Lifecycle design analysis and evaluation of mechanical elements and system

Environmental requirements call for sustainable design. Thus, the new design methodology must systematically deal with not only the function, but also the environment and the economy. Most traditional design methodologies can only look after the functional issue. This research explored in the area of the lifecycle design and evaluation. The thesis summarized three dimensions---FEE (functional, environmental, and economic) toward the sustainable design. Based on FEE, a systematic lifecycle design process model was proposed, which consists of FEE requirements, two design objects in terms of the physical structure and the lifecycle structure, and FEE evaluation streams in terms of LCQ, LCA and LCC. From the perspective of lifecycle, a new concept---PBA (Process-Based Analysis) was defined, which founded the base for FEE evaluations. Three evaluation streams are mainly discussed as a major part of the design process.