Identifying break points in early product family design using an integrated VDD approach

This paper presents an Integrated VDD Approach, formulated to address the lack of, and limitations associated with, work concerning the application of VDD to product families. The focus of the results obtained from the application of the Integrated VDD Approach, and the subsequent discussion, will be on the identification of break points to aid objective decision making early in the design process. Results include the identification of the most valuable common wingspan across three conventionally powered aircraft and the identification of the additional system mass which would render an aggressive electrification strategy to facilitate earlier electrification of an initially conventionally powered aircraft futile in comparison to a nominal electrification strategy.