Abstract
A structure optimization for the initial design of ship is under consideration in this paper. A bulk career is selected for the object of the optimization. Both the sizes and the plate thicknesses of a bottom structure of ship are taken as design variable simultaneously. Individual mesh sub-division technique and multi-point constrain method are introduced for making this optimization possible. In order for reducing computational effort, a sensitivity analysis is used instead of FEM, and the validity of using it is examined. Computational results are compared with a real ship data and a great performance is observed for the optimal design with considering the size and the plate thickness of a ship structure. Genetic algorithm is used for this optimization in this study.
