The Norwegian Public Roads Administration and NTNU have started a PhD project on culvert hydraulics, with support from the Research Council of Norway. One of the main goals of the project is to develop improved inlets, which increase the water flow capacity without increasing the pipe size. The use of smaller pipes means that less material is used in production, which in turn means that the CO2 accounts for the culvert are changed. This master's thesis deals with the life cycle analysis of culverts with and without funnel-shaped inlets, with a focus on CO2 emissions.
Prerequisites
Students should have a good knowledge of methods for life cycle analysis and industrial ecology, and basic knowledge of fluid mechanics.
Task description
The task is to compare CO2 emissions associated with the production, transport, installation and operation of culverts with and without improved inlets. It will include:
- Literature study
o Use of culverts for drainage and flood protection
o Conventional and funnel-shaped culverts
o Methods for life cycle analyzes
o Sources of necessary data
Calculation of CO2 emissions for the different phases of the life cycle of culverts, based on different designs and material choices.
The task can be adapted within the description, e.g. by taking as a starting point a case study of an existing road section, choice of material, effect of specific design parameters on the life cycle accounts, comparison of different methods for life cycle analyzes or the like.