Technological Advances in Aircraft Carrier Design

Abstract

Since the signing of the Contract Design Plane for the CVN 68 (the U.S. Navy's latest Class of Aircraft Carriers) In 1963, considerable technological advances have been made in Naval Ship Design. This paper provides specific examples of how new technology has affected traditional Carrier design practices and techniques, and also indicates areas where future advanced technology will be needed. It is divided into four sections: 1) Computer Design Application; 2) Total Ship Energy Conservation Analysis; 3) Advances in Structural Design; and 4) Impact of V/STOL Aircraft. The increased use of the computer to define ship characteristics in the initial stage of ship design is discussed, followed by a report on efforts to include energy conservation as an integral part of the design process. The energy conservation approach uses traditional analytical techniques to develop innovative design configurations that will achieve energy savings. Of the many advances in Carrier structural design, two specific examples are given: 1) Elimination of the infamous “knee‐knockers” (high sills in passageway openings) common to Gallery Deck structure, and 2) Successful attempts at reducing the thickness of aircraft elevator platforms. The paper concludes by pointing out some possible challenges facing the ship designer and some of the technology already created by the expected introduction of advanced design Vertical/Short Takeoff and Landing (V/STOL) aircraft.

Extension and Application of Ship Design Optimization Code (Shipdoc)

“…ship elements present in the early stages of the naval combatant design process. Descriptions of several of these, such as DD08 [l], CV02 [2], HANDE [3], and ASSET, have been available. SHIPDOC, a ship design optimization code, although under development for the last fifteen years, has not been formally described in the open literature.…”