Techno-economic and environmental assessment of sustainable and fit-for-purpose concrete materials for civil infrastructure

Summary

The SmartCrete Cooperative Research Centre (SmartCrete CRC) is a government-funded initiative designed to support industry-led research aimed at improving the cost efficiency, productivity, and sustainability of Australian concrete infrastructure.

In collaboration with the SmartCrete CRC and various stakeholders, the University of Sydney is conducting research on the techno-economic modelling of durable, high-performance specialty concrete, as well as recycled waste-blended specialty concrete for use in construction and rehabilitation of civil infrastructure.

This project aims to provide a comprehensive techno-economic and environmental assessment throughout the life cycle of civil assets built with specialty and recycled waste-blended specialty concrete.

Research Areas:

Life Cycle Assessment, Waste, Concrete

Supervisor

Professor Marjorie Valix.

Research location

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Synopsis

The concrete industry is currently grappling with several challenges, including the conflict between growing demands and rising costs, as well as stringent requirements to reduce embodied carbon, wastewater generation, and other harmful emissions.

Proposals to use more durable, high-performance specialty concrete and incorporate recycled wastes into concrete mixtures offer potential solutions. These approaches could reduce the lifecycle economic and environmental impacts of concrete infrastructure. However, the market adoption of these materials is limited by a lack of streamlined standards and evidence-based performance data.

In Australia, there is a notable lack of comprehensive studies on the economic and environmental implications of using specialty concrete and recycled waste-blended specialty concrete (CEM-X) as construction materials. Such information is crucial for decision-makers in the cement, water, transport, mining, and recycling industries.

To address this research gap, mathematical programming and computational tools will be employed to model the economic and environmental costs of using specialty concrete and CEM-X in Australian civil infrastructure. The modelling framework will integrate techniques from techno-economic modelling, life cycle costing, and life cycle assessment to quantify the true costs and environmental emissions of constructing assets with specialty concrete and CEM-X.

The role and the research will involve the following:

• Contribute to the development of a comprehensive modelling framework to assess the economic and environmental costs of specialty concrete and CEM-X for civil infrastructure construction.
• Conduct life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) analyses to quantify the real costs and environmental impacts of using specialty concrete and CEM-X.
• Assist in building and maintaining a database for economic and environmental data inputs relevant to specialty concrete and CEM-X.
• Develop a decision-making tool to suggest optimal rehabilitation patterns based on cost analysis.
• Contribute to the communication of research findings through papers, seminars, and conference presentations.
• Collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders in organisations linked to SmartCrete CRC.

Offering:

A PhD scholarship for 3.5 years at the RTP stipend rate (currently $40,109 in 2024). International applicants will have their tuition fees covered. 

Successful candidates must:

• Have a Bachelors degree (1st class honours or equivalent) or a Masters degree in chemical, environmental, or civil engineering
• Have demonstrated strong computational skills
• Have demonstrated ability in process/project design and modelling
• Have familiarity with techno-economic modelling, life cycle costing/assessment
• Have ability to work well with others in a team
• Have industry experience in civil construction for the water and/or transportation industries (desirable)
• Have industry experience in working for cement and/or recycling companies

How to apply:

To apply, email marjorie.valix@sydney.edu.au the following:

• CV
• Transcripts

Want to find out more?

Opportunity ID

The opportunity ID for this research opportunity is 3464

Other opportunities with Professor Marjorie Valix