Knowledge-based cost modelling of composite wing structures

Abstract

The progressive industrialisation of composite-built aircraft is putting manufacturing engineers on a steep learning curve. An opportunity exists to use knowledge management tools to capture, share and reuse knowledge over multiple aircraft programs and maintain the constant flow of learning gained during aircraft program delivery. This article reports on research to develop a knowledge-based cost modelling capability for composite part concept evaluation. The approach integrates a knowledge management environment with a process-based cost estimation tool encoded in very large spreadsheets. To achieve this, the complexity of the cost model is managed by modularising it into simple, re-useable components. The knowledge management environment is then used to manage the knowledge life cycle, knowledge exploitation and knowledge visibility of those components. The result is a flexible cost modelling tool composed of traceable, verifiable and reliable knowledge elements that provides through-life knowledge support for cost engineering. Validation is achieved through functional application of the solution for composite wing top cover cost modelling.

Keywords:

• engineering knowledge management
• knowledge engineering
• cost modelling
• composites

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the various involved partners in the Next Generation Composite Wing – Multi-Disciplinary Optimisation of Wing project for their financial support of this research. They thank Airbus UK in particular. They also thank their EADS IW and Airbus UK collaborators, in particular Simon Astwood, Alistair Dare-Edwards, Kiran Krishnamurty, Dave Gore and Tom Gibbs, for their support.

Notes

1. The knowledge justification has been omitted from this figure for reasons of confidentiality. However, the knowledge article contains the structural elements necessary for explicit knowledge representation.