Integration and optimization of LCA and LCC to eco-balance for mechanical product design

Life cycle assessment (LCA), as an assessment tool for environmental performance, is used widely in decision-making of product design. However, apparently, itpsilas not sufficient to make final decision only depending on environmental assessment results for profit-directed organizations. One of the main purposes of this research is to propose a methodology for integration of LCA and economic analysis tool-life cycle costing (LCC) in order to get the integrated evaluation results. A framework of integration of LCA and LCC has been introduced, and a new inventory analysis algorithm based on matrix is designed to realize to take timing of effects into account in inventory analysis. Another aim of this paper is to propose an optimization method which takes mechanical product as the object of study to improve the initial product design to maximize the integrated environmental and economic benefit. A mathematic model is set up for environmental and economic subsystems. Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) is applied to optimize these models so that the initial mechanical product design can achieve the best environmental and economic performance result. A case study of type 4135G diesel engine is presented to validate the rationality and feasibility of this method.