Examination of a Torpedo Performance Space and its Relation to the System Design Space

Abstract

In historical torpedo design, mission analysis, which relates torpedo performance to mission success, has been used as a stand-alone tool to derive specific torpedo performance requirements. These performance requirements must then be met by the torpedo designer. However, the incorporation of mission analysis into the engineering design of a torpedo system grants more freedom to the designer. The designer can immediately see the effects of design variable changes on mission success, and can infuse new tactics in addition to new technologies to expand the available design space. This paper serves to explore the performance space of a torpedo, then relate this performance space to the design variables by mapping the performance space directly to the design space and design variables. The paper also studies how granting the designer control of weapon tactics expands the design space, allowing the torpedo and its tactics to be concurrently optimized. This new approach results in significantly greater design freedom and the ability of the find a system-level global optimum.