A comprehensive line-heating algorithm for automatic formation of curved shell plates

Line heating is a method used in the production of highly curved plates in the shipbuilding process. Line-heating process is generally regarded as one of the outdated technologies in the modernized and automated shipbuilding process. No piece of information in the line-heating process is either quantified or computerized. These drawbacks have restricted the automation of line-heating process and, as a result, the entire shipbuilding process. Therefore, a new automated line-heating process based on quantitative and computerized heating information has been sought. This paper describes a comprehensive algorithm for an automated line-heating process. By focusing on the overview of the complete algorithm, this paper integrates the components of the algorithm that have been separately published by the authors. The overall procedure of the automated line-heating process, including shell piece modeling, shell development, cylindrical approximation for curved plates, computation of heating information, and measurement and surface comparison, is discussed. The comprehensive algorithm is adjustable for different heat sources and measuring methods, without incurring fundamental changes in algorithm. The proposed line-heating algorithm has been implemented and transferred to some shipyards for customized applications.