Green Design - Application to Selection of Materials for TV Cabinets-

摘要

This paper describes the Green Design technology for environmentally conscious design and production. The Green Design, based on a material database, comprises configuration optimization, materials selection and process assessment methodologies to solve the design problems by using the database. The materials selection methodology is to evaluate the cost performance and environmental performance of the products at their design stage. Thereby, product designers can optimize the overall design from the viewpoints of environmental impact, cost, and performance. As an application of this methodology, materials selection for color TV cabinets is presented. Design requirements of the front cabinet are analyzed by its function, objective and constraints, and the cost and energy content are minimized through evaluation of stiffness, strength, vibration and heat flow. It is validated that substitution of magnesium alloy for the present flame-resistant polystyrene realizes products with safety, productivity and light weight as well as increase in recyclability and solidity. Consideration on the shape factor is also discussed.