Applying the ARPSO Algorithm to Shafting Alignment Optimization Design

Abstract

Trial-and-error method for shafting alignment at the initial design stage in the shipbuilding industry is mostly carried out by shipyard designers. However, adjusting of a highly sensitive shaft line within a short period in order to obtain a reasonable positive design value for each bearing reaction force (load) and bearing pressure for the entire propulsion shafting system is very difficult. Any minor changes in the bearing location and/or off-set design values may cause different analytical results with a large design deviation, such that the final design result may not comply with the classification society requirements and manufacturers' design criteria.

The innovative ARPSO-SHAALIN design program successfully combines and integrates the Three Moment Equation Method (TMEM) for a continuous beam with the Attractive and Repulsive Particle Swarm Optimization (ARPSO) algorithm. The ARPSO algorithm searches for the values of global optimal design parameter for each bearing off-set and location of the propulsion shafting in the initial design stage in order to create a brand new optimal shafting arrangement. Design results are verified and presented.