WATERPROOFING SYSTEMS IN HARD ROCK METRO TUNNELS: A COMPARATIVE LCA AND LCC ANALYSIS OF PE MAT, ROCKDRAIN, AND XIIT FOAM
2026 (English) Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
The purpose of this study was to evaluate three waterproofing systems (conventional polyethylene (PE) mats, Rockdrain, and XiiT-Foam) to determine the most sustainable maintenance solution for Stockholm’s hard rock metro tunnels. A comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) were conducted using a functional unit of 1 m² over a 60-year service life, combining field observations with industry data. An assumption-based harmonization approach was applied for XiiT-Foam due to limited cradle-to-grave data. The results showed both alternatives significantly outperformed conventional PE mats (GWP: 114.1 kg CO2-eq/m², LCC: 593.5 EUR/m²). Rockdrain yielded a verified improvement (GWP: 87.18 kg CO2-eq/m², LCC: 265.8 EUR/m²). While XiiT-Foam presented the lowest impacts (GWP: 1.74 kg CO2-eq/m², LCC: 159.5 EUR/m²), sensitivity analyses revealed high dependence on uncertain new-build variables like avoided-excavation credits. It was concluded that Rockdrain represents the most defensible, immediately viable sustainable upgrade for existing tunnels, whereas XiiT-Foam requires independent, maintenance-specific verification.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages 2026. , p. 69
Keywords [en]
Tunnel waterproofing, Life Cycle Assessment, Life Cycle Costing, Stockholm metro, PE mat, Rockdrain, XiiT-Foam, Sustainable maintenance
National Category
Environmental Engineering
Identifiers URN: urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-79055 OAI: oai:DiVA.org:mdh-79055 DiVA, id: diva2:2103191
External cooperation
Region Stockholm
Subject / course Environmental Engineering
Presentation
2026-10-14, 12:37
Supervisors
Examiners
2026-09-282026-09-212026-09-28 Bibliographically approved