| 1. |
- Kharazmi, Parastou, 1977-
(författare)
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Evaluation of Innovative Rehabilitation Technologies Utilising Polymer Composites for Aging Sewer Systems
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Water and wastewater sewer system maintenance is among the costliest aspects of infrastructure investment. The replacement of deteriorated lines is a difficult and expensive process that causes community disturbance and is generally not conducted fast enough to meet demand. To keep up with the rate of deterioration, the use of alternative rehabilitation technologies using polymer linings has increased significantly in recent years, both within Sweden and worldwide. Compared to the traditional pipe replacement method, these technologies are cost-effective, create less community disturbance, and offer a quick return to the service for the line. The main function of polymeric lining is to stabilise the condition of the pipeline, eliminate deterioration, and thereby extend the pipeline’s service life. Although rehabilitation technologies employing polymeric systems have been in use for over 30 years, there have been few technical assessments of either these technologies or the materials involved. Data gathered through the evaluation of these innovative technologies can make their benefits and limitations more widely understood, and can also be used to increase the effectiveness of the rehabilitation process in future.The main objective of this work was to contribute to an improved understanding of the most commonly used materials and methods employed in rehabilitation of wastewater and other applicable sewer lines in residential buildings in Sweden. The primary objective was not to prove that the emerging rehabilitation technologies work, but rather to increase knowledge of their weaknesses and strengths, identify any issues, and provide a technical assessment to support realistic expectations of pipeline rehabilitation. Gathering technical information in this way will help with the planning of future investigations; moreover, collecting extensive data will help to increase the effectiveness of the renewal works, aid progress in the field, and improve predictions regarding longevity and service life. As pipeline rehabilitation is still considered novel, and owing to the general lack of available data on the subject, a multi-approach study was carried out: this included evaluation of the polymeric materials’ performance in the presence of deteriorative factors, assessing the in-service state of the materials and lined sewers previously installed, monitoring the level of quality control implemented during previous rehabilitation works, and evaluating the environmental impacts of using pipe-lining technologies compared to pipe replacement. The techniques discussed included rehabilitation with epoxy and polyester resin-based lining materials, applied with brush-on and spray-on techniques, and cured-in-place pipe lining (installed by sending a resin-impregnated flexible tube inside the host pipe). Degradation of the resin-based lining materials was investigated via artificial aging involving immersion in water at elevated temperatures. The changes in materials that occurred during accelerated laboratory aging were tracked by means of various tests, including thermal and mechanical analyses, water absorption measurements and microscopy. The analysis focused on reinforced polyester-based and toughened epoxy-based lining materials in order to gain a better understanding of their performance as pipe lining. Moreover, the previously installed lined pipes and lining materials were also studied during laboratory examinations to evaluate the in-service performance of the materials and techniques under operating conditions over time, as well as to identify common defects. The state of the materials and the lined pipe were studied by means of different investigative methods, including visual inspection, microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thickness measurement, thermal and mechanical analyses. This PhD work also includes an investigation to determine the level of quality control carried during some previous rehabilitation works. Data on the quality evaluation of previous rehabilitation works were gathered during visits to the work sites, as well as by analysing lined pipes that had already been installed. Finally, a comparative life-cycle assessment was undertaken to compare the environmental impacts of pipe replacement with those of alternative innovative rehabilitations, such as CIPP and coatings with polyester and epoxy polymeric systems. Data obtained from an LCA tool were used to facilitate comparison from an environmental perspective.Results from artificial aging in the lab indicated that the properties of polymeric lining materials changed significantly when high temperatures were combined with water exposure. However, the aging testing conducted for this study also found that the materials performed relatively well at temperatures close to the average temperatures inside sewerage systems. The results revealed that the polyester-based lining material was less sensitive when compared with epoxy-based lining materials during stimulated aging. Moreover, results from the in-service field demonstration (involving examination of 12 samples with up to 10 years of service, including reinforced polyester and modified epoxy linings or cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining) showed