MODELING AND SIMULATION IN THE SEALIFT PROGRAM

The Navy's Sealift Program had several unique problems associated with it which have been addressed using innovative modeling and simulation tech niques. These techniques fall under two categories: visualizatio n and dynamic analysis. This paper will discuss the employment of thes e techniques and the impact their application has had in the program. Also examined will be various difficulties that were encountered in th e application of these techniques. Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) vis ualization tools were used to model the interior Ro/Ro spaces on the f our classes of new construction and conversion ships now being procure d. These models were employed for vehicle maneuvering simulations, ope rator familiarization and visualization of the results of an analysis of the loading and unloading of Ro/Ro vehicles. A COTS dynamic analysi s system was used to simulate dynamic behavior during the assembly/dep lopment and retrieval/disassembly of the side port ramp using the ship s' cranes. These analyses supported reviews of design configurations, proposed handling procedures, and in conjunction with extensive post-p rocessing, operability assessments for system operation. In a parallel effort, an interactive crane simulator was developed to support on-go ing engineering studies, indoctrination, and test and evaluation purpo ses. Lessons learned have been applied to other activities at the Nava l Sea Systems Command. Critical areas were the validation and maintena nce of up-to-date configuration data for the visual models, adaptive l evels of detail to meet the requirements of each study objective, and the need to provide comprehensive documentation of models.