What is involved in the “critical design review” for aircraft metal structures?

The critical design review (CDR) for aircraft metal structures is primarily focused on the evaluation of design plans to identify potential weaknesses or failures in the structure before finalization. This phase is crucial because it ensures that any design aspects that could lead to safety issues or structural inadequacies are identified and addressed early in the development process.

During the CDR, engineers and designers closely analyze load calculations, material selection, and structural integrity. They assess potential fatigue points, stress concentrations, and any compliance with regulatory standards. By identifying these risks at this stage, the design can be refined, and modifications can be made, thereby ensuring a more robust and reliable final product.

In contrast, although maintenance logs, material costs, and the final assembly are important aspects of aircraft development, they do not capture the primary objective of the critical design review, which is to scrutinize the design itself.