AdresseThis research will be conducted at the Department of Civil Engineering, in the research group of prof. Patrick Willems, in close cooperation with the companies TUC Rail and Aquafin in Belgium. The research group of prof. Patrick Willems focuses on the hydrology and hydraulics of water systems, including the numerical modelling and impact analysis of infiltration solutions, statistical methods, the impacts of climate change and climate adaptation solutions.
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Project
Increasing frequency of extreme weather conditions due to climate change and urbanization require new management practices for rainwater storage and infiltration. Also for major infrastructure works such as roads and railways, there is a high need for reduced rainfall runoff and increased local infiltration in the road trunks and railway beds.
This PhD aims to investigate whether rainwater infiltration in road trunks and railway beds would offer a sustainable solution. More specifically, a numerical model will be developed that can simulate the infiltration process in such trunks and beds, taking the subsoil conditions (permeability, saturation conditions) into account. The model will be based on long-term simulations of high resolution rainfall time series and validation will be done based on in situ measurements on real cases.
Although the main focus of this PhD is on the technical aspects and numerical modelling of rainwater infiltration, also other boundary conditions and factors will be considered such as the ecological footprint (reduced runoff and pluvial flood risk, additional groundwater infiltration, use of circular materials, ecological materials and reducing the necessary amounts of concrete), whether it is economically acceptable, the stability of the roadbed, other practical implementation aspects, etc.
A number of conceptual preliminary studies are already available for this study, as well as a number of datasets of measurements on existing infiltrating beds or road cases. Using draining materials under the track bed ensures that the water can be buffered and has time to infiltrate.
This research will be done in close cooperation with the companies TUC Rail and Aquafin in Belgium. After a candidate has been selected for this position, an application for funding will be submitted, with the aim to start the PhD from autumn 2024 onwards.
Profile
Master of Civil Engineering, Bioscience Engineering or Water Resources Engineering, with interest in the topic of the proposed PhD research. Good programming skills is a must.
Offer
4-years PhD research project, if the application for funding would be granted, starting in autumn 2024
Interested?
For more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Patrick Willems, tel.: +32 16 32 16 58, mail: patrick.willems@kuleuven.be.
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