For a multi-deck ships with extensive superstructures (such as passenger and cruise ships, RoPax, mega yachts, etc.) the global structural response can be particularly complex. The influence of the superstructure to the primary strength for those multi-deck ships must be considered from an early design phase. Main global topological parameters (e.g. size of side openings, position and stiffness of longitudinal and transverse bulkheads, etc.) have dominant influence on the shape of hull girder stress distributions over the ship height. The Taguchi concepts and techniques (FFE, orthogonal arrays, ANOVA, etc.) could be used to systematically study influence of multiple topological parameters on the global structural response obtained by FEM analysis. It also enables rational identification of the most dominant parameters and provide designer with the near-optimal level of each topological parameter for the defined design objective. It has been demonstrated how different topological variants can lead to different optimal structural scantlings w. r.t chosen design objectives (mass, VCG, etc.), using simplified full ship 3D FE model of passenger ship as an example. Structural design software MAESTRO and in-house developed framework for the design support system DeMak – OCTOPUS Designer were used as a structural optimization tool. This paper aim to extend the standard scantling optimization by introducing topological aspects as a first STEP in overall optimization procedure.

对于具有广泛上层建筑的多甲板船（例如客船和游轮，RoPax，大型游艇等），全球结构响应可能会特别复杂。从早期设计阶段就必须考虑上层建筑对那些多甲板船的主要强度的影响。主要的全局拓扑参数（例如，侧孔的大小，纵向和横向舱壁的位置和刚度等）对整个船高上的船体大梁应力分布的形状具有主要影响。在田口可以使用概念和技术（FFE，正交阵列，ANOVA等）来系统研究多个拓扑参数对通过FEM分析获得的整体结构响应的影响。它还可以合理地确定最主要的参数，并为设计人员提供每个拓扑参数接近最优水平的定义设计目标。以简化的客船全船3D FE模型为例，已经证明了不同的拓扑变体如何根据所选的设计目标（质量，VCG等）导致不同的最佳结构尺寸。结构设计软件MAESTRO和用于设计支持系统DeMak – OCTOPUS Designer的内部开发框架用作结构优化工具。