Short- and long-term corrosion of steels in highly calcareous seawaters . This project aims to quantify the development of the long-term (25-100 year) protective effect of calcareous deposits on the marine corrosion of mild steels. This is significant because such steels used extensively in major and very expensive coastal and offshore infrastructure. The project outcomes will improve scientific understanding, including the role of microbiological activity. It will develop and calibrate corrosio ....Short- and long-term corrosion of steels in highly calcareous seawaters . This project aims to quantify the development of the long-term (25-100 year) protective effect of calcareous deposits on the marine corrosion of mild steels. This is significant because such steels used extensively in major and very expensive coastal and offshore infrastructure. The project outcomes will improve scientific understanding, including the role of microbiological activity. It will develop and calibrate corrosion prediction models using classical and recently available 100 year data from Europe, the Pacific, Australia and also new project-specific experimental data. These models are expected to be of benefit for Australian engineering consultants in maintain their internationally competitive edge in offshore engineering.Read moreRead less
High Strength Steel Protection Bollards. Terrorist attacks cost Australians much human grief and millions of dollars. Prevention of an attack is paramount. Passive road bollards are commonly used to stop a vehicle approaching and/or entering security sensitive infrastructure. Thin-walled tubes are used to manufacture such bollards. However there is a lack of knowledge about their behaviour, and in particular high strength alloy steel bollards, when subjected to impact loads. The investigators wi ....High Strength Steel Protection Bollards. Terrorist attacks cost Australians much human grief and millions of dollars. Prevention of an attack is paramount. Passive road bollards are commonly used to stop a vehicle approaching and/or entering security sensitive infrastructure. Thin-walled tubes are used to manufacture such bollards. However there is a lack of knowledge about their behaviour, and in particular high strength alloy steel bollards, when subjected to impact loads. The investigators will apply their extensive knowledge in thin-walled tubular structures to establish the most economical means of designing high strength bollards. This knowledge will be transferred into design standards and Australia's limited defence resources.Read moreRead less
Long-term corrosion of offshore steel structures in near-stagnant seawater. This project investigates the seawater corrosion of structural steels under near-stagnant and possibly polluted conditions. Better understanding of long-term corrosion of structural steels in near-stagnant seawaters is needed to predict the safety of steel offshore structures such as the pods supporting wind and wave energy generators. Also, the expensive maintenance of protective coatings and systems could be obviated o ....Long-term corrosion of offshore steel structures in near-stagnant seawater. This project investigates the seawater corrosion of structural steels under near-stagnant and possibly polluted conditions. Better understanding of long-term corrosion of structural steels in near-stagnant seawaters is needed to predict the safety of steel offshore structures such as the pods supporting wind and wave energy generators. Also, the expensive maintenance of protective coatings and systems could be obviated or reduced if corrosion remains acceptable. This project plans to investigate experimentally the temporal development and stochastic nature of general corrosion and pitting for steels under actual near-stagnant seawater conditions. It also plans to build mathematical-probabilistic models for corrosion prediction, calibrated to field data. These models will include allowance for microbiological corrosion effects, important under anthropological pollution.Read moreRead less
Composite Structures of High-Strength Steel and Concrete. This project plans to investigate the use in building frames of composite steel-concrete members that use high-strength steel (HSS) instead of mild steel (MS). HSS is finding increased use in construction, and HSS has a much greater strength-to-weight ratio than MS, leading to lighter composite structures, less material usage and smaller foundations. Overall, this reduces the cost and carbon footprint of steel-framed buildings. The invest ....Composite Structures of High-Strength Steel and Concrete. This project plans to investigate the use in building frames of composite steel-concrete members that use high-strength steel (HSS) instead of mild steel (MS). HSS is finding increased use in construction, and HSS has a much greater strength-to-weight ratio than MS, leading to lighter composite structures, less material usage and smaller foundations. Overall, this reduces the cost and carbon footprint of steel-framed buildings. The investigation is planned to involve physical testing, numerical studies, developing structural models and crafting design guidance for T-beams, columns and joints. The major intended outcome of the project is design guidance that will support the expanded use of HSS.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE210100057
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$650,000.00
Summary
Australian Stress Engineering Facility. This project aims to radically enhance the Australian capability for residual stress measurements and damage analysis. This project is expected to revolutionise stress engineering research in Australia by providing access to a state-of-the-art measurement capability that will enable on-site measurements at manufacturing plants and in laboratories. Expected outcomes of this project include the development and optimisation of advanced manufacturing and maint ....Australian Stress Engineering Facility. This project aims to radically enhance the Australian capability for residual stress measurements and damage analysis. This project is expected to revolutionise stress engineering research in Australia by providing access to a state-of-the-art measurement capability that will enable on-site measurements at manufacturing plants and in laboratories. Expected outcomes of this project include the development and optimisation of advanced manufacturing and maintenance technologies for civil engineering structures. This should provide significant benefits in safety, reliability and economic impact to Australian researchers in academia and industry across manufacturing, civil, transport, defence and medical sectors.Read moreRead less
