Rapid cost estimation for composite wings based on CAD model

Manufacturing cost evaluation is required in the preliminary design stage for composite wings. A cost model for the composite wings was developed based on the manufacturing process cost models. A model generator，which was implemented using CATIA software API，was used to generate the parametric CAD model of wings and provided the geometric attribute for the cost model. The seamless linkage was established automatically between the CAD model and the cost model. The steps of the implementation procedure were presented. The composite wings of an unmanned aircraft were used to test the method. It is concluded that the procedure is able to rapidly evaluate the costs for the wings with different external shapes and different structural layouts. The results indicate that the total cost of the composite wing increases by 2.5% when one more spar is added and four ribs are moved away for the structural layout. The aspect ratio and taper of the wing do not have considerable influence on the total cost of the wing if the wing structural layout is unchanged.