Influence of Systematic Hull Shape Variations on Ship Stability Performances in Waves

The sensitivity of ship stability performance in waves to geometric variation has been investigated by means of a simulation-based design framework. The study was devoted to assess the influence of hull geometry variations on some stability failure modes, namely, parametric roll (PR) and pure loss of stability (PLS). The application has been developed by using a representative model of a postpanamax container vessel. PR and PLS phenomena have been investigated by the application of second-generation intact stability criteria (SGISc). The initial multidimensional design space has been filled by 500 design configurations identified by means of a design of experiments approach. A method developed in-house, combining the subdivision surface and free-form deformation approaches, has been used to create the whole set of design alternatives. The generated design configurations have been assessed analyzing the results derived from application of the first- and the second-level SGIS vulnerability criteria for both the selected stability failure modes. To strengthen the correlation behaviors, the design space has then been further explored by using 10k design configurations exploiting the capabilities of a surrogate model-based approximation, relying on a Gaussian process formulation. The study has been focused on the correlations among the variables and the response functions, i.e., the outcomes of the SGIS vulnerability criteria. The significance, in terms of effects, of each geometry shape variable has been investigated. Results have been discussed in the light of the SGISc structure, to provide further insight into this innovative safety framework for a modern approach to intact stability. 1. Introduction In the last 10 years, the development of the so-called second-generation intact stability criteria (SGISc) has been one of the most engaging topics addressed by the Sub-Committee on Safety Design and Construction (SDC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).