Bridging the gap between global mechanics and regional imaging in the lungs. The detailed mechanics of breathing are not well understood, due to a lack of regional lung measurement techniques. This project aims to develop a powerful analysis tool to image in vivo mechanical properties of the lungs. The expected outcome of this project is a novel platform for investigation and understanding of lung function, enabling information previously only available for the whole lung to be calculated for lo ....Bridging the gap between global mechanics and regional imaging in the lungs. The detailed mechanics of breathing are not well understood, due to a lack of regional lung measurement techniques. This project aims to develop a powerful analysis tool to image in vivo mechanical properties of the lungs. The expected outcome of this project is a novel platform for investigation and understanding of lung function, enabling information previously only available for the whole lung to be calculated for local lung regions within the body. The image analysis methods developed are intended to enable respiratory researchers to investigate lung function in unprecedented detail, leading to new insights into the workings of this complicated and vital organ. Read moreRead less
Hybrid imaging/modelling: A new paradigm for understanding the lung. Our lungs are essential to sustain our lives, yet the details of lung biomechanics are barely understood because the available tools, imaging, modelling and simulation have significant limitations. Imaging is largely limited to providing structural information; simulation is severely restricted by a lack of validation; and inverse modelling is critically hampered by a lack of spatially resolved inputs. The project’s multidiscip ....Hybrid imaging/modelling: A new paradigm for understanding the lung. Our lungs are essential to sustain our lives, yet the details of lung biomechanics are barely understood because the available tools, imaging, modelling and simulation have significant limitations. Imaging is largely limited to providing structural information; simulation is severely restricted by a lack of validation; and inverse modelling is critically hampered by a lack of spatially resolved inputs. The project’s multidisciplinary team is uniquely positioned to explore these problems through the hybridisation of world-leading functional lung imaging technology with state-of-the-art modelling. This project aims to provide, perhaps for the first time, the capacity to see details with the resolution of imaging, richness of modelling and reliability of the finest measurements.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180101133
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,551.00
Summary
Linking structure and function: a new approach for understanding the lung. This project aims to develop a powerful analysis tool to measure gas transport and mixing within lungs. This project will study the mechanical workings of the lungs, using an innovative approach for analysis of lung images. The expected outcome of this project is a novel platform for investigation and understanding of lung function. It is anticipated that application of the project outcomes to medical challenges in the lo ....Linking structure and function: a new approach for understanding the lung. This project aims to develop a powerful analysis tool to measure gas transport and mixing within lungs. This project will study the mechanical workings of the lungs, using an innovative approach for analysis of lung images. The expected outcome of this project is a novel platform for investigation and understanding of lung function. It is anticipated that application of the project outcomes to medical challenges in the long-term will lead to improved diagnostics and treatments for lung diseases.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100018
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$362,441.00
Summary
Engineering suspended particle sprays through controlled cavitation. This project aims to use cavitation to engineer particle size in sprays of micronised particles suspended in a propellant, and develop a physical mechanism for this process. Understanding how cavitation affects the size of agglomerates in the liquid phase and droplet size in a spray is critical to developing spray devices that require precise control over the final particle size. This will be achieved through high-resolution op ....Engineering suspended particle sprays through controlled cavitation. This project aims to use cavitation to engineer particle size in sprays of micronised particles suspended in a propellant, and develop a physical mechanism for this process. Understanding how cavitation affects the size of agglomerates in the liquid phase and droplet size in a spray is critical to developing spray devices that require precise control over the final particle size. This will be achieved through high-resolution optical imaging techniques and synchrotron X-ray diagnostics. This project is expected to provide physical insight with applications for inhaled and topical pharmaceutical sprays, and industry spray drying of food products.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100003
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$318,900.00
Summary
Vector network analyser suite for advanced terahertz materials and devices. This project aims to establish terahertz measurement capabilities to further Australia's strength and momentum in terahertz research. This will comprise of two terahertz extension modules, working with a dedicated vector-network analyser, and high-precision probes and probe station. The project will enable point-feeding, monochromatic, coherent, and fine spectral-resolution measurement at an atmospheric window of 220-330 ....Vector network analyser suite for advanced terahertz materials and devices. This project aims to establish terahertz measurement capabilities to further Australia's strength and momentum in terahertz research. This will comprise of two terahertz extension modules, working with a dedicated vector-network analyser, and high-precision probes and probe station. The project will enable point-feeding, monochromatic, coherent, and fine spectral-resolution measurement at an atmospheric window of 220-330 GHz. The capabilities are essential for development of two-dimensional materials, active components, waveguides, and antennas towards a common goal of efficient integrated terahertz devices and systems. The project will serve emerging terahertz applications including standoff imaging and short-range high-speed data transmission. This will have broad impact in the areas of surveillance, biomedicine, security, and public safety and well-being.Read moreRead less
