Eco-design for Additive Manufacturing: Knowledge-driven Framework and Applications

To support designers in developing environmentally sustainable components fabricated by additive manufacturing, the concept of eco-design for additive manufacturing (EcoDfAM) was clarified, and a body of knowledge required in EcoDfAM was constructed. A knowledge-driven EcoDfAM framework was proposed based on knowledge by integrating multiple intelligent technologies. This framework consisted of three layers: knowledge source layer, knowledge model layer, design application layer. Taking the valve body parts of a hydraulic system in the aircraft wing that were printed using the metal powder bed fusion technology as an example, the application analysis and discussion of the proposed framework were carried out. The results show that the framework integrating ontology, machine learning, knowledge graph may effectively integrate the complex multi-domain professional knowledge required by EcoDfAM, and generate eco-design recommendations through flexible reuse of knowledge. This study may be used to develop intelligent design advisor systems, providing appropriate knowledge feedback in different design stages to guide designers, effectively improving the efficiency and quality during the eco-design processes of parts fabricated by additive manufacturing.