisation tool to rapidly generate and evaluate a diverse set of general arrangement options. It is approached in stages where each stage comprises two steps (manual and automatic). The new genetic algorithm-based layout optimisation tool is demonstrated by being applied to an Offshore Patrol Vessel test case. The advantages and disadvantages of the proposed tool are discussed, as well as the current limitations of the overall approach and future work

A novel shipyard performance measurement approach through an integrated Value Engineering and Risk Assessment (VENRA) framework using a hybrid MCDM tool

As the ship manufacturer, including new building, repair, and conversion, the shipyard significantly impacts the ship’s quality and performance output. A well-planned ship design that will be built requires skilled shipbuilders who can fulfil quality, timeline, budget, safety, and environmental requirements from shipowners, rules, and regulations. Since diverse and multiple factors influence its efficiency and product output, evaluating the shipyard’s performance is critical for a more impactful and strategic advancement approach. This research aims to apply the novel integrated Value Engineering and Risk Assessment (VENRA) framework, which integrates five main elements: technical, business, external, personnel’s safety, and environment, for measuring shipyard performance. This paper demonstrates the VENRA business element in more detail and applies it to a shipyard case study. Integrated fuzzy Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) and Weighted Evaluation Technique (WET) are used to analyse the criteria’s interrelationship by determining the cause-effect group and weight ranking prioritisation. The objective grading system is developed to determine the shipyard’s performance score based on multi-resource qualitative and quantitative data. The shipyard’s case study demonstrates that ‘delivery time’ remains the most critical and influential aspect of the business elements’ performance. In addition, the top three most important factors, ‘delivery time’, ‘financial report condition’, and ‘ship manufacturing cost’, must be taken into account, as they directly influence the shipyard’s performance. Despite being a minor element, ‘innovation and human resources’ is the second most influential factor after ‘delivery time’. The case study’s results demonstrate that the framework can simultaneously identify cause-and-effect criteria groups while prioritising the most critical factors via methodologies

Design and Evaluation of Ballast Water Management Systems using Modified and Hybridised Axiomatic Design Principles

There are two major motivations to this research. The first is based on the concerns raised at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) MEPC 67 and 68 meetings regarding the capacity of some type-approved Ballast Water Management (BWM) Systems to meet the performance standard (D-2) of the BWM Convention at-all-times and in all conditions. The second is based on the reluctance expressed by some ship- owners to install the system onboard their ships as a Lloyd\u27s list survey suggested. In this work, an attempt was made to address these issues and concerns using a set of criteria stipulated in Regulation D-5.2 of the BWM Convention which provides the framework for reviewing and evaluating the practical concepts of managing ballast water, developing a conceptual model for managing ballast water and minimizing the contributions of human-error to BWM System performance by analyzing the associated operational human factors. Firstly, the design of a conceptual model of managing ballast water and the evaluation of some established practical concepts of BWM were achieved by using a suitable technique (Axiomatic Design or AD) which was selected via a robust procedure. The two axioms of Axiomatic Design (information and independence) were used to evaluate four different concepts of managing ballast water as well as develop a BWM Convention-compliant conceptual design matrix model respectively. Based on data collected from ballast water management experts, Post-loading Onshore Ballast Water Management System was shown to be the most appropriate ballast water management concept with respect to the Regulation D-5.2 set of criteria. This presents a paradigm shift in expert preference from traditional shipboard systems to onshore systems with respect to the IMO-criteria. The pathway for improved performance of the Convention-compliant design matrix was subsequently determined and prioritised using Sufield model of Altshuler\u27s theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ). Lastly, a 5-step algorithm was developed to minimise operator errors in the BWM System’s operation. Fatigue and training were found to have the greatest impact on operator performance

Establishment of a novel predictive reliability assessment strategy for ship machinery

There is no doubt that recent years, maritime industry is moving forward to novel and sophisticated inspection and maintenance practices. Nowadays maintenance is encountered as an operational method, which can be employed both as a profit generating process and a cost reduction budget centre through an enhanced Operation and Maintenance (O&M) strategy. In the first place, a flexible framework to be applicable on complex system level of machinery can be introduced towards ship maintenance scheduling of systems, subsystems and components.;This holistic inspection and maintenance notion should be implemented by integrating different strategies, methodologies, technologies and tools, suitably selected by fulfilling the requirements of the selected ship systems. In this thesis, an innovative maintenance strategy for ship machinery is proposed, namely the Probabilistic Machinery Reliability Assessment (PMRA) strategy focusing towards the reliability and safety enhancement of main systems, subsystems and maintainable units and components.;In this respect, the combination of a data mining method (k-means), the manufacturer safety aspects, the dynamic state modelling (Markov Chains), the probabilistic predictive reliability assessment (Bayesian Belief Networks) and the qualitative decision making (Failure Modes and Effects Analysis) is employed encompassing the benefits of qualitative and quantitative reliability assessment. PMRA has been clearly demonstrated in two case studies applied on offshore platform oil and gas and selected ship machinery.;The results are used to identify the most unreliability systems, subsystems and components, while advising suitable practical inspection and maintenance activities. The proposed PMRA strategy is also tested in a flexible sensitivity analysis scheme.There is no doubt that recent years, maritime industry is moving forward to novel and sophisticated inspection and maintenance practices. Nowadays maintenance is encountered as an operational method, which can be employed both as a profit generating process and a cost reduction budget centre through an enhanced Operation and Maintenance (O&M) strategy. In the first place, a flexible framework to be applicable on complex system level of machinery can be introduced towards ship maintenance scheduling of systems, subsystems and components.;This holistic inspection and maintenance notion should be implemented by integrating different strategies, methodologies, technologies and tools, suitably selected by fulfilling the requirements of the selected ship systems. In this thesis, an innovative maintenance strategy for ship machinery is proposed, namely the Probabilistic Machinery Reliability Assessment (PMRA) strategy focusing towards the reliability and safety enhancement of main systems, subsystems and maintainable units and components.;In this respect, the combination of a data mining method (k-means), the manufacturer safety aspects, the dynamic state modelling (Markov Chains), the probabilistic predictive reliability assessment (Bayesian Belief Networks) and the qualitative decision making (Failure Modes and Effects Analysis) is employed encompassing the benefits of qualitative and quantitative reliability assessment. PMRA has been clearly demonstrated in two case studies applied on offshore platform oil and gas and selected ship machinery.;The results are used to identify the most unreliability systems, subsystems and components, while advising suitable practical inspection and maintenance activities. The proposed PMRA strategy is also tested in a flexible sensitivity analysis scheme

