3841 Recommended Practice (RP) Functional Sub-codes: Simplified Part Categories for Better Early Program Weight Estimation and Enabling AI Analysis
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Paper
Abstract
In today’s world Mass Properties engineers are expected to do more with less. This paper walks through a breakthrough method of using simplified part categories (Recommended Practice Sub-codes) to quickly summarize data, check for errors, and generate new parametric relationships. The method, is simple, proven, and perhaps the most game changing addition to Recommended Practice (RP) in decades. As a result of using this method any Mass Properties engineer will be able to formulate important parametric weight estimation relationships for future programs and by using those relationships estimate missing components at a detailed part level.
Just as recommended practices use Page, Column, Row, codes to define the function of parts. Within that function there may be dozens of different kinds of parts that leave people unable to recreate details during preliminary design. Likewise, RP functional codes take time and experience to assign at a detailed level and must be re-coded each time the design changes. Sub-codes or part categories are simpler and stay the same no matter what RP function and can be almost entirely coded automatically saving time. They are intended to be used with RP functional codes.
The RP coding tells us what system or function a part has as part of the overall vehicle system for example Hydraulics. The sub-codes go one more level lower and define what that part is – tube, fitting, bracket, P-clamp, or fluid. With this data we can estimate parts at a lower level and better estimate missing parts during preliminary design.
Finally, due to the automated nature of sub-codes aka part categories, we can fuel future AI efforts by forming thousands of additional weight estimating relationships as compared to RP functional coding alone. The simplicity of these categories makes them far more likely to align one design to another. With simplicity and automation also comes the ability to error check weight estimates faster.
