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

• Published in: Engineering optimization Vol. 56; no. 9; pp. 1473 - 1492
• Main Authors: Hong, Ge, Gao, Shuo, Xia, Tangbin, Du, Juan, Jin, Xuancheng, Pan, Ershun, Xi, Lifeng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 01.09.2024; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Assembly; butt clearance control; Clearances; Compliant part assembly; finite element equation; fixture layout optimization; Genetic algorithms; Hypercubes; Intelligent manufacturing systems; large ship panels; Latin hypercube sampling; Layouts; Nonlinear programming; Optimization; Shipbuilding; Sorting algorithms
• ISSN: 0305-215X; 1026-745X; 1029-0273; 1029-0273
• DOI: 10.1080/0305215X.2023.2258067

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.