Optimizing the Seakeeping Performance of Ship Hull Forms Using Genetic Algorithm

Hull form optimization from a hydrodynamic performance point of view is an important aspect of ship design. This study presents a computational method to estimate the ship seakeeping in regular head wave. In the optimization process the Genetic Algorithm (GA) is linked to the computational method to obtain an optimum hull form by taking into account the displacement as design constraint. New hull forms are obtained from the well-known S60 hull and the classical Wigley hull taken as initial hulls in the optimization process at two Froude numbers (Fn=0.2 and Fn=0.3). The optimization variables are a combination of ship hull offsets and main dimensions. The objective function of the optimization procedure is the peak values for vertical absolute motion at a point 0.15LBP behind the forward perpendicular, in regular head waves.