STATISTICAL EXPERIMENTATION M ETHODS FOR ACHIEVING AFFORDABLE CONCURRENT SYSTEMS DESIGN

In this paper we describe an affordable method for designing in the conceptual stage using relatively high fidelity concurrent systems analysis. Our method is rooted in three domains, namely, the Design of Experiments, the Response Surface Methodology and the compromise Decision Support Problem. A sequential experimentation strategy as well as the heuristic rules for creating high-order response surface models are introduced as a cost effective approach to applying the statistical experimentation methods in design of complex systems. A high speed civil transport aircraft design is used as an example to illustrate the potential of our approach. K EY WORDS: design of experiments, response surface methodology, computer simulation, Decision Support Problem, multidisciplinary analyses. 1 Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 296340921. Member AIAA. 2 Senior Research Scientist, Systems Realization Laboratory, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0405. Member AIAA. 3 Professor, Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory, School of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0150. Senior Member AIAA. 4 Professor, Systems Realization Laboratory, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0405. Corresponding Author. Phone (404) 894-8412, Fax (404) 894-9342. Member AIAA.