Infrastructure Physics
What is Infrastructure Physics?
Infrastructure physics is the application of physics on
infrastructure related issues.
Taking the analogy of building physics infrastructure physics
can be specified by excluding structural issues (that are not part
of building physics either but rather form the area of structural
engineering) and focusing on hygrothermal and energy
consumption issues.
Bijan Adl Zarrabi & York Ostermeyer
[email protected]
October 24, 2013
[email protected]
Why do we need Infrastructure Physics?
All infrastructure elements are always exposed to outdoor climate e.g.
solar radiation, rain, driving rain, wind, moisture, temperature variation.
Furthermore, when infrastructure elements exposes to extreme
weather condition undesired phenomena happen.
It is not possible to control the outdoor climate (macro-climate) but
Is it possible to change micro climate around/inside
a infrastructure element?
Infrastructure Physics starts before the planning
phase of projects by influencing material
development
Reverse development
Material
developer tries to
identify the
materials that
come closest
Hygrothermal
models are used
to model the
”ideal” material
characteristics
The traditional approach
Material
developer creates
a new material
Engineers come
up with ideas on
how to use the
new material
Problems with
secondary
properties are
identified on site
and solve by ”addons”
Infrastructure Physics affects:
Planning: Right choice of material and systemic make-up related
to physical phenomena.
Production: Production process, joints between elements.
Maintenance: Material performance, robustness, flexibility
Long term performance: Performance affects the life time
assessments
Infrastructure physics deals with
air, moisture, temperature and liquid transport mechanism
in infrastructure elements exposed to outdoor climate.
Some examples follows
Infrastructure Physics application on pavements
1. Cracks due to expansion and
contraction caused by daily
climate (temperature variation)
i.e. hygrothermal induced
stress.
2. Precipitation, surface water,
aquaplaning
Source:http://ayrshiregeog.blogspot.se/2008_04_01_archive.html
Infrastructure Physics application on pavements
Infrastructure Physics application on pavements
1. Keeping roads free of ice and
snow by passive means
(thermal capacity)
2. When roads are not heated,
removing snow creates a
mechanical and a physical
problem (compressed snow)
Source:http://www.kfzticker.de/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/verkehrschaos-durchblitzeis.jpg
Infrastructure Physics application on bridges
http://www.general-anzeiger-bonn.de/img/gary/crop924163/9640119303-cw400/z-gary2.jpg
http://media2.wpri.com//photo/2011/01/27/Icicle_smashes_right_te81418fb-7ff2-45779eed-b8dd204c28590000_20110127164117_640_480.JPG
Development of icicles can be dealt with by constructive as well as
material measures and it can be predicted by hygro-thermal models
Infrastructure Physics application on tunnels
http://www.koester.eu/files/de_en/O%27Neill-Tunnel-Boston-7.JPG
http://u1.ipernity.com/14/39/63/7113963.ba342ecc.500.jpg
Temperature and humidity in a tunnel are important parameters for
safe operation and efficient maintenance of a tunnel.
Mold, partly due to wrong material characteristics, affects lifetime of
the tunnel and air quality inside
Infrastructure Physics application on tunnels
http://www.google.de/imgres?biw=1920&bih=976&tbm=isch&tbnid=1a2WDo7SwWcNFM:&imgrefurl=http://www.schreder.com/be-en/LearningCentre/Dossiers/Pages/Optimum-safety-for-LED-tunnellighting-solutions.aspx&docid=_SWef-Vt_Pd7wM&imgurl=http://www.schreder.com/SiteCollectionImages/Learning-Centre/Dossiers/LED%252520Tunnel%252520Solutions/Schreder-offers-safesttunnel-solutions.jpg&w=540&h=280&ei=Z0peUuScCMel4ATS-ICoCA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=256&page=1&tbnh=139&tbnw=260&start=0&ndsp=58&ved=1t:429,r:14,s:0,i:122&tx=100&ty=52
Non-skid winter roads
Solar heat and heat storage
Environmentally sound deicing
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Research project :Swedish Transport
administration, Period: 2011-2015
Heat especially exposed parts of road
system to improve accessibility and
increase traffic safety
Example: Göteborgsbacken in
Jönköping, Sweden
International experiences exist
A pre-study is completed
The main concept in to collect solar
energy during summer, store the
heat and use it for deicing during
winter
Bild Ny Teknik
Grafik: Jonas
Askergren
13
Non-skid winter roads - Case studies in
progress
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Applications in case study: Steep slope, Bridges prone to icing, Bicycle
paths, Train platform
Direct coupled system or heat pump system possible
Advantages include increased accessibility, reduced maintenance costs, reduced
accident rates and reduced environmental impact through the use of salt.
Drawbacks are increased investment and operating costs for heating.
The case study is focused on:
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Design of energy and power demand,
Pre-design of energy systems and design of the pipe system
Investment and operating costs
Socioeconomic calculations
Project management / Contact information:
Jan Sundberg: [email protected], Olof Stenlund:
[email protected]
Infravation themes related to Infrastructure physics:
E. Ensuring infrastructure performance under all weather conditions
B. Enhanced durability and life time extension
F. Resource and energy efficiency in road constructions and maintenance
There is a river running
over tunnel and water
leaks at some points.
When the temperature
reaches below zero
degrees , the road
freezes and the result is
the attached video.