Development of a novel integrated value engineering and risk assessment (VENRA) framework for shipyard performance measurement

The shipyard is a key facility determining the quality and performance of ships in the shipbuilding industry. A well-designed ship requires skilled shipbuilders who can deliver on parameters such as quality, timeline, budget, and environmental considerations. Evaluating shipyard performance, including shipbuilding, ship repair, and ship conversion, is crucial for strategic advancement. This thesis proposes a new performance measurement framework, the integrated Value Engineering and Risk Assessment (VENRA), to enhance shipyard performance. The framework introduces a conceptual and multi-dimensional criteria framework that considers criteria prioritisation and the evaluated shipyard conditions score. It suggests integrating five criteria groups, namely Technical, Business, External, Personnel Safety, and Environment, which include a number of criteria and sub-criteria. These criteria are intended to be used for shipyard assessment and identifying areas for improvement. In order to achieve the above framework, fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL)-Weighting Evaluation Technique (WET) and fuzzy DEMATEL-Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods are employed. These methodologies assess the VENRA criteria by analysing interrelationships and assigning weight rankings to criteria and sub-criteria. An objective grading system is developed with fuzzy multi-attribute group decision-making (FMAGDM) approach to evaluate the shipyard’s condition score based on the VENRA criteria framework. By integrating criteria analysis and the shipyard score, a comprehensive analysis is conducted to determine the prioritisation of criteria, considering causal relationships, weight rankings, and the shipyard’s assessment score. The proposed framework has been applied and tested in case studies involving three different shipyards: a small shipyard specialising in aluminium ship production, a medium-sized shipyard focused on merchant ship production and a shipyard specialising in cruise ship production. The outcomes of this study include identifying the most influential criteria and sub-criteria, analysing shipyard performance measurements, prioritising enhancement tasks, and providing specific recommendations to improve shipyard performance.The shipyard is a key facility determining the quality and performance of ships in the shipbuilding industry. A well-designed ship requires skilled shipbuilders who can deliver on parameters such as quality, timeline, budget, and environmental considerations. Evaluating shipyard performance, including shipbuilding, ship repair, and ship conversion, is crucial for strategic advancement. This thesis proposes a new performance measurement framework, the integrated Value Engineering and Risk Assessment (VENRA), to enhance shipyard performance. The framework introduces a conceptual and multi-dimensional criteria framework that considers criteria prioritisation and the evaluated shipyard conditions score. It suggests integrating five criteria groups, namely Technical, Business, External, Personnel Safety, and Environment, which include a number of criteria and sub-criteria. These criteria are intended to be used for shipyard assessment and identifying areas for improvement. In order to achieve the above framework, fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL)-Weighting Evaluation Technique (WET) and fuzzy DEMATEL-Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) methods are employed. These methodologies assess the VENRA criteria by analysing interrelationships and assigning weight rankings to criteria and sub-criteria. An objective grading system is developed with fuzzy multi-attribute group decision-making (FMAGDM) approach to evaluate the shipyard’s condition score based on the VENRA criteria framework. By integrating criteria analysis and the shipyard score, a comprehensive analysis is conducted to determine the prioritisation of criteria, considering causal relationships, weight rankings, and the shipyard’s assessment score. The proposed framework has been applied and tested in case studies involving three different shipyards: a small shipyard specialising in aluminium ship production, a medium-sized shipyard focused on merchant ship production and a shipyard specialising in cruise ship production. The outcomes of this study include identifying the most influential criteria and sub-criteria, analysing shipyard performance measurements, prioritising enhancement tasks, and providing specific recommendations to improve shipyard performance

Safety and Reliability - Safe Societies in a Changing World

The contributions cover a wide range of methodologies and application areas for safety and reliability that contribute to safe societies in a changing world. These methodologies and applications include: - foundations of risk and reliability assessment and management - mathematical methods in reliability and safety - risk assessment - risk management - system reliability - uncertainty analysis - digitalization and big data - prognostics and system health management - occupational safety - accident and incident modeling - maintenance modeling and applications - simulation for safety and reliability analysis - dynamic risk and barrier management - organizational factors and safety culture - human factors and human reliability - resilience engineering - structural reliability - natural hazards - security - economic analysis in risk managemen