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Virginia Tech

Dynamic Architecture Flow Optimization for Capability-Based Assessment of Naval Ship Design

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

This thesis details the improvement and implementation of a Dynamic Architecture Flow Optimization (DAFO) tool for Combat, Power, and Energy System (CPES) design in naval surface ship concept development. As a continuation of earlier work, the DAFO has been refined using matrix-based methods with further development towards implementing capability-based design. The DAFO responds to capability requests to support dynamic operational situations (OPSITs) in a Warfighting Model and enables optimized and feasible warfighting reconfiguration under both intact and damage conditions. This involves maximizing the effectiveness of the CPES and providing capabilities over multiple time steps while interfacing with a Ship Synthesis Model (SSM). The SSM connection provides the required physical and logical architectures and other constraints for a particular ship design. The DAFO interacts with multiple models, including a Warfighting Model, Ship Operational Model, and Mission Capability Model. These models, along with the DAFO, are called Ship Behavior and Interaction Models (SBIMs). These models are essential when determining operational effectiveness in OPSITs as they are at the intersection between the physical, operational, and logical architectures of the ship system. With the new matrix-based solution, the ship system's logical architecture is described by a network of vital energy and data component (VC) vertices and edges with their associated adjacency matrix. These VCs are interdependent, with edges linking energy and data flow and allowing capability and effectiveness-based dependencies to be established, driven entirely by flow and based on requested capabilities and warfighting priorities. This network is the basis for matrix operations and a linear programming solution with enhanced computational efficiency. This refinement provides the necessary processing speed for rapid solution of dynamic mission scenarios and effectively manages the complexity of a large ship multi-commodity system of systems.

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
2025

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Kidd, MaKenzie Lane
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Brown, Alan J.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Parsons, Mark Allen
  • Brizzolara, Stefano

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
vt_gsexam:44245
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/135482

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

Kidd, MaKenzie Lane. Dynamic Architecture Flow Optimization for Capability-Based Assessment of Naval Ship Design. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 2025. https://hdl.handle.net/10919/135482