• Journal of the Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.334-340
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• 2015

Engine derating is often considered for reliability benefits because lower power operation reduces its failure probability. To be derated during operation, however, the engine must be initially overdesigned. The engine overdesign is cost effective only if reliability increased from derating is enough to offset the initial increase in the development cost caused from the overdesign. The purpose of this paper is to provide an analytical model to consider a trade-off between the engine overdesign and derating. We use a logistic regression model to explain reliability growth in the number of hot firing tests for a fixed power level. Using the Transcost model with the reliability growth model, we show that 10% overdesign of Titan rocket engine decreases its development cost by about 9% and 23% depending on the reliability requirement. We also point out that such a cost reduction depends on the fuel type a rocket uses.