Fixture layout optimization of large compliant ship part assembly for reducing and straightening butt clearance

Abstract

Fixture layout is an essential factor in intelligent manufacturing in the shipbuilding industry, affecting assembly quality and efficiency. Its optimization has become an urgent problem in the assembly process of compliant parts. Traditional fixture layout depends on workers’ experience, which leads to butt clearance along the assembly interface. Thus, this article proposes a butt clearance control-oriented fixture layout optimization (BCCFLO) methodology. First, a method for calculating the part dimensional variation under the influence of fixture layout and fixture locating error is developed. Then, a constrained multi-objective integer nonlinear programming (CMINP) model is innovatively formulated to optimize the fixture layout. Furthermore, the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II based on Latin hypercube sampling is designed to address the CMINP model. The case study illustrates and validates that the fixture layout achieved by the proposed method could significantly control the butt clearance for large compliant part assembly in the shipbuilding industry.

KEYWORDS:

• Compliant part assembly
• fixture layout optimization
• butt clearance control
• finite element equation
• large ship panels

Acknowledgements

This research is supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China [2022YFF0605700], National Natural Science Foundation of China [51875359 and 72001139], Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai [20ZR1428600], CSSC-SJTU Marine Equipment Forward Looking Innovation Foundation [22B010432] and Oceanic Interdisciplinary Program of Shanghai Jiao Tong University [SL2021MS008].

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China [grant number 2022YFF0605700]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number 51875359]; Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai Municipality [grant number 20ZR1428600]; CSSC-SJTU Marine Equipment Forward Looking Innovation Foundation [grant number 22B010432]; Oceanic Interdisciplinary Program of Shanghai Jiao Tong University [grant number SL2021MS008].