A New Ship and Offshore System Design Methodology Integrating CFD, HPC, Optimization and Virtual Reality

Ship and offshore design is a complex engineering process involving the integration of multiple interdependent systems, requiring a balance between performance, safety, and feasibility. Traditional methodologies rely on iterative cycles and fragmented data exchange, often leading to inefficiencies, incompatibilities, and design inconsistencies. To address these challenges, this paper proposes an innovative approach inspired by Building Information Modeling (BIM), integrating Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), High-Performance Computing (HPC), and Virtual Reality (VR) technologies to enhance the design process. Central to this framework is Synapse, a multidisciplinary optimization platform that facilitates the seamless coupling of simulation tools within a user-friendly and collaborative environment. The process begins with a parametric hull modeling system, allowing dynamic adjustment of design variables based on user-defined criteria. Initial analyses rely on well established hydrodynamic methods, followed by CFD simulations. The use of HPC resources then enables extensive design space exploration through parallel simulations and optimization tasks, significantly improving execution time and scalability. Finally, VR interfaces provide immersive 3D visualization of final configurations, promoting intuitive exploration, effective validation, and enhanced communication among multidisciplinary teams. As a practical demonstration, the proposed methodology was applied to the optimization of a real-world mooring system currently in operation, achieving a 19\% reduction in anchor loads. This result validates the frameworks effectiveness in delivering measurable and tangible performance improvements.