HELSINKI, Finland, Jul 18, 2024 – NAPA is pleased to announce that, its NAPA Release 2024.1 has been published! The new functionality, updates and changes in the software have been included in the NAPA Release Notes 2024.1 document, available in NAPAnet, with the installation media.
The new release highlights include:
- Easier hull form design process
- Quicker reaction to design changes with loading conditions
- Bringing the power and flexibility of initial design tools to detail structural design
- Integrated engineering experience for strength assessment and 3D approval
Easier Hull Form Design Process
NAPA Designer supports now hull form transformation which enables an easy start for the hull form design process, by utilizing existing hull form data, for example from existing NAPA project databases. The hull form transformation functionality in the interactive 3D user interface speeds up the design and modeling process. The first version contains a support for linear transformations, including the transformation of main dimensions, displacement and longitudinal center of buoyancy.
The new hull surface backup / restore functionality makes it possible to try out transformations safely for a hull surface, with a possibility to restore the previous version(s).
Quicker Reaction to Design Changes
The loading condition toolset of NAPA Designer has been extended with several user-requested features. Now, it is easier to monitor the key results and react to possible design changes. The extended compliance indicators are available now for floating position, stability and strength, proving a quick overview for the rule compliance and feasibility of loading conditions. The balancing functionality helps to adjust one or several loading conditions at once, for example to correct floating positions.
The real-time result panels are now customizable, supporting all standard quantities for floating position, stability and weights.
From Initial to Detail Structural Design
We have addressed several customer needs for example to handle design changes more efficiently and to create detailed structural models faster.
Numerous useful features, developed based on extensive user feedback, include:
- Robust reference handling of object definitions
- Combining main objects for efficient penetration control
- UX improvements in the visualization
- Several detailed design features, such as variable-shaped stiffeners, improved arc shape modeling, and various corner notches for bracket
These enhancements bring flexibility and powerful tools when continuing from initial to detail structural design.
Robust references to stiffeners in surface object definitions in NAPA Designer
Variable-shaped stiffener for a transition area (NAPA Designer)
Strength Assessment and 3D Approval
NAPA optimizes the structural engineering experience by providing an integrated platform for 3D design, strength assessment and 3D class approval.
The new release brings in a wide range of improvements to further streamline the structural assessment process, such as significant performance improvements in finite element meshing (FEM) and enhanced capabilities for interfacing with ABS, CCS, and ClassNK software.
ClassNK PrimeShip-Hull Results Back
The OCX interface (import/export), a primary feature for 3D class approval, now supports the OCX schema version 3.0.0. It includes also new improvements, such as external CAD references for compensating detailed parts and equipment visualization. These enhancements support effective design review by class societies’ approval viewers.
External CAD reference in OCX (Image: DNV Sesam Insight)
To achieve true 3D approval, it’s essential to replace the drawing-based communication in shipyards. NAPA Viewer aims to support this. The new features for visualizing object parameters and material sides help to communicate design intents within the stakeholders in a shipyard.
Visualization of a design intent (object parameter material thickness) in NAPA Viewer
For more information on the latest news on 3D class approval with NAPA, please see the NAPA User Meeting 2024 presentation materials which available in NAPAnet (requires a login).
About NAPA
In its 30 years of operation, NAPA has become a global leader in software, services and data analysis for the maritime industry; providing best in class data-led solutions for safety, efficiency and productivity in both ship design and operations.
NAPA operates globally, with 11 offices across Asia, Europe and the Americas supported by its Helsinki headquarters. To date, NAPA has 420 user organizations for its design solutions and over 2,500 installations onboard vessels. For more information, visit www.napa.fi.
About Post Author
