A Korean-developed integrated design framework has been developed to comprehensively analyze “ship survivability”—a naval vessel’s ability to avoid enemy attack, withstand damage when hit, restore key functions after damage, and continue its mission. The key achievement is the integration of survivability analyses that had previously been performed using separate software tools into a single software environment.

 The AX Convergence Research Center of the Virtual Engineering Platform Research Division at the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM, President Seog-Hyeon Ryu) developed ‘isSAFE,’ an integrated ship survivability design framework. isSAFE provides an integrated design environment in which a ship model can be built, various weapon hit scenarios can be generated, and vulnerability, recoverability, and results analyses can be performed in a continuous workflow.

 Ship survivability consists of three elements: susceptibility, the ability to avoid enemy detection and attack; vulnerability, the ability to withstand damage when hit; and recoverability, the ability to restore key functions after damage. Traditionally, each element has been analyzed using separate tools and procedures, with a significant reliance on foreign software.

 isSAFE generates a range of hit scenarios based on omnidirectional uniform distributions, probability-based distributions, and radar cross section (RCS) and infrared (IR) signatures. It also supports simplified and detailed vulnerability analyses for surface ships, as well as simplified analyses for underwater threats, allowing users to assess the extent of ship damage under different hit conditions.

 In particular, isSAFE can model a ship’s compartments, equipment, crew, and mission-essential systems such as propulsion, electrical power, and firefighting. It can then analyze damage under different threat and hit scenarios and assess whether key functions required for mission performance can be maintained. This enables users to compare survivability under different ship configurations and conditions and is expected to support the Republic of Korea Navy (ROK Navy), shipyards, and other end users in ship design and survivability assessments.

 The AX Convergence Research Center is continuing to enhance the damage-control-based recoverability analysis module and is developing integrated database management functions for reference information on threats, equipment, systems, and materials to broaden the scope of the framework. In subsequent development stages, the Center plans to enhance interoperability and extensibility with external analysis tools, develop software tailored to applications such as conceptual design and training, and expand collaboration with the ROK Navy, shipyards, and other end users.

 Dr. Euiyoung Kim, Principal Researcher at the AX Convergence Research Center, Virtual Engineering Platform Research Division, said, “The key feature of isSAFE is that it enables the three elements of ship survivability—susceptibility, vulnerability, and recoverability—to be addressed in an integrated manner within a single design framework.” She added, “We will continue to incorporate feedback from industry, academia, research institutes, and the military to further develop isSAFE into a framework that can be applied in ship design practice.”

 Meanwhile, the AX Convergence Research Center held the first public demonstration of isSAFE at 11:00 a.m. on October 8 at the main conference room in the R1 Building at KIMM’s Daejeon headquarters to present its key functions and gather feedback from participants. Using a virtual frigate-class warship model, the demonstration presented the major workflow—from modeling and hit scenario generation to vulnerability and recoverability analyses and results analysis—in real time. It also included hit analyses at attendee-designated locations and a comparison of analysis results from two models with the same hull but different propulsion configurations.

 The research was supported by KIMM’s institutional research program, “Development of core technologies for digital transformation to enhance the total life-cycle safety of next-generation special vessels,” which is currently in its third year.