Operational analysis in system design of submarines during the early phases

Journal article, 2015

This paper presents a new method for operational analysis (OA) as a tool in simulation based design (SBD) for Naval Integrated Complex Systems (NICS), here applied to the submarine domain. An operational analysis model is developed and described. The first step of the design process is to identify and collect the needs from the customer and stakeholders, from which requirements can be deduced and designed in an organized way, i.e. requirement elucidation. It is important to evaluate the benefits or penalties of each requirement on the design as early as possible during initial design. Thus the OA-model must be able to evaluate requirements aggregated in synthesised ships such as initial concepts, i.e. Play-Cards, as representations of a submarine concept in the functions domain where the first set of requirements are designed, and establish their Measure of Capability (MoC) and Measure of Effectiveness (MoE). The work has resulted in an OA-model for submarine design that can be used during the development and for evaluation during the life cycle of a submarine system. The purpose of integrating OA in the design process is to explore the design space and evaluate not only technical solutions and cost but also the system effect in the early phases and thereby find and describe a suitable design room. This will generate a more rapid knowledge growth compared to the classic basic ship design procedures which focus on technical performance and cost. It is expected that we not only reach a higher level of knowledge about the design object but also achieve higher precision in the compliance to needs and deduced and designed requirements by the use of an OA-model as an integrated tool during initial design. This approach also invites customer participation within the framework of integrated project teams. © 2015.The Royal Institution of Naval Architects.