FINITE ELEMENT MODELS FOR THE SUPPORTABILITY OF UNITED STATES AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES

A PROGRAM IS PROPOSED TO ACQUIRE, VALIDATE, STORE, MODIFY, AND DISSEMINATE FINITE ELEMENT MODELS OF AIR FORCE AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS, ALONG WITH ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTATION. THE PROPOSAL FORESEES A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN PRODUCTIVITY IN FINITE ELEMENT MODELING ACTIVITIES BROUGHT ABOUT BY THIS PROGRAM. CAREFUL DOCUMENTATION AND VERIFICATION OF MODELS WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR SUBSEQUENT STUDIED INVOLVING THESE MODELS TO BE CARRIED OUT WITH GREATLY REDUCED EFFORT AND INCREASED CONFIDENCE. PHASE I IS PROPOSED AS A FEASIBILITY STUDY, EXAMINING CURRENT PRACTICES, RECOMMENDING A PLAN OF OPERATION FOR THE PROGRAM, AND ESTIMATING COST SAVINGS THAT WOULD BE ACHIEVED. THE STUDY WOULD ALSO ADDRESS PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH DIFFERENT MODELS OF THE SAME SYSTEM THAT HAVE VARYING DEGREES OF REFINEMENT. PHASE II IS ENVISIONED AS A PILOT STUDY IN WHICH DATA FOR AN EXISTING SYSTEM IS OBTAINED, ANALYZED, STORED, AND MODIFIED. EVENTUAL ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS PROGRAM AS A PERMANENT AIR FORCE ACTIVITY IS ENVISIONED.