Simulation-based Study on Man-hour Estimation for Forming Curved Hull Plates

We addressed the problem of estimating man-hours to fabricate a curved hull using cold and thermal forming methods and analyzed the current forming methods and identified parameters affecting the forming time. Subsequently, we obtained mathematical formulae that relate geometric parameters (curvedness and area), with a forming parameter (forming time), through experiments and simulations to estimate the forming time when a curved plate is provided as an input. We tested the formulae using examples and analyzed the results to verify their validity. Results show that the derived relations can be used for man-hour prediction of curved hull plates in shipbuilding.