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Virginia Tech

Improved Sailboat Design Process and Tools Using Systems Engineering Approach

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This research provides a detailed and systematic update of the traditional sailboat design process, with specific attention being paid to the tools used for evaluation purposes, and in doing so creates an improved and optimized design process for sailboats. More specifically, this report seeks to modify a systems-engineering approach to the ship design process, in order to properly incorporate modern sailboat evaluation techniques as well as elements of traditional sailboat design while providing analysis of a case study from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's ocean vehicle design class. In considering all intricacies of sailboat design and with applications and gradual improvement in quality of design through the use of multi-objective optimization methods, a new sailboat design process evolves, which initially considers a wide variety of design options and alternatives. Specific attention is paid in this process to the evolution of the ordering and analysis of each segment of the subprocesses, reducing design risk through the use of industry standard assessment procedures and ensuring consistent interaction with the customer. In doing so, an improved and effective design process is established, to be used by future sailboat design teams at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Ocean Engineering
Department dc:contributor.department
Aerospace and Ocean Engineering
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
2020

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Zanella, Matthew Robert
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Brown, Alan J.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Alexander, William Nathan
  • Brizzolara, Stefano

Subjects

dc:subject × 6

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:25849
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/98503

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Zanella, Matthew Robert. Improved Sailboat Design Process and Tools Using Systems Engineering Approach. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2020. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/98503