Self-Healing Concrete for Mitigation of Chloride Induced Steel Corrosion. This project aims to develop an intrinsic self-healing concrete using crystalline admixtures for rapid healing of concrete cracking. In marine environments, concrete cracking provides a direct access for chlorides from sea water to the steel reinforcement, leading to early and severe steel corrosion. The self-healing concrete will be designed to address the two main causes of concrete structures deterioration in Australia: ....Self-Healing Concrete for Mitigation of Chloride Induced Steel Corrosion. This project aims to develop an intrinsic self-healing concrete using crystalline admixtures for rapid healing of concrete cracking. In marine environments, concrete cracking provides a direct access for chlorides from sea water to the steel reinforcement, leading to early and severe steel corrosion. The self-healing concrete will be designed to address the two main causes of concrete structures deterioration in Australia: early age cracking due to restrained shrinkage and chloride induced steel reinforcement corrosion. The outcomes of this project will drive the advances in developing and applying crystalline admixture-based self-healing concrete to extend the service life of concrete structures and avoid costly repair.Read moreRead less
De-consolidation and Re-consolidation of Advanced Thermoplastic Matrix Composites. The project provides a comprehensive physical understanding on thermal de-consolidation and re-consolidation processes in advanced thermoplastic composites during re-heating/cooling processes, such as thermoforming and joining. Mechanistic models based on theoretical analysis, experimental studies and computational modelling will be established to provide a unified approach to predict de-consolidation and re-conso ....De-consolidation and Re-consolidation of Advanced Thermoplastic Matrix Composites. The project provides a comprehensive physical understanding on thermal de-consolidation and re-consolidation processes in advanced thermoplastic composites during re-heating/cooling processes, such as thermoforming and joining. Mechanistic models based on theoretical analysis, experimental studies and computational modelling will be established to provide a unified approach to predict de-consolidation and re-consolidation processes. Optimum processing-windows will be established, with which the undesired deterioration in material meso-structures and mechanical performance due to de-consolidation is effectively minimised. The outcomes of the project will fill the gap in the knowledge for thermoplastic composite processing and will improve the integrity of thermoplastic composite structures in practical applications.Read moreRead less
A Unified Approach to Determine Permeabilities of Fibre Preforms for Manufacturing Advanced Composite Structures. A unified framework is developed first time to determine 3-D permeabilities of fibre preforms for advanced fibre composites using homogenisation theories based on micro-, meso- and macro-structures of fibre preforms. Mechanistic models based on experimental studies, theoretical analyses and computational modelling are established to quantify permeabilities in different scales. It off ....A Unified Approach to Determine Permeabilities of Fibre Preforms for Manufacturing Advanced Composite Structures. A unified framework is developed first time to determine 3-D permeabilities of fibre preforms for advanced fibre composites using homogenisation theories based on micro-, meso- and macro-structures of fibre preforms. Mechanistic models based on experimental studies, theoretical analyses and computational modelling are established to quantify permeabilities in different scales. It offers a unique technique to determine 3-D permeabilities for manufacturing advanced composite structures using various novel technologies based on resin impregnation or infusion, such as VARTM and RI. The outcomes of the project will fill the gap in the essential knowledge for cost-effective manufacturing of advanced composite structures in practical applications.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354805
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Research Network for Rehabilitation of Structures Using Advanced Materials and Frontier Technologies. There is an urgent need to rehabilitate existing structures that are considered inadequate in strength and serviceability. Frontier strengthening technologies (such as external post-tensioning and plate bonding) using conventional and advanced materials are being currently developed in Australia by different groups, but as yet not in a coordinated manner. The aim of this network is to bring tog ....Research Network for Rehabilitation of Structures Using Advanced Materials and Frontier Technologies. There is an urgent need to rehabilitate existing structures that are considered inadequate in strength and serviceability. Frontier strengthening technologies (such as external post-tensioning and plate bonding) using conventional and advanced materials are being currently developed in Australia by different groups, but as yet not in a coordinated manner. The aim of this network is to bring together a multi-disciplinary team with complementary strengths to provide an integrated solution for rehabilitation of structures. The core of the network focuses on design tools, linking the various technologies to provide appropriate rehabilitation and understanding of life cycle demands for major infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101349
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$390,749.00
Summary
Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP)-Confined Concrete-Encased Steel Composite Columns. The infrastructure in Australia and beyond has long suffered from deterioration due to corrosion of steel reinforcement/sections. This project will address this problem by investigating a new form of hybrid columns, namely fibre reinforced polymer confined concrete-encased steel composite columns. The idea of combining a fibre reinforced polymer-confined concrete and a steel section not only makes the column a dura ....Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP)-Confined Concrete-Encased Steel Composite Columns. The infrastructure in Australia and beyond has long suffered from deterioration due to corrosion of steel reinforcement/sections. This project will address this problem by investigating a new form of hybrid columns, namely fibre reinforced polymer confined concrete-encased steel composite columns. The idea of combining a fibre reinforced polymer-confined concrete and a steel section not only makes the column a durable and ductile alternative to steel/concrete columns, but also makes them an efficient method for retrofitting or strengthening deteriorated steel columns. This project will study the structural behaviour of fibre reinforced polymer confined concrete-encased steel composite columns, and develop design methods to pave the way towards their wide practical applications. Read moreRead less