On the Design of Functionally Integrated Aero-engine Structures: Modeling and Evaluation Methods for Architecture and Complexity
Doktorsavhandling, 2019
The research in this thesis focuses on supporting the design of aero-engine structural components by representing their architecture as well as by developing means for the quantitative evaluation and comparison of different component designs. The research has been conducted in collaboration with GKN Aerospace Sweden AB, and the components are aero-engine structures developed and manufactured at GKN. Architectural information is generated and described based on concepts from set theory, graph theory and enhanced function–means trees. In addition, the complexities of the components are evaluated using a new complexity metric. Specifically, the developed modeling and evaluation methods facilitate the following activities:
· identification and representation of function–means information for the component
· representation and evaluation of component architecture
· product complexity evaluation
· early selection of load path architecture
· impact assessment for the component’s functioning in the system
By means of the methods developed in this thesis, the design rationale for a component is made explicit, and the storing, communicating and retrieving of information about the component in the future is enabled. Through their application to real-life engine structures, the usability of the methods in identifying early load carrying configurations and selecting a manufacturing segmenting option is demonstrated. Together, the methods provide development engineers the ability to compare alternative architectures. Further research could focus on exploring the system (engine) effects of changes in component architecture and improvements to the complexity metric by incorporating manufacturing information.
Product Architecture
Aero-engine Structures
Configurable Components
Load Paths
Design Product Complexity
Functionally Integrated Product Architecture
Product Development
Structural Complexity
Function–Means Modeling
Författare
Visakha Raja
Chalmers, Industri- och materialvetenskap, Produktutveckling
Modelling-integrated product architectures: an aero engine component example
Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies,;Vol. 134(2019)p. 847-858
Paper i proceeding
Describing and evaluating functionally integrated and manufacturing restricted product architectures
Research in Engineering Design - Theory, Applications, and Concurrent Engineering,;Vol. 29(2018)p. 367-391
Artikel i vetenskaplig tidskrift
An optimization-based approach for supporting early product architecture decisions
21st International Conference on Engineering Design, ICED 2017, Vancouver, Canada, 21-25 August 2017,;Vol. 4(2017)p. 377-384
Paper i proceeding
Exploring Influence of Static Engine Component Design Variables on System Level Performance
22nd International Symposium on Air Breathing Engines, ISABE2015,;(2015)
Övrigt konferensbidrag
Generic Functional Decomposition of an Integrated Jet Engine Mechanical Sub System Using a Configurable Component Approach
22nd ISPE Inc. International Conference on Concurrent Engineering, CE 2015, TU Delft, Netherlands, 20-23 July 2015,;Vol. 2(2015)p. 337-346
Paper i proceeding
Raja, V., Isaksson, O. and Kokkolaras, M. (2019) ‘A Simulation-assisted Complexity Metric for Design Optimization of Integrated Architecture Aero-engine Structures’, Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (Accepted for publication 03 May 2019)
A component level improvement in design that results in, say reducing aircraft fuel consumption even by 0.05%, can save several thousand USD for an airline company per year, and can reduce the environmental impact of aviation. Methods developed in this thesis identifies critical functions that an engine component satisfies and discover previously unseen inter-relationships among its functions. The methods also enable storing information about established designs and using it as a starting point for future designs. An un-complicated connection with manufacturing is also facilitated by providing a way for assessing the influence of different manufacturing options on component operation. Furthermore, by the development of a metric of complexity for engine components such as its structural frames, the research supports the comparison, optimization, and selection of various engine component designs. Together, the methods developed in this thesis will enhance a development engineer’s ability to evaluate alternative component designs and select the most suitable one.
This thesis will be of interest to both practicing engineers and researchers concerned with engineering design in general and aero-engine component design in particular.
Ämneskategorier
Produktionsteknik, arbetsvetenskap och ergonomi
Annan maskinteknik
Rymd- och flygteknik
ISBN
978-91-7905-117-4
Doktorsavhandlingar vid Chalmers tekniska högskola. Ny serie: 4584
Utgivare
Chalmers
Room EC, Hörsalsvägen 11, Göteborg
Opponent: Associate Professor Marija Jankovic, Industrial Engineering, CentraleSupélec, Paris