A Systems Engineering Approach to Aero-Engine Life Cycle Costing

Abstract

A life cycle cost (LCC) analysis considers all the costs that a product/system incurs throughout all phases of its life. As a consequence of the scope that LCC encompasses, LCC models have difficulty being standardized. Additionally, the complexity of the aero-engine necessitates an approach to LCC analysis that has the ability to consider multiple disciplines and sub-systems from different levels. This paper discusses how systems engineering methods can be used in the LCC process to achieve an approach which will be able to adapt to these demands. This approach was then applied to a case study to analyse how LCC changes with the TET and cooling flow fraction. The results from this case study illustrates how a LCC analysis can be used to make design trade-offs and allow the system of interest to be analysed from different aspects.