minimal evidence that the materials underwent significant deterioration after installation; instead, a majority of the common defects were found to be related to poor-quality installation practices. Because very few field samples were available to study, conclusions regarding overall performance could not be drawn. However, there is no evidence that these materials will not perform as expected during their service life when properly installed.Evaluating quality control of previous rehabilitation work revealed a gap between theory and practice where the level of quality control and documentation was concerned; furthermore, it also emerged that quality control and documentation is crucial to both the prevention of common issues and the overall effectiveness of the rehabilitation. Accordingly, a series of recommendations regarding the development of comprehensive quality control and quality assurance procedures (QC/QA) are provided in this work. These recommendations highlight the aspects that are most important to consider at each of several key stages (before installation, during installation, and after rehabilitation work is completed).Results from comparative life-cycle assessment (LCA) showed that alternative technologies, including cured-in-place (flexible sleeve) and coating techniques, have some advantages over pipe replacement from an environmental perspective. However, the choice to use one rehabilitation technology over another is a multi-stage decision-making process that should not be based solely on a single factor.This PhD work promotes an improved understanding of the limitations and benefits of polymeric lining through the testing performed and analyses conducted. This work highlights the need for improved quality control, and further suggests that developing a detailed and comprehensive quality control plan for each technology would provide higher and more consistent quality overall. The study also demonstrates that the long-term strength of any rehabilitation work depends on various factors, and that selecting one method over another must be a process based on extensive knowledge and understanding of each rehabilitation technology. No evidence was found to indicate that the materials could not perform well under working conditions if selected and installed appropriately. However, a larger number of field samples with longer in-service time and a more detailed technical history, along with a more extended experimental plan for laboratory investigations based on the results of this PhD work, will allow for the gathering of the data required to answer questions regarding life expectancy with a higher degree of certainty.
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| 2. |
- Leijonhufvud, Gustaf, 1977-
(författare)
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Decision making on indoor climate control in historic buildings : knowledge, uncertainty and the science-practice gap
- 2016
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Balancing use, preservation and energy use is a fundamental challenge for the whole heritage field. This is put to the point in designing and operating systems for indoor climate control in historic buildings, where competing objectives such as preservation, comfort, accessibility, energy use and cost have to be negotiated in the individual case. The overarching aim of this thesis is to explore the gap between research and practice regarding energy efficient indoor climate control in historic buildings. The thesis deals with historic buildings where both the building fabric and the movable collection are vulnerable and where the management of the building is more or less professionalized. Examples of such buildings are palaces, churches and historic house museums, ranging from the large and complex to the small and simple. A key to a more sustainable management of these buildings is to understand how scientific knowledge related to indoor climate control can become usable for the professional practitioner. The thesis comprises six published papers introduced by a thesis essay. The papers reflect a progression both in terms of the research questions and the methodology. The first three papers outline the background needed for a technical understanding of the involved matters through an identification of key knowledge gaps. The three remaining papers use qualitative case studies to understand the nature of the gap between science and practice by paying more attention to the social aspects of decisions related to indoor climate control. Generally, the results of the thesis contribute to an expanded problem definition and to a better understanding of the gap between research and practice regarding energy efficient indoor climate control in historic buildings. It is shown how the specific social and material context is crucial for enabling or limiting a transition toward more sustainable ways of controlling the indoor climate. Furthermore it is discussed how uncertainty can be managed and communicated to support decisions, and suggestions are given for how decision processes regarding indoor climate control can be supported with improved standards to facilitate a more sustainable management. A conclusion for further research is that scientific knowledge alone will not be able to guide the transition to a sustainable, low carbon future; technical esearch has to be complemented with reflexive research approaches that explore the actual practices of heritage management.
