Modular and Flexible Payload Arrangement : With Reconfigurable Floors and Sliding Bulkheads

Sammanfattning: Background The shipbuilding trends have changed from being single purpose ships only to using modular and flexible parts or systems to carry out multiple missions with as few ships as possible to minimize the ecological and economic impact. A flotilla can become smaller by having multiple ships capable of carrying out various missions instead of single-purpose ships. Objectives The objectives throughout the thesis are to provide an insight into how the trends today are affecting the market of surface ships and to study how a reconfigurable floor can be combined with a sliding bulkhead to be implemented into the cargo space. The developed concept needs to meet the regulations set by DNV-GL, which are an international classification society that is experts in risk management and quality assurance. This master’s thesis focuses on how to implement modularity and flexibility in payload arrangement for surface ships. Method The work process is based on the methodology design thinking’s four phases, which are initiation, inspiration, ideation, and implementation. Throughout the project, a trendwatching was conducted to determine the most impactful trends on the naval market. Using semi-structured interviews, techwatching and brainstorming iterations, a requirements list was defined to support the concept development. The concepts were weighed against each other, and the highest scoring was developed into a parametric CAD model. The model was later compared to the DNV-GL regulations to see whether the developed concept affects existing systems such as HVAC. Results Some of the top trends that have been affecting the naval market lately is modularity, flexibility, and unmanned surface vessels. The developed concept was a combination of a pallet loading floor and cargo floor rollers for reconfigurable floors and garage door-inspired bulkhead. The concept was visualized in Autodesk Inventor Professional 2020 to be further analyzed and display how the concept operates, its functions and how the system compares to DNV-GL regulations. Conclusions The top trends affecting the naval market are modularity, flexibility, and unmanned surface vessels to mention a few. Some of the regulations from DNV-GL that need to be considered when implementing a modular and flexible payload arrangement are fire protection and tightness requirements. However, the regulations can be stricter or changed depending on the role, design, and placement of the payload arrangement.