BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials
Applications are invited for a PhD studentship funded by the BRE Trust in the following research area: Environmental benefits of recycling and reusing metallic structural sections.
Project to start: October 2008
Project introduction:
The Earth's resource of metal ores is finite and with rapidly increasing demands for metals in the construction industry the choice of appropriate materials, based on their material properties, maintenance requirements and potential end of life scenarios will become increasingly important. The research will investigate how best to conserve alloying elements used in the production of carbon steel and stainless steel structural sections and would develop a sustainable approach to managing this resource through examining different end of life scenarios within the construction industry. The main objectives of the research are:
1) To compare the economic and environmental impact of carbon steel and stainless steel as structural materials for different case studies and consider for each case, different possible end of life scenarios. This would be conducted by using standard predictive tools to perform Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost analysis (LCC) on different structural applications.
2) To develop a model based on Life Cycle Inventory data to establish the long-term environmental implications of the percentage section reuse and recycling conducted by the industry, in order to determine methods of sustainably managing this material resource for the future.
The results of the study would be key to establishing how to ensure future availability, and reduction in environmental impact for metallic structures whilst considering the increasing demand on metal resources.
The studentship:
This BRE Trust Studentship covers home/EU tuition fees, a stipend of £15,000 (tax free) per annum, and research expenses. Overseas students are eligible to apply, but will be expected to pay the difference between home/EU and overseas fees (currently around £8,000 p.a.) and have an English Language Qualification, IELTS of not less than 7 or its equivalent.
The successful candidate will join the BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials (http://www.bath.ac.uk/ace/BRE-Welcome/) in the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering (http://www.bath.ac.uk/ace/) and work closely with the Sustainable Development Department at the Building Research Establishment (http://www.bre.co.uk/). The University of Bath's Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering was awarded a grade 5 in the 2001 Research Assessment Exercise and is located within the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bath.
Applications:
Candidates should hold a first or upper second class honours degree in Civil Engineering or a related subject and have a keen interest in sustainable construction.
Interested applicants should send their CVs and covering letters to Dr Rachel Cruise, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, University of Bath, Claverton Campus, Bath BA1 7AY or email: r.b.cruise@bath.ac.uk.
The deadline for applications is the 25th of April 2008.
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