Naval Architecture
Introduction
Naval architecture is the art of conceiving structures capable of navigating by sea or in rivers and lakes, which can move on water and under water, that is, referring mainly to all types of boats and ships.
In its modern conception, naval architecture raises two major domains: Architecture and Engineering.
It also refers to the field of all knowledge of the art of design carried out by naval architects and the construction in the shipyards of these means of navigation.
Man has imagined and created devices that allow him to navigate the liquid element since the dawn of humanity, but the definition of naval architecture for this ancient activity only dates back to the 20th century, when we began to compile knowledge of nautical artifacts.
Architect's Work
A naval architect must design a ship (vessel, boat, sailing vessel, oil platform, submarine...) that must meet certain specifications. For example:.
Reaching a compromise between a large number of technical and regulatory constraints is the very essence of naval architecture.
Typical steps
First, the shipowner presents his specifications to the architect. The specifications can be very detailed, for example, when choosing the engine brand, or on the contrary, very succinct (a road, a speed, a capacity).
In this way, the architect can create a sketch, giving some dimensions, a general silhouette, sometimes capacities. For this, it generally uses existing data on similar vessels, as well as its own past achievements.
If the ship owner is satisfied, the architect moves on to the preliminary project, which will establish the dimensions, the general design of the volumes, the materials used and will give an estimate of the total price. At this level, the owner can still intervene, but rarely at the project stage itself. From this first stage, the regulatory part (ship's flag, chosen classification society...) intervenes decisively. The architect / shipowner / classification society trio should work well.
The architect finally goes to the project itself, which aims to produce sufficiently detailed plans for construction. It is also during this phase that the architect verifies the project's compliance with regulations and safety standards. National regulations and classification society recommendations precisely guide the design details as well as the general aspects. In many cases, the architect will rely on specialist consulting firms, the construction site or suppliers to carry out specific studies (stability calculations, structural calculations, fire safety, optimization of hull shapes to reduce impact). Consumption, engine and propellers...).