Title: A physics-based distributed collaborative design process for military aerospace vehicle development and technology assessment

Authors: Raymond M. Kolonay

Addresses: Multidisciplinary Science and Technology Centre, US Air Force Research Laboratory, WPAFB, Ohio, USA

Abstract: This manuscript presents a design exploration and technology assessment process for military aerospace vehicles. The new process utilises physics-based analyses and a distributed collaborative computational environment to predict vehicle performance which in turn is used in mission level simulations to assess the impact of a given configuration or technology on the combat effectiveness of a system. The new process will be executable within the same time and resource constraints of the traditional process. This enables AFRL technology developers to have a quantifiable and traceable trail of the impact of their technologies on system performance parameters such as weight, lift, and drag into terms that Air Force leadership uses to measure system effectiveness - lethality, survivability, sustainability, and affordability. This leads to well informed decisions concerning technology investment and achievable capabilities.

Keywords: design process; multidisciplinary design optimisation; military aerospace vehicles; vehicle design; collaborative design; technology assessment; design collaboration; physics; vehicle performance; mission level simulation; combat effectiveness; weight; lift; drag; system effectiveness; lethality; survivability; sustainability; affordability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2014.065352

International Journal of Agile Systems and Management, 2014 Vol.7 No.3/4, pp.242 - 260

Received: 10 Dec 2013
Accepted: 01 May 2014

Published online: 31 Oct 2014 *

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