Simulation Modelling for Scenario Planning to Evaluate IVHM Benefit in Naval Ship Building

Naval ships are long life assets that could be called upon to perform missions not considered in their original design. The through life support arrangement is influenced by the military requirement as well as contracting practice. In navies that contract out the building and support of ships in different competitive packages, condition monitoring technology for through life health management may be stripped out to reduce ship building cost. This paper investigates the potential benefits of incorporating health management for the test and commissioning stages in naval shipbuilding to reduce the overall cost of a ship programme. Scenario planning using simulation suggests that for ships of high complexity in a multiple ships programme, health management is likely to enhance the lessons learnt process. The benefits to the follow on ships could justify the investment.