Integration of Computer Aided Design and Engineering (CAD/E) Principles for Development of a Face Shield Concept to Protect against the COVID-19 Virus

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has exponentially developed over the past two years into the most prominent crisis that humanity has encountered regarding the stark danger posed to the health and well-being of the everyday citizen. As such, a multitude of safety measures have both been mandated and heavily advised by the governments of the world in a desperate attempt to reduce infection and mortality rates. No method has been more strongly encouraged than the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) when coming into human contact, by virtue of the adornment of face masks and face shields. This paper investigates the integration of computer-aided design and engineering (CAD/E) principles for the development of a face shield concept to protect against the COVID-19 virus. The study was orchestrated through the use of the SolidWorks software in generating CAD concepts, employment of the SolidWorks Sustainability tool to evaluate the most viable concept’s lifecycle environmental effects, and the subsequent material redesign of this concept within the sustainability tool to reduce its adverse inflictions on nature. Due to the exceedingly high number of persons using face shields in today’s society to protect against this virus, waste levels upon disposal are equally immense. This paper is to describe the development of the CAD/E concept through the major avenues of sustainability and environmental conservation, and provides an opportunity for sanitation and engineering companies alike to explore a niche in this increasingly expanding market.