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Reliability, maintainability anddevelopment cost implications of variable camberwings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 July 2016

J. P. Fielding  and
M. A. F. Vaziry-Zanjany
J. P. Fielding
Affiliation:
Aerospace TechnologyCollege of AeronauticsCranfield University, UK
M. A. F. Vaziry-Zanjany
Affiliation:
Aerospace TechnologyCollege of AeronauticsCranfield University, UK
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Abstract

A computer assisted conceptual aircraft designmethodology (CACAD) has been developed to sizeturbofan powered transport aircraft. New modules forpredicting the maintenance costs of each airframesystem and subsection of structure, were developedand incorporated into CACAD.

Many aspects of variable camber wing technology (VCW)were modelled. These included different types ofdrag saving due to chordwise, as well as spanwisecamber variation. Models were also derived for mass,maintenance cost, and extra development costincrements for wing trailing edge devices, flightcontrol, and hydraulic systems. These wereincorporated into CACAD, and then amultidisciplinary trade-off study resulted inpredicted savings of up to 3·5% in direct operatingcost (DOC). The technology was evaluated for DOCimprovement against a number of existing, future,and derivative aircraft, under different sensitivityconditions. Reliability, maintainability, anddevelopment (R, M&D) predictions were shown tobe decisive in determining the feasibility of VCWtechnology. The study showed that long range, low tomedium capacity, derivative aircraft are the mostsuitable applications for VCW technology.

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 100 , Issue 995 , May 1996 , pp. 183 - 195
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1996 

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