Every year, millions of products are designed without considering what happens after their use, leading to massive waste and adverse environmental impact. But what if we could change that? During his PhD studies, Gaurav Aher developed innovative methodologies & tools to help companies design products using a circular approach that lasts longer and can be reused and recycled more efficiently. By creating a step-by-step methodology for designers, this research makes it easier to balance product circularity & sustainability with performance and cost. The work proposes using existing product data and simulation models to predict how product design choices affect circularity and environmental impact during the design stage. These findings give businesses practical solutions to reduce waste, save materials, and make more sustainable products a reality.

The PhD study was completed at the Department of Mechanical & Production Engineering, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student

Time: Friday, 25/04/2025 at 13:00
Place: 5510-103 Store Auditorium, Incuba, Åbogade 15, Aarhus N, 8200
Title of PhD thesis: Supporting Design Space Exploration for Circular Product Design
Contact Information: Gaurav Rajendra Aher, e-mail: gaurav.aher@mpe.au.dk , tel.: +45 9181 2879
Members of the Assessment Committee:
Professor Fazleena Badurdeen, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Kentucky, USA.
Associate Professor Anja Marie Bundgaard, Department of Sustainability and Planning, Aalborg University, Denmark.
Associate Professor Subburaj Karupppasamy, Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark (Chair).
Main Supervisor: Associate Professor Devarajan Ramanujan, Department of Mechanical & Production Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Co-supervisor:
Associate Professor Jalil Boudjadar, Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Assistant Professor Michael Sandberg, Department of Mechanical & Production Engineering, Aarhus University, Denmark.
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English.

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.