Hull Objects

The Product Information Model contains a model hierarchy which allows hull structure objects to be grouped together in terms of their function or their physical location in the ship model. In the Hull Application the basic approach is that the ship model is divided into a number of Blocks, which in turn are sub-divided into Panels. Each Panel is assumed to be composed of Plates, Stiffeners, Seams, Notches, Brackets, Flanges, Corrugated panels can be represented as well.

Blocks are defined as a physical zone of the model. An overview of the Hull data structure is shown in the figure below.

Overview of the Hull Data Structure

The full ship model is thus represented by a contiguous set of unique blocks, having well defined interfaces between adjacent blocks and with no overlaps, gaps or duplication of boundary elements between blocks.

More detailed views of the Hull and other closely related functions can be found below. Functions in bold are such functions, that can normally be found in the start menu. Functions in italic are functions within Planar Hull or Curved Hull.

Hull main functions

After having created the hull form and established the hull standards, valid for the project, the actual modelling of the hull structure can start. The modelling is done in two separate modules: one for planar hull structures, and one for curved hull structures. The modelling results in a digital description of the hull model in a databank. Another important result is the drawings of various kinds, for example, hull steel drawings, that are developed simultaneously with the model. A separate function, Parts Generation, splits the model into its parts, plates and profiles, which in turn are stored in their specific databanks. The later nesting steps nest these parts into raw plates and raw profiles and create the necessary information for plate cutting machines and profile cutting robots. The parts generation function also loads the Production Data Interface with all necessary information to be able to interface other sorts of software.

Hull also contains an extensive set of list functions for the production. Those functions read information from all involved databanks.

Hull modules and functions. Legend: rectangle boxes show functions while circles show data