DATUM piroject: Cost estimating environment for support of aerospace design decision making

The results of a Rolls-Royce sponsored program of design to cost research are outlined. The role of cost modeling within the design process for the development of a civil gas turbine engine is outlined. The novel application of a generic financial modeling tool to an engineering cost estimating problem is demonstrated. This use of this tool to capture and disseminate costing knowledge is described and the use of modular library elements to develop cost models is shown. A prototype systems for the creation of an elegant cost model structure to enable direct integration with a CAD representation of a part and the integration of the costing capability within an automated design search and optimization environment is described.