A new cost/weight trade-off method for airframe material decisions based on variable fuel price. Issue 1 (1st January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Morimoto, Tetsuya; Kobayashi, Satoshi; Nagao, Yosuke; Iwahori, Yutaka
• Editors: Tiwari, Manoj Kumar
• Is Part Of: Cogent engineering. Volume 4:Issue 1(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-01-01
• Subjects: decision support systems -- design -- airframe materials -- trade-off analysi -- carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRPs) -- aluminum alloys; Engineering -- Periodicals; Technology -- Periodicals; Engineering; Technology; Periodicals; 620
• DOI: 10.1080/23311916.2017.1285483
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2331-1916

Abstract

Abstract : This paper presents a simple method for analyzing the monetary trade-off between rising airframe material cost and reduced jet fuel cost for supporting the decision-making in designing lightweight but expensive new materials. The method considers the weight growth factor, Breguet range equation, specific strength, material cost, fuel price, and aircraft range. A model analysis reveals that rising fuel price can drastically change the optimum airframe materials from legacy aluminum alloys to carbon fiber-reinforced plastics.