Using PLM and trade-off curves to support set-based convergence of product platforms

Platforms may be used as an enabler for offering a variety of products to the market, while keeping the development cost down. Reusing design knowledge is a key concept of platforms, whether concerning reusing parts, ideas, concepts or technologies. In set-based design, trade-off and limit curves are an enabler to store knowledge about technologies developed earlier, and to highlight knowledge-and technology gaps. This paper describes how trade-off curves derived from technology development might be used to incorporate technology knowledge in the product platform of an aerospace company. The product used as an example is a Turbine Rear Structure of a jet engine. Trade-off and limit curves, representing the technology platform, and a product platform based on the Configurable Component concept is implemented in a PLM architecture, integrating a Product Data Management system, a Computer Aided Design tool, two Computer Aided Engineering tools and a configurator. The analysis combines the trade-off and limit curves with CAE tools to create a comprehensive analysis of the set of possible solutions. The results are presented to the engineer as a means to aid in the convergence process through elimination of bad solutions from the set.

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