Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) Case Study

This project is a typical example of how we use SURVIVE^TM and our existing knowledge to deliver effective vulnerability assessments.

SURVIVE^TM was used during the competition phase to assess the vulnerability of the two options. Subsequently SURVIVE^TM has been used by the Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA) to undertake vulnerability assessments for the future aircraft carrier (CVF) at each stage of the design process

What we did

We studied, and are continuing to study, the vulnerability of the ship to damage from a wide variety of mechanisms that would be inflicted by an above water or underwater attack. At each stage in the design process SURVIVE^TM determined how vulnerable the design was, why it was vulnerable and what could be done to make it less vulnerable.

We also studied the possibility that an explosion in one weapons magazine might trigger a similar explosion in another magazine. We helped to optimise the armour levels without compromising protection, in some areas suggestions were that armour levels were increased and in others that they were reduced. We considered the number of casualties that might occur as the result of a weapon strike.

Our in-house rapid vulnerability assessment tool SURVIVE^TM allowed us to develop a computer model of CVF and then simulate thousands of underwater and above water attacks in a very short space of time. SURVIVE^TM simulates a multitude of primary and secondary damage mechanisms including: blast, fragmentation, shock, whipping, residual strength, flooding, fire and smoke and crew movement. At each stage of the design process, our model was updated and a new set of results were available in a fraction of the time that more detailed numerical techniques require

The results and benefits

By working closely with the ACA and design teams we have had an influence at key moments in the design process. We have performed more than just an audit function and have been able to inform on many aspects of vulnerability. Our primary aim has been to identify low cost vulnerability reduction methods early on in the design phase. We have been able to identify unnecessary redundancy as well as inform the ACA of where more redundancy might be required.