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Course Catalog 00/01


Civil and Mining Engineering

ABG011 Arctic Engineering 6.0 ECTS credits

TIMEPERIOD:
Q III and IV

LANGUAGE:English

EXAMINER
S Knutsson Univ lekt


PREREQUISITES
MTF012, MTF008

COURSE AIM
The course aims to give a broad knowledge of conditions in arctic climate and about different technical solutions to different types of problems. The course is an introduction to deeper studies in areas involving technology in cold climate.

CONTENTS
Introduction to Arctic Geography. Geothermal Temperature Gradient. Degree Days. Wind-chill. Basic one-dimensional heat conduction.
Heat flow, temperature within multiple layers. Thermal resistances in parallel. The "Trumpet" & "Whiplash" curves. Taber ice.
Film: "Permafrost Frontier."
Permafrost. Ice wedges & lenses. Heat tubes: Long Piles, Balch Tubes, Rice System. Convection Loops. Berggren Equation. Frost heave. Refrigerated foundations.
Film: "Frost Action in Soils."
Building enclosures. Insulation. Selection of optimum insulation thickness. Film: "Trans Alaska Digging Tests."
Moist air. Psychometric chart. Fick's Law. Condensation problems. Vapor control. Building Ventilation. Windows. Thermal resistance of air spaces. Heat transfer through curved surfaces.
Roofs: Cold, hot & IRMA. Utilities for cold climates. Utilidors. Snow control. Heat Flux plots for 2D heat flow.
Film: "Story of Camp Century".
Hydrology in the Arctic. Turnovers, ice jams, aufies & its control. River and Lake freezeup and breakup. Glaciers.
Film: "Action of Riber Ice on Bridges".
Ice Engineering. Lake & stream ice. Sea ice. Ice strength. Ice breakers. Friction on ice. Ice bridges, ice roads. Equations for ice thickness.
Film: "Through the Northwest Passage.
Term papers due at the beginning of class
Equipment. Materials: Metals, fuels, lubrication, antifreeze. Welding. Batteries. Winterizing vehicles. Operations & maintenance. Economics of winterizing.
Construction work in cold climates. Concrete, steel, earth work.
People problems: Light, Temperature, Productivity, wind chill, Isolation, Clothing, Housing. Survival.
Social circumstances and change. Ice fog: causes & curves. Review for Final Examination.
City planning in cold regions, ecological planning in cold regions.

TEACHING
Teaching is given in classes including problem solving and discussions. Project work is an essential part. Assignment will be given. Study trips.

EXAMINATION
Grading system with written exam in the end of the course.
COURSE GRADE SCALE: U, 3, 4, 5

ITEMS/CREDITS
Written exam 1.50ECTS
Term Paper 4.50ECTS

COURSE LITERATURE
Mc Fadden T. and Bennett L.F.: Construction in cold Regions. John Wiley New York 1991, ISBN
0 471 52503 0.

Further information: International Office

Valid for the academic year 00/01.

Web Editor: Karin.Lindholm@dc.luth.se


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LULEÅ UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
University Campus, Porsön, 971 87 Luleå. Tel. +46 (0) 920-91 000, fax +46 (0) 920-91 399
Last edited 2000-12-18