Weapon System Costing Methodology for Aircraft Airframes and Basic Structures. Volume I. Technical Volume PDF Download

Author: R. E. Kenyon
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 341

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Book Description
This volume provides a detailed description of the function and use of two weapon system costing methodologies for aircraft airframes and basic structures developed for the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory for use in conceptual and preliminary designs phases of weapon system development. The methods are a trade study costing method for detailed cost analysis of trades-off between weight, cost, type of construction and type of material and a system costing method for determining the projected cost of a complete airframe within the context of a weapon system development. This volume provides a technical discussion of method development. Tradeoff capability has been provided for a range of alternative structure and material combinations. A technique for independently assessing complexity factors has been developed and demonstrated. Manufacturing costs are separately estimated for the primary elements of substructure: ribs, spars, covers, leading edges, trailing edges, tips, etc. The trade study method provides an iterative capability stemming from a direct interface with design synthesis programs. A detailed cost data base and system for data expansion is provided. The methods are designed for ease in changing cost estimating relationships and estimating coefficients resulting from cost data update. (Author).

Author: R. E. Kenyon
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 233

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Book Description
This report presents the interim results of a study aimed at extending cost estimating techniques developed and demonstrated under a previous contract. The previous study resulted in two separate estimating methods: a trade study and a system costing method. These methods provided two essential estimating capabilities: the capability of assessing the relative difference in the cost of the basic structures attributable to variations in type of construction and material in an iterative fashion to support tradeoff studies during the preliminary design process, and the capability of accurately estimating total airframe costs in manhours and materials for selected design while retaining sensitivity to type of material and construction. (Modified author abstract).

Author: R. E. Kenyon
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 156

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Book Description
This volume presents the cost data used as the basis for developing the trade cost estimating technique for aerodynamic surfaces. Other data that has become available in the course of the study is also presented. Raw data and organized data are presented. An ultimate objective of the study with respect to the cost data base is to present back-up data for each individual CER, including both trade study and system costing relationships. The cost trend data that is included was produced under an amendment to the contract. Its intent was to provide a data base for cost estimate evaluation. (Author).

Author: Mark V. Arena
Publisher: Rand Corporation
ISBN: 0833039253
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 74

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Book Description
This report is one of a series from a RAND Project AIR FORCE project, "The Cost of Future Military Aircraft: Historical Cost Estimating Relationships and Cost Reduction Initiatives." The purpose of the project is to improve the tools used to estimate the costs of future weapon systems. It focuses on how recent technical, management, and government policy changes affect cost. This report focuses on the accuracy of cost estimates. For our analysis, we used a very specific sample of Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) data, namely only programs that are complete or are nearly so. The analysis indicates a systematic bias toward underestimating the costs and substantial uncertainty in estimating the final cost of a weapon system. In contrast to the previous literature, the cost growth was higher than previously observed. We also found few correlations with cost growth, but observed that programs with longer duration had greater cost growth and electronics programs tended to have lower cost growth. Although there were some differences in the mean cost growth factors among the military departments, the differences were not statistically significant. While newer programs appear to have lower cost growth, this trend appears to be due to factors other than acquisition policies.

Author: David E. Stem
Publisher: Rand Corporation
ISBN: 0833038729
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 211

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Book Description
Systems engineering and program management (SE/PM) constitute a large portion of the acquisition cost of military aircraft and guided weapons systems. The goal of this study was the development of a set of cost-estimating relationships that can be used to estimate the SE/PM cost element for development and production of aircraft and weapons programs. The authors canvassed government and industry personnel to learn about current techniques for estimating SE/PM costs, and they collected historical data from several aircraft and weapons programs to investigate trends in SE/PM costs over time and to generate methods that cost analysts can use early in the life cycle of a program when little cost information is available. The authors also investigated the effects on SE/PM costs from acquisition reform, including the reduction in the number of military specifications and standards, the use of integrated product and process teams, and the trend toward "evolutionary acquisition." This product is part of the RAND Corporation monograph series. RAND monographs present major research findings that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND monographs undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity. Book jacket.

