B6365 - Computer Aided Yacht Design

Learning outcomes

The course aims to provide the basic knowledge required to understand the main features of modern Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software and to use such tools correctly for the geometric modelling of yachts and boats in general.

The first part of the course is devoted to providing students with the basic principles of Industrial Technical Drawing. The second part addresses the main topics of computer-aided design and introduces the principal methodologies used for the modelling, modification, coordinate transformation, and visualization of curves, surfaces, and solids of interest to the marine field.

Course contents

The course introduces the principles and tools of Computer-Aided Yacht Design, with particular emphasis on the digital representation of marine geometries and their use in modern design methodologies.

After a brief introduction to the fundamentals of technical representation and the conventions used in naval architecture and yacht design, the course presents the principles of computational geometry for the representation, construction, and modification of curves, surfaces, and hull forms, with particular attention to geometric quality and fairness.

The course then addresses parametric modelling of hull forms and the main strategies for shape modification, including geometry-based parameterization and shape-deformation techniques. Automation through scripting and the connection between geometric models and preliminary geometric, hydrostatic, performance, and producibility assessments are also introduced.

The final part of the course introduces digital design based on design-space exploration, including the generation and analysis of design alternatives, surrogate modelling, dimensionality-reduction techniques, and the fundamentals of optimization applied to marine design. Perspectives offered by generative and data-driven approaches for shape representation and generation are also presented.

Practical activities guide students from the representation and modelling of marine geometries to the development of simple parametric and automated workflows for generating, evaluating, and exploring design alternatives.

Readings/Bibliography

Main references:

• H. Nowacki, M. I. G. Bloor, B. Oleksiewicz (eds.), Computational Geometry for Ships, World Scientific.

• L. Larsson, R. Eliasson, M. Orych, Principles of Yacht Design, Adlard Coles.

• J. R. R. A. Martins, A. Ning, Engineering Design Optimization, Cambridge University Press.

Additional teaching materials and selected scientific references will be provided by the professor during the course.

Teaching methods

The course combines lectures, guided computer-based exercises, software demonstrations, and the progressive development of an application project.

Theoretical concepts related to geometric representation and parametric design are complemented by applications to marine geometries. Practical activities introduce the use of CAD and scripting tools for the construction, modification, automation, and analysis of geometric models.

Case studies and examples from contemporary engineering design and research are used to illustrate the integration of digital geometry, preliminary analysis, and design-space exploration.

Assessment methods

Assessment is based on the development of an application project focused on the digital modelling and exploration of a marine geometry, accompanied by concise technical documentation.

The project should demonstrate the student's ability to represent and parameterize a geometry, generate and analyse design alternatives, and make informed use of the computational tools introduced during the course.

The project is discussed during an oral examination, which also assesses the student's understanding of the fundamental theoretical concepts covered in the course and their ability to explain and justify the geometric and design choices made.

The final grade takes into account methodological and technical correctness, the quality of the model and analysis, the ability to interpret the results, and the student's understanding of the fundamental concepts of the course.

Teaching tools

Teaching activities are supported by materials prepared by the instructor, lecture notes, bibliographic and scientific references, application examples, geometric models, scripts, and computational notebooks.

Practical activities use tools for geometric and parametric modelling, scripting languages, and computational environments for model automation and analysis.

Teaching materials and the resources required for practical activities and project development will be made available through the University's institutional platforms.

Office hours

See the website of Andrea Serani