Environmental issues are one of the most important aspects of the long-term development of a country and have an important role in a nation＇s wealth. Different environmental performance indicators present different m...Environmental issues are one of the most important aspects of the long-term development of a country and have an important role in a nation＇s wealth. Different environmental performance indicators present different methodologies and aim to measure countries＇ environmental performances with different approaches. One of the environmental indices, Environmental Performance Index （EPI）, ranks countries＇ performance on high-priority environmental issues in two areas： protection of human health and protection of ecosystems. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the environmental aspect of sustainability with the EPI and analyze the relationships and differences of the chosen 14 （seven are developed and seven are emerging） countries＇ EPI scores and Gross Domestic Products （GDPs）.展开更多
To reduce the environmental impact of mechanical parts, an approach integrating structural design and material selection was studied. Adding the discrete variable of material, a hybrid optimization model was built wit...To reduce the environmental impact of mechanical parts, an approach integrating structural design and material selection was studied. Adding the discrete variable of material, a hybrid optimization model was built with the aim of minimizing environmental impact and based on an ordinary structure optimization model. An optional material set was built by combining measures of qualitative and quantitative screening, while the lifecycle environmental impact of the materials was quantified using the method of Eco-indicator 99. Two groups of structurally optimal solutions were calculated with ideal and negative-ideal materials selected respectively, and then the hybrid model was simplified by comparing the solutions. A material environmental performance index was calculated using an analytic method. By comparing this index for every material in the optional material set, the optimal material can be found and the structural solutions calculated. This method was applied to a dowel bar design process as a case study. The results show that the environmental impact of each material has a significant effect on the optimal structural solution, and it is necessary to study the integration of structural design and material selection.展开更多
文摘Environmental issues are one of the most important aspects of the long-term development of a country and have an important role in a nation＇s wealth. Different environmental performance indicators present different methodologies and aim to measure countries＇ environmental performances with different approaches. One of the environmental indices, Environmental Performance Index （EPI）, ranks countries＇ performance on high-priority environmental issues in two areas： protection of human health and protection of ecosystems. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the environmental aspect of sustainability with the EPI and analyze the relationships and differences of the chosen 14 （seven are developed and seven are emerging） countries＇ EPI scores and Gross Domestic Products （GDPs）.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51275458)the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China (No. LY12E05019)
文摘To reduce the environmental impact of mechanical parts, an approach integrating structural design and material selection was studied. Adding the discrete variable of material, a hybrid optimization model was built with the aim of minimizing environmental impact and based on an ordinary structure optimization model. An optional material set was built by combining measures of qualitative and quantitative screening, while the lifecycle environmental impact of the materials was quantified using the method of Eco-indicator 99. Two groups of structurally optimal solutions were calculated with ideal and negative-ideal materials selected respectively, and then the hybrid model was simplified by comparing the solutions. A material environmental performance index was calculated using an analytic method. By comparing this index for every material in the optional material set, the optimal material can be found and the structural solutions calculated. This method was applied to a dowel bar design process as a case study. The results show that the environmental impact of each material has a significant effect on the optimal structural solution, and it is necessary to study the integration of structural design and material selection.
