Repurposing as a Decommissioning Strategy for Complex Systems: A Systematic Review
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2025-05
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Journal of Mechanical Design
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American Society of Mechanical Engineers
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Mechanical Engineering
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Journal Article
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Hewa Witharanage, S. D., Otto, K., Li, W. & Holtta-Otto, K. (2025). Repurposing as a Decommissioning Strategy for Complex Systems: A Systematic Review. Journal of Mechanical Design, 147 (5), https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4067090.
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Abstract
Managing the waste of decommissioned complex systems (e.g., aircraft and wind turbines) is a growing issue. In this review, we investigate repurposing as a potential solution. The objectives are to identify strategies that can enable repurposing and identify the research gaps hindering those strategies. We analyzed 104 journal articles published in the last decade. We identified four proactive strategies that can be applied before the decommissioning stage and three reactive strategies that can be applied after the decommissioning stage. The proactive strategies are local ecosystem-focused repurposing, modular design, efficient disassembly methods, and component-embedded design and health information. The reactive strategies are decision support methods for repurposable component selection, function and context-based repurposing opportunities, and business models for repurposing. Six research gaps were identified, hindering the strategies due to the lack of support methods for repurposing, strategy scope limitations, and repurposing opportunity limitations. We identified that two repurposing examples were most commonly studied (wind turbine blades and electric vehicle batteries). Addressing the research gaps through design could uncover new repurposing opportunities. The resulting opportunities could follow similar processes addressed under the two well-researched examples, enabling repurposing as an advantageous and sustainable decommissioning strategy for complex systems.