A Multilayer Network-Based Method for Contribution Evaluation of Aero-Engine in Digital Equipment Planning and Demonstration

Accurately evaluating how aero-engine performance supports upper-level capability remains a challenging issue in the digital planning, demonstration, and design of complex equipment systems-of-systems. Existing studies mainly rely on two-level analyses at the subsystem and system-of-systems levels, which are insufficient to characterize the cross-level transmission relationships among the aero-engine, aircraft performance, and overall capability. To address this limitation, this paper proposes a multilayer network-based contribution evaluation method for aero-engines oriented toward digital equipment planning and demonstration. First, a three-layer evaluation index system is constructed, including the overall capability layer, the aircraft performance layer, and the aero-engine performance layer, based on the OODA loop concept and aviation physical constraints. This provides a structured and traceable basis for cross-level requirement decomposition and scheme evaluation. Second, by integrating expert prior judgment with mechanism-based sensitivity analysis, the interrelationships among indicators at different layers are quantified, and a multilayer evaluation index network is established. Third, topological structure analysis is employed to identify key indicators in the aero-engine layer, and a cascading propagation model is introduced to evaluate the supporting roles and contribution rates of both individual indicators and the overall aero-engine layer with respect to the overall capability layer. Simulation results show that the proposed method can effectively reveal the structural characteristics, propagation paths, and dynamic influence patterns of aero-engine-layer indicators within the multilayer network. The proposed method provides methodological support for digital equipment planning, scheme demonstration, design optimization, and capability-oriented decision-making of aero-engines.