Application of lifecycle assessment and finite element analysis in the design of raised access floor products

In this research, lifecycle assessment (LCA) and finite element analysis (FEA) are applied in raised access floor product design. LCA is conducted to assess the product’s sustainable features, while the FEA is carried out to ensure that the product meets the required strength. The materials used to develop the floor panel is Sheet Moulding Compound (SMC) with 30% glass fibres. The product is modelled in SolidWorks software package. Based on the CAD model of the product, the LCA and FEA are then conducted. The LCA results revealed that the materials contribute significant impacts in the four environmental impact categories: 84% in carbon footprint, 91% in total energy consumed, 73% in air acidification, and 66% in water eutrophication. The LCA evaluation results not only clarify the optimized design targets, but also enable to benchmark values for design iterations. According to the FEA, the deformation values are less than 2.5 mm with 3000 N loading forces on the central of the panel and stringer, which meet the flooring product’s deformation criteria of Class A, as defined by the British Standards