The use of innovative anchors for the achievement of composite action for rehabilitating existing and deployment of demountable steel structures. This project will develop an innovative technology to connect steel and concrete elements in steel framed structures. This will allow new structures to be made demountable and will increase the remaining life of existing infrastructure. This will provide methodologies to increase the sustainability benefits of steel structures in construction.
Control of cracking caused by early-age contraction of concrete. An extensive program of laboratory testing will be undertaken to quantify the extent of cracking in concrete walls and slabs due to early-age cooling and shrinkage of concrete. Analytical models for quantifying restraint in walls and slabs will be developed, as will methods for the prediction and control of crack widths and crack spacings.
Impact of rolling dynamic compaction. The project will lead to improved understanding and greater use of rolling dynamic compaction (RDC). RDC is a relatively new compaction technique that can be used to improve soft and derelict ground prior to the construction of roads, railways, subdivisions and structures. This project will also lead to greatly reduced ground improvement costs.
Assessment of Dynamic Pile Driving Using Machine Learning. This project aims at developing new technology to determine ground properties and foundation capacity in real-time during pile installation by adopting rigorous numerical simulation, laboratory experiments and artificial intelligence-based computational model. Although impact driving is used commonly to install piles on site, there is no technology currently available to interpret collected data accurately and in real-time to provide liv ....Assessment of Dynamic Pile Driving Using Machine Learning. This project aims at developing new technology to determine ground properties and foundation capacity in real-time during pile installation by adopting rigorous numerical simulation, laboratory experiments and artificial intelligence-based computational model. Although impact driving is used commonly to install piles on site, there is no technology currently available to interpret collected data accurately and in real-time to provide live feedback and optimise construction processes. This research will provide new machine learning model to assess the ground and foundation characteristics during construction, and will increase certainty in infrastructure investment in Australia particularly for costly transport assets and infrastructure.Read moreRead less
The behaviour and design of composite columns coupling the benefits of high strength steel and high strength concrete for large scale infrastructure. This project will involve the development of a novel structural column system which will be more efficient, robust and require less maintenance than current systems. The outcomes will involve improved design methodologies which will enable large scale infrastructure to be enhanced and will involve the use of materials which improve sustainability.
Connections for hybrid steel-timber-concrete structures. Connections play a vital role in overall performance, reliability, and adaptability of civil structures. This project aims to develop innovative, easy to fabricate and efficient connections for hybrid structural systems that fully exploit advantages of steel, concrete and engineered timber to reduce the self-weight, cost and negative environmental impact and enhance opportunities for deconstruction, reusing and upgrading of the structures. ....Connections for hybrid steel-timber-concrete structures. Connections play a vital role in overall performance, reliability, and adaptability of civil structures. This project aims to develop innovative, easy to fabricate and efficient connections for hybrid structural systems that fully exploit advantages of steel, concrete and engineered timber to reduce the self-weight, cost and negative environmental impact and enhance opportunities for deconstruction, reusing and upgrading of the structures. Structural performance of the connections will be assessed by laboratory testing and advanced numerical modelling. Comprehensive knowledge on stiffness, strength, and ductility and world-first provisions for safe and cost-effective design of the hybrid steel-timber-concrete structures are generated.Read moreRead less
Characterisation of shear and tensile fracture of ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete. This project aims to investigate the shear-tension interaction performance of ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). In January 2014, the draft Australian Standard for the design of concrete bridges was released; this is the first standard in Australia, and one of the first in the world, to include comprehensive design procedures for steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC). Rule ....Characterisation of shear and tensile fracture of ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete. This project aims to investigate the shear-tension interaction performance of ultra-high performance fibre reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). In January 2014, the draft Australian Standard for the design of concrete bridges was released; this is the first standard in Australia, and one of the first in the world, to include comprehensive design procedures for steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC). Rules allow conventional, strain softening SFRC, but exclude the use of strain hardening UHPFRC because of insufficient research on core aspects of the materials when conventionally reinforced. The study expects to provide vital data engineers and Standards bodies need to adopt UHPFRC.Read moreRead less
Torsion in innovative timber composite floors. Application of lightweight sustainably sourced timber panels combined with steel beams or reinforced concrete slabs in composite floors has the potential to significantly improve the speed and efficiency and reduce the carbon and energy footprint of the construction industry. This project aims to produce world first benchmark experimental data and advanced numerical and simple analytical models required for efficient, yet safe and reliable analysis ....Torsion in innovative timber composite floors. Application of lightweight sustainably sourced timber panels combined with steel beams or reinforced concrete slabs in composite floors has the potential to significantly improve the speed and efficiency and reduce the carbon and energy footprint of the construction industry. This project aims to produce world first benchmark experimental data and advanced numerical and simple analytical models required for efficient, yet safe and reliable analysis and design of timber-concrete and steel-timber composite floors subjected to complex 3-dimensional loading scenarios that involve combinations of torsion, bending and shear. The outcomes of this project are expected to promote innovation and advance knowledge in the field of structural mechanics.Read moreRead less
Composite steel-timber structural system. This project aims to deliver a novel composite steel–timber system that alleviates many of the environmental concerns of the industry, while improving efficiency by using lighter materials. It aims to develop a unique composite system comprised of steel I-section beams and prefabricated timber slabs, with shear connection being provided by bolting or screws. The project plans to assess the structural system experimentally and numerically, and to craft gu ....Composite steel-timber structural system. This project aims to deliver a novel composite steel–timber system that alleviates many of the environmental concerns of the industry, while improving efficiency by using lighter materials. It aims to develop a unique composite system comprised of steel I-section beams and prefabricated timber slabs, with shear connection being provided by bolting or screws. The project plans to assess the structural system experimentally and numerically, and to craft guidelines for the safe and efficient design of these members. The novel lightweight composite system would enhance the speed of construction, allow for deconstructability and reuse and, because plantation timber sequestrates carbon dioxide, have a low carbon footprint.Read moreRead less
Functionally Graded Ultra High Perfomance Concete Structure under Flexure. This project aims to develop a novel multilayer functionally graded concrete structure that is a mixture of normal strength concrete and ultra high performance concrete with the mixing ratio varying in a layer-wise manner, offering a highly cost-effective structural design solution with significantly improved safety and durability over conventional concrete structures. The expected outcomes include the innovative design, ....Functionally Graded Ultra High Perfomance Concete Structure under Flexure. This project aims to develop a novel multilayer functionally graded concrete structure that is a mixture of normal strength concrete and ultra high performance concrete with the mixing ratio varying in a layer-wise manner, offering a highly cost-effective structural design solution with significantly improved safety and durability over conventional concrete structures. The expected outcomes include the innovative design, experimental data on the static and dynamic structural behaviour, development of reliable simulation techniques and optimal design procedures for the proposed structure with greatly reduced material costs. The project will have huge benefits to Australian civil engineering industry and national economy.
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