Knowledge-based engineering system to estimate manufacturing cost for composite structures

Acosting application utilizing the knowledge-based-engineering environment inCATIAV5 has been developed in this research. The application can be used to estimate the cost of an assembly of composite components modeled in CATIA V5 during the initial conceptual design phase. The assembly cost is determined by extracting manufacturing process costings from a process cost analysis database. The tool uses design rules for aerospace structures to add detail to a conceptual design enabling an estimate of the cost to be determined. In addition, the tool can modify the structures to achieve the design goal of compliance with performance criteria with minimum weight. The tool is thus able to answer “what-if” questions as the design concept evolves