Economic and environmental performance affects the materials selection decisions for every type of engineered product. (Clockwise from top left: The Boston, MA Central Artery Project, courtesy of U.S. EPA; aircraft, courtesy of Adrian Pingstone; circuit board; courtesy of Angelo Leithold; hybrid automobile schematic, courtesy of U.S. EPA)
Prof. Randolph Kirchain
3.080
Fall 2005
Undergraduate
Choice of material has implications throughout the life-cycle of a product, influencing many aspects of economic and environmental performance. This course will provide a survey of methods for evaluating those implications. Lectures will cover topics in material choice concepts, fundamentals of engineering economics, manufacturing economics modeling methods, and life-cycle environmental evaluation.