Multidisciplinary design tools for affordability

: A proven general purpose design modeling environment has been adapted to address affordability issues at the design synthesis level with the integration of Geometric Modeling and Activity-Based Cost Modeling. Two factors make this work innovative. First, we are using an advanced design modeling environment with dependency tracking, demand-driven calculations and run-time object creation. Secondly, we explore ways this computer software innovation can be used to tightly integrate geometric modeling with activity-based cost modeling. The example focuses on the synthesis of a hot structures solution for a high speed lifting surface.