Course content

The course comprises the following items: External climate exposure on buildings, critical exposure conditions for different materials, degradation mechanisms of building materials, dose/response functions, natural and artificial ageing of materials, protection of materials, requirements and needs for service life prediction of building materials and components, methods to determine service life.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: The candidate should have knowledge of: climate conditions and exposure on buildings and construction works; material degradation factors of a climate and how they are characterized; natural and artificial ageing of materials; service life of materials and methods for determination.

Skills: The candidate is able to: characterize climate exposure of construction works and materials and how different material types are influenced; select conditions and methods for testing of durability of building materials; evaluate the service life of materials by use of different methods; perform a literature survey, laboratory testing or calculation within the area of the course and describe the results in a report where the applied methods and achieved results are presented and evaluated.

General competence: The candidate can: evaluate key issues regarding durability and service life of materials used in buildings and construction works in relation to climate exposure and design life; understand relations between material properties and service life and consequences of material use concerning service life; present international knowledge within the area and what are important issues at the research front.

Learning methods and activities

The tuition will mainly be based on a guided self-tuition. A few introductory and summary lectures/colloquiums will be given, though (also according to need). The grades in this course will be determined according to: 1. Oral examination (50 %). 2. Written report/article on a topic within the course (50 %). The report can readily be written as a scientific article instead of a traditional report, and also be submitted to a scientific journal (or conference) if evaluated as of sufficient quality for that purpose. It will be especially beneficial if the PhD student can write an article on his or her PhD subject related to the course subject on ageing and durability related aspects, and which then can be used in the PhD student's PhD thesis. The lectures and exercises are given in English when students who do not speak Norwegian follow the course.

Normally, this course is taken by PhD students who already are familiar with and have some hands-on experience with our laboratory facilities related to climate exposure and accelerated climate ageing testing.

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

MSc degree within research areas related to Civil and Environmental Engineering or Material Science and Engineering.

Required previous knowledge

The course will be run if at least 3 students with relevant background wish to attend. If you wish to attend, please contact the course coordinator. Students not admitted to the PhD programme in engineering may be approved by the course coordinator.

Course materials

Reports, articles, standards, etc. To be specified at the course start.