Abstract: To solve the status that the welding operation is difficult because of the narrow segmented regions in shipbuilding block, the searching algorithm of narrow operating area combined with welding process simulation model was presented. Block model of ship, welding process model and welding resource model were completed to establish the block welding process simulation model. The collision and interference detection was used to check the space required by the welding operation rapidly, and then the potential narrow operating area based on the sequence planning of assembly process was achieved. The area can provide effective input for the man-machine engineering assessment of ship design. Prototype system was developed based on the methods above, and the effectiveness of this method has been proved by an example.

Key words: shipbuilding block, welding process modeling, narrow operating area searching, collision and interference detection