Author: R. E. Kenyon
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 283

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Book Description
This volume provides a detailed description of the function and use of two weapon system costing methodologies for aircraft airframes and basic structures developed for the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory for use in conceptual and preliminary designs phases of weapon system development. The methods are a trade study costing method for detailed cost analysis of trades-off between weight, cost, type of construction and type of material and a system costing method for determining the projected cost of a complete airframe within the context of a weapon system development. This volume describes how to make an estimate using either technique and shows the results of a demonstration case. Tradeoff capability has been provided for a range of alternative structure and material combinations. A technique for independent assessing complexity factor has been developed and demonstrated. Manufacturing costs are separately estimated for the primary elements of substructure: ribs, spars, covers, leading edges, trailing edges, tips, etc. The trade study method provides an iterative capability stemming from a direct interface with design synthesis programs. A detailed cost data base and system for data expansion is provided. The methods are designed for ease in changing cost estimating relationships and estimating coefficients resulting from cost data update. (Author).

Author: R. E. Kenyon
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 73

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Book Description
This volume describes the supporting programs used in conjunction with a cost estimating program to provide a trade study cost estimating technique for aerodynamic surfaces. The supporting programs for the purpose of this discussion are defined as a structural synthesis program and a secondary structure synthesis program. The structural synthesis program is used for the analysis of primary structure and is called APAS (Automated Program for Aerospace-Vehicle Synthesis). The secondary structure synthesis program estimates geometry and weights, and performs parts definition for the aerodynamic surface leading edge, trailing edge, and tip components. The cost estimating adaptation is derived from programs originally developed under Independent research and development.

Author: R. E. Kenyon
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 366

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Book Description
This volume provides a detailed description of the function and use of two weapon system costing methodologies for aircraft airframes and basic structures developed for the Air Force Flight Dynamic Laboratory for use in conceptual and preliminary designs phases of weapon system development. The methods are a trade study costing method for detailed cost analysis of trades-off between weight, cost, type of construction and type of material and a system costing method for determing the projected cost of a complete airframe within the context of a weapon system development. This volume describes how to make an estimate using either technique and shows the results of a demonstration case. Tradeoff capability has been provided for a range of alternative structure and material combinations. A technique for independent assessing complexity factor has been developed and demonstrated. Manufacturing costs are separately estimated for the primary elements of substructure: ribs, spars, covers, leading edges, trailing edges, tips, etc. The trade study method provides an iterative capability stemming from a direct interface with design synthesis programs. A detailed cost data base and system for data expansion is provided. The methods are designed for ease in changing cost estimating relationships and estimating coefficients resulting from cost data update. (Author).

Author: R. E. Kenyon
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 77

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Book Description
This report presents the interim results of a study aimed at extending cost estimating techniques developed and demonstrated under a previous contract. The previous study provided a trade study and a system study costing method for empennage elements. During the initial phase of the current study, these capabilities have been extended to include all aerodynamic surfaces: horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, canards treated as a stabilizer, and wings, including secondary structure. This volume provides a handbook as a guide to the trade study cost estimating technique. The function of the computer program is described. The program output format and the input data requirement and its organization are discussed and reference is provided to the cost estimating logic involved. (Author).

Author: R. E. Kenyon
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 281

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Book Description
This report describes a study to improve a previously developed weapon system costing methodology for aircraft airframes and basic structures under Contract F33615-72-C-2083. The methodology is part of a preliminary design level technique for the cost estimation flight vehicle structures. Applications of the method have indicated a number of areas where further study and development could be expected to provide an advanced state-of-the-art capability. This study was directed towards that end. The study was limited to the specific changes consisting of (1) development of complexity factors for technologies and materials represented by the advanced strategic bomber wing carry-through box, (2) modification of raw material cost estimating relationships (CERs) to increase sensitivity to material product form and type of scrappage, (3) investigation of additional assembly techniques and adding or modifying corresponding cost estimating factors, (4) modification of existing CERs to include evaluation of variations in the degree of commonality involved, (5) determination of the effect of production rate on recurring production costs, and (6) determination of the variation in learning curve factors due to variation in the type of material or type of construction. Detailed results are described. (Author).