PRR Project

Summary

1. TASKS TO BE ASSIGNED TO THE PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEEThe prospective employee will be responsible for conducting advanced research studies concerning alternative pavement materials and technologies, including the following tasks:a) Identify and select of promising alternative road materials and technologies addressing the need for sustainable consumption and production of raw materials and responsible management of by-products. Non-recycled plastics, which are the problem of the century, and bio-based binders, as bitumen substitutes, are examples of such materials.b) Study the most suitable methods for laboratory characterization of the selected materials, using traditional tests, adapting these, or developing and validating new testing methodologies, when the traditional tests are not adequate for the new solutions.c) Study the implementation of methodologies for assessment of the long-term performance of the materials, considering the climate change impacts, namely the extreme events that will introduce a huge challenge to the infrastructures.d) Plan and perform mechanical and functional performance in situ and assess the durability of the proposed solutions.e) Develop new material design methodologies adapted to the incorporation of alternative materials (different by-products, e.g. non-recycled plastics, bio-based materials, natural fibres) and technologies.f) Validate the developed solutions in terms of environmental and economic perspectives, through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Cost Analysis (LCCA).g) Develop guidelines and other documents and digital tools to be available to the national and international technical community, to assist the of alternative materials in transport infrastructures, raising the confidence in these options.h) Other scientific and technical activities (collaboration and support to external entities; participation in scientific and technical meetings).2. SCIENTIFIC PROFILE REQUIREDFor the development of the above research, LNEC requires a researcher with experience in transport infrastructures design, materials, technologies, monitoring, and performance evaluation, including laboratory and in situ testing and evaluation. The researcher should show interest in the use of alternative materials and the development of new methodologies for the evaluation and assessment of innovative solutions. Knowledge regarding LCA and LCCA is also an important skill. In addition to scientific knowledge in the areas in question, the researcher needs to have clear interest, and motivation to develop the identified tasks, and experience in joint research projects.3. RATIONALE TO HIRE FOR THE SCIENTIFIC AREATransportation infrastructures play a pivotal role in fostering global development, facilitating socio-economic opportunities, and enhancing the competitive resilience of economies. The sustainable development of transportation infrastructures, promoting responsible consumption and production practices from design to construction and maintenance, is in line with one of the themes selected for LNEC’s Research and Innovation Strategy for 2021-27 – Circular Economy.4. RELEVANCE OF THE SCIENTIFIC PROFILE OF THE PROPOSED POSITION IN THE CONTEXT OF THE STATE-OF-THE-ARTThe construction sector has emerged as a significant contributor to the global construction and demolition waste produced. There is a pressing need to explore alternative materials and methodologies to foster eco-efficient management practices concerning raw materials and waste streams. Road and railway infrastructure construction and maintenance activities provide excellent opportunities for innovation, turning waste materials into valuable by-products, promoting the principles of circular economy, and extending the lifespan and value of materials.The development of innovative solutions needs rigorous evaluation protocols encompassing mechanical and functional performance, durability, and environmental impact considerations. This process comprises the exploration of novel formulation methodologies alongside the establishment of scalable protocols tailored to industry standards and requirements. The adoption of novel solutions mandates a comprehensive evaluation of both short- and long-term mechanical and functional performance, combined with methodologies such as LCA and LCCA, which offer invaluable insights into the environmental and economic perspectives, enabling informed decision-making. Moreover, the application of Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) to validated solutions, coupled with the implementation of Green Public Procurement (GPP) practices, contributes to the widespread adoption of environmentally sustainable solutions in construction.The pursuit of eco-efficient practices within the transportation infrastructure sector requires a holistic approach encompassing material innovation, rigorous performance evaluation, and comprehensive LCA/LCCA.