Multiattribute Decision Making Methodology in the Concept Design of Tankers and Bulk Carriers

Abstract

An improved methodology for decision making for ship general design in concept design phase is presented. Multiattribute decision making method has been applied and executed by decision making shell DeMak developed at Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in Zagreb. Each attribute was defi ned through membership grade function based on fuzzy set theory. The consistent relative signifi cance of attributes is obtained as an eigenvector of subjective decision making matrix and used as a weighting factor. Inadequate information about confi guration of feasible designs´ subspace is overcome by sequential adaptive generation of design points in feasible region (via e.g. adaptive Monte Carlo method). The concept of nondominated designs was used for fi ltering effi cient (Pareto) solutions which are the only signifi cant ones from the designer point of view. Selection among effi cient solutions is performed by MADM approach, thus expressing designer´s heuristic preference regarding multiple attributes. As “preferred design”, the nondominated point having a minimal distance from the “utopia” or other target design in the subjective attribute space have to be selected. Method is presented for the basic design of Capesize bulk carrier and Handymax product tanker. Design procedure and mathematical models for basic design of tankers and bulk carriers has been taken over complementaty paper [B1]