Talk
Abstract:
Seminar
on Industrial Problems
Geometry and the Commercial Airplane Business:
Goals, Achievements, and Problems
April
21, 2000
Presented
by:
David Ferguson
Boeing Aircraft Company
570
Vincent Hall
10:10 am
In
his 1944 book "Practical Analytic Geometry with Applications
to Aircraft," Roy Liming put forward a goal of developing
a "practical system of analytic calculation techniques
for direct use in the aircraft, automotive, and marine industries."
He did so because, as he said, "the application of mathematical
methods results in more complete control of the developments
from basic conditions. Consequently, desired or intended performance
characteristics are more nearly realized." At the Boeing
company, we have been pursuing this goal for over 50 years with
some stunning successes and a few abject failures. In this talk,
I will discuss both successes and failures considered from the
point of view of the practicing engineer. I will describe, using
Boeing projects such as the 777 airplane, how some geometric
design concepts have enabled designers to do more and how others
have actually inhibited productivity. Of course, each success
or failure is a learning opportunity, pointing the way to new
mountains to be conquered. I will finish the discussion by describing
mathematical problems in the area of geometric modeling that
continue to aggravate and frustrate engineers. I promise not
to provide solutions - only problems of mathematical and industrial
interest.
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