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| 3. |
- Balksten, Kristin, 1977-
(författare)
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Kalkputs : porstrukturens betydelse för beständighet
- 2005
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- When restoring historic lime plaster it can be difficult to reach the required durability. Today newly made lime plaster can fall off due to frost damages after only a couple of winters. To understand and solve these problems, the subject has been studied from different perspectives. Several factors in the production step are making an influence on the durability of lime plaster: 1. A binder, suitable for the building, must be chosen along with sandthat gives good material properties in both fresh mortar and in plasters. 2. The lime/sand ratio and the mixing technique should be chosen from the properties in the lime and the sand, in order to get a mortar with good workability. 3. The craftsmanship should be adjusted to the mortar, the weather and the underlying materials. A plaster with good frost resistance has a certain pore structure. The plaster should have some round air pores that contain air even when the material is filled capillary with water. Such air pores give the water a free space to expand when it is freezing. If the air pores are missing, the ice crystals may damage the plaster when expanding. To increase the chance of making a frost resistant lime plaster, the lime/sand ration must be adjusted so the lime can fill up well in the sand. Otherwise a collapsed pore system can easily occur, which means an open pore system without distinct air pores. A collapsed pore system contains many pores well connected with each other. Such a system is easily damaged by frost. To increase the chance of success, it is of great importance to work the surface of the lime plaster at the right time and in the correct way. Before working on a surface the mortar must be aloud to stiffen. Only then a homogeneous material can be created; cracks due to shrinkage can be pressed together and the result is a more compact material with an open surface. The time necessary for mortars to stiffen is related to the water content of the mortar, the suction of the underlying surface and the weather conditions. If the surface is worked on while the mortar is still fresh, the binder can form a hard lime shell on the surface. Inside thematerial a lack of binder can appear. Such plasters have a very low frost resistance. Other durability problems related to plaster are damages in the underlying materials, i.e. rotten wood in covered constructions or leached lime in old joints. Such damages can occur if the covering mortar is made of strong hydraulic lime or cement, since they form plasters with a low permeability in comparison to lime. Due to mentioned findings, it is important to study how a pore structureis influenced by materials, mixture and craftsmanship. Only then it is possible to understand how damages can be decreased.
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| 4. |
- Broström, Tor, 1955-, et al.
(författare)
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Det byggda kulturarvet : Energi och klimat
- 2020
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Ingår i: Att vårda ett hus. - Visby : Gotlands museum. - 9789189121034 ; , s. 78-89
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Bokkapitel (populärvet., debatt m.m.)
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| 5. |
- Dahlström, Lukas
(författare)
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Archetype identification in Urban Building Energy Modeling : Research gaps and method development
- 2023
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Licentiatavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Buildings and the built environment account for a significant portion of the global energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing the energy demand in this sector is crucial for a sustainable energy transition. This highlights the need for accurate and large-scale estimations and predictions of the future energy demand in buildings. Urban building energy modeling (UBEM) is an analytical tool for precise and high-quality energy modelling of city-scale building stocks, which is growing in interest as a useful tool for researchers and decision-makers worldwide.This thesis contributes to the understanding and future development in the field of UBEM and multi-variate cluster analysis. Based on a review of contemporary literature, possible improvements and knowledge gaps regarding UBEM are identified. The majority of UBEM studies are developed for similar applications, and some challenges are close to universal. Difficulties in data acquisition and the identification and characterisation of building archetypes are frequently addressed. Drawing on conclusions from the review, a clustering methodology for identifying building archetypes for hybrid UBEM was developed. The methodology utilised the k-means cluster analysis algorithm for multiple diverse parameters, including socio-economic indicators, and is based on open data sets which eliminates data acquisition issues and allows for easy adaptation. Building archetypes were successfully identified for two large data sets, and proved to be representative of the sample building stock. The results of the analysis also show that the error metric values diverge after a certain number of clusters, for multiple runs of the algorithm. This property of the algorithm in combination with the use of both existing and novel error metrics provide a reliable method for determining the optimal number of clusters. The methodology developed in this thesis enables for an improved modelling process, as a part of a complete UBEM.
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