Novel Approach to Robust Concept Development for Offshore Floating Systems

This paper describes a new approach to the application of robust design optimisation to the development and selection of floating systems during concept and early-stage engineering.  The basis of the approach is to combine a genetic algorithm with an efficient non-intrusive statistical model to allow both uncertainties in modelling (intrinsic uncertainty) and requirements (extrinsic uncertainty) to be accounted for within a Robust Design Framework that directs optimisation toward unique design solutions. A particular interpretation of the Pareto design objective space enables required levels of performance margin and meaningful measures of confidence in design objectives to be achieved.  The approach can be used to provide a systematic series of optimal hull geometries (geosims) that meet the most likely variations in design requirements, and so mitigate the impact of change early in the design cycle. This paper follows on from and earlier publication (IJME648) on multi-objective, multi-discipline, optimisation and uses the same case study.