A large opening on the swimming pool structure of a large cruise ship reduces the carrying capacity of the deck structure. The opening reinforcement is an effective approach to improve the structural strength. However, various forms of reinforcements pose a challenge to the optimal design of opening structures.

A variable density topology optimization method is used to optimize the opening reinforcement of a swimming pool, and a new form of opening reinforcement is obtained. Next, a size optimization method is used to obtain a more reasonable distribution of plate thicknesses, thereby achieving better weight reduction.

As the results show, compared with the prototype structure, the optimized structure has an increased ultimate bearing capacity of 1.1%, maximum stress reduction of 3.3% and weight reduction of 7.0%.

The proposed optimization design method can provide a reinforcement approach for designing the deck opening structures of cruise ships.