Design for Continuing Structural Integrity

This paper addresses the structural integrity planning that takes place during the design development process of commercial aircraft. Subjects discussed include the evolutionary nature of the process, the need for continued planning during service, the role of simplistic envelope criteria, and the basic concepts underlying analyses used in the planning process. Examples include in-service planning for older aircraft and design development for continued structural integrity of a modern wide-body transport. Concluding remarks discuss how the process will be applied to the next generation of aircraft.