Original Date: 08/07/1995
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems (LMTAS) extensively uses product modeling and simulation to improve product development and communication, and to more effectively serve the customers’ needs. Besides the obvious benefits gained during the design process, LMTAS is using design definition data to create simulations for training and marketing needs. Current analysis applications of modeling include fatigue/fracture, post failure, temperature and stress analysis. Simulations performed include inspection, NC machining, forming, bird strikes, and many other simulations.

Because the ability to influence product cost drops exponentially during product development, it is increasingly important to provide as much design information as early as possible. This can be accomplished when the conceptual design models are modeled electronically and this information can be flowed down through all phases of the product development cycle. This allows for concurrent product development, virtually eliminating the need for mock-ups, and increases the quality of the information at the interface of each product development function. Although manufacturing and design approach the information with different functional needs, the core product definition data should be identical.

One example of efficiency has been realized by using Computer Mock-up (COMOK) for mockups and by electronic simulation of live fire tests. This is the use of hydrodynamic ram simulations to understand the response of live-fire testing of a wing fuel tank structure. As new programs are planned and initiated, LMTAS continues to integrate modeling and simulation as a standard practice.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.