Engineering high-efficiency all-dielectric antennas for terahertz channels. This project aims to create unconventional antenna platforms to support terahertz links. The project expects to deliver high-efficiency, high-gain dielectric resonator antennas and dielectric rod antenna arrays fed by dielectric wave-guides. The expected outcomes of this project will build critical components for future terahertz communication infrastructure. These antennas will support demands in point-to-point wireless ....Engineering high-efficiency all-dielectric antennas for terahertz channels. This project aims to create unconventional antenna platforms to support terahertz links. The project expects to deliver high-efficiency, high-gain dielectric resonator antennas and dielectric rod antenna arrays fed by dielectric wave-guides. The expected outcomes of this project will build critical components for future terahertz communication infrastructure. These antennas will support demands in point-to-point wireless transmission between mobile base stations, within data centres, and at information kiosks.Read moreRead less
Wideband Strongly-Truncated Composite Cavity-Resonator Antennas. A rapidly growing demand for fast wireless services calls for wideband communication systems with wideband antennas, which are compact, aesthetically appealing and inexpensive, yet have good performance. With novel concepts, this project aims to produce a new class of antennas that deliver impressive performance (bandwidth and gain) while taking up a dramatically reduced area in a way that was impossible before, increasing a figure ....Wideband Strongly-Truncated Composite Cavity-Resonator Antennas. A rapidly growing demand for fast wireless services calls for wideband communication systems with wideband antennas, which are compact, aesthetically appealing and inexpensive, yet have good performance. With novel concepts, this project aims to produce a new class of antennas that deliver impressive performance (bandwidth and gain) while taking up a dramatically reduced area in a way that was impossible before, increasing a figure-of-merit to up to seven times the state-of-the-art. Their planar geometry and simplicity lead to low cost. This is expected to create new knowledge, design methods and examples, prototypes, test results and guidelines required to design, optimise and make these versatile antennas for emerging robust broadband wireless systems.Read moreRead less
Silicon-Carbide Switches for Post-Silicon Efficiency of Power Electronics. The aim of this project is to create a prototype of a silicon carbide (SiC)-based power-electronic switch for improved energy efficiency and reduced size of power-electronic circuits, well beyond the theoretical limits of silicon technology. Until very recently, the dominant controlled switch in electronics could only be implemented as a silicon transistor. A new method of electronic passivation of SiC surfaces has enable ....Silicon-Carbide Switches for Post-Silicon Efficiency of Power Electronics. The aim of this project is to create a prototype of a silicon carbide (SiC)-based power-electronic switch for improved energy efficiency and reduced size of power-electronic circuits, well beyond the theoretical limits of silicon technology. Until very recently, the dominant controlled switch in electronics could only be implemented as a silicon transistor. A new method of electronic passivation of SiC surfaces has enabled the recent commercialisation of SiC transistors. It is expected that the material advantages of SiC can be fully exploited by a new device structure and a new fabrication process.Read moreRead less
Multiscale modelling of multiphase interactions in shale gas reservoirs. As conventional oil and gas become depleted in most of the producing basins, extraction of unconventional gas trapped in shale formations needs to become more viable. Since Australian shales have different characteristics from North American ones, the existing knowledge cannot be directly applied. We aim to develop a novel multiscale framework for deep understanding of the complex multiphase interactions in shale gas reserv ....Multiscale modelling of multiphase interactions in shale gas reservoirs. As conventional oil and gas become depleted in most of the producing basins, extraction of unconventional gas trapped in shale formations needs to become more viable. Since Australian shales have different characteristics from North American ones, the existing knowledge cannot be directly applied. We aim to develop a novel multiscale framework for deep understanding of the complex multiphase interactions in shale gas reservoirs. The outcomes will not only enable us to effectively assess the viability of gas extraction from Australian shale reservoirs with accurate long-term production forecasting, but help to develop strategies to effectively extract this relatively low carbon-emitting fossil fuel in the transition to a renewable economy.Read moreRead less
Multiscale physics theory to understand secondary migration of hydrocarbons. This project aims to derive mathematical models to reveal the geological history of how petroleum accumulates at laboratory, reservoir, and basin scales. The project will identify secondary migration trajectories of hydrocarbons from source rocks to stratigraphic traps, to optimise exploration for energy resources. By enabling multiscale analytical modelling, the new model will improve the reliability of reservoir chara ....Multiscale physics theory to understand secondary migration of hydrocarbons. This project aims to derive mathematical models to reveal the geological history of how petroleum accumulates at laboratory, reservoir, and basin scales. The project will identify secondary migration trajectories of hydrocarbons from source rocks to stratigraphic traps, to optimise exploration for energy resources. By enabling multiscale analytical modelling, the new model will improve the reliability of reservoir characterisation at the crucial initial exploitation stage, and prediction of oil-gas distribution in petroleum basin. The novel multiscale approach is expected to significantly improve exploration and exploitation and create highly skilled jobs to incorporate such modelling into the energy sector.Read moreRead less