Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC160100032
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,024,379.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre in Lightweight Automotive Structures. ARC Training Centre in Lightweight Automotive Structures. This training centre aims to train a cohort of industry-focused researchers and to develop new lightweighting technologies, which are key to reducing carbon dioxide (CO2 emissions in transportation. In partnership with domestic and international companies and universities, this centre intends to develop new lightweight materials, advanced manufacturing processes, energy storage des ....ARC Training Centre in Lightweight Automotive Structures. ARC Training Centre in Lightweight Automotive Structures. This training centre aims to train a cohort of industry-focused researchers and to develop new lightweighting technologies, which are key to reducing carbon dioxide (CO2 emissions in transportation. In partnership with domestic and international companies and universities, this centre intends to develop new lightweight materials, advanced manufacturing processes, energy storage designs, and rapid non-destructive evaluation techniques. The intended outcome is to accelerate the transformation of Australia's automotive industry—now facing unprecedented structural adjustment—from vehicle production to export of design and engineering services, high-value products, and novel technology solutions.Read moreRead less
Cyclic Fatigue Mechanisms in New Lead-Free Piezoelectric Ceramics. Piezoceramics are an important component in many items in modern day Australian life. However, they present a growing environmental concern, particularly for disposal, because they contain lead oxide and must often be disposed of prematurely due to component failure. Furthermore, many key Australian industries manufacture and use piezoceramics in fields ranging from mineral exploration, to imaging to biomedical devices. This proj ....Cyclic Fatigue Mechanisms in New Lead-Free Piezoelectric Ceramics. Piezoceramics are an important component in many items in modern day Australian life. However, they present a growing environmental concern, particularly for disposal, because they contain lead oxide and must often be disposed of prematurely due to component failure. Furthermore, many key Australian industries manufacture and use piezoceramics in fields ranging from mineral exploration, to imaging to biomedical devices. This project will enable the development of lead-free alternatives to current materials and more reliable materials which will reduce the need for waste disposal.Read moreRead less
Development of Cyclic Fatigue Degradation Criteria for Piezoelectric Ceramic Components. Piezoelectric ceramics are widely used in advanced engineering applications such as actuators in the automotive industry, sonars for submarine mineral exploration and defence, and a broad range of medical devices, e.g. ultrasound probes. The reliable operational lifetime of these devices is, however, severely limited because they suffer cyclic fatigue leading to both degradation in performance and device fai ....Development of Cyclic Fatigue Degradation Criteria for Piezoelectric Ceramic Components. Piezoelectric ceramics are widely used in advanced engineering applications such as actuators in the automotive industry, sonars for submarine mineral exploration and defence, and a broad range of medical devices, e.g. ultrasound probes. The reliable operational lifetime of these devices is, however, severely limited because they suffer cyclic fatigue leading to both degradation in performance and device failure. The proposed project seeks to develop an understanding of the mechanisms of fatigue and develop a design model for engineers such that piezoelectric ceramic devices can be operated for longer periods with higher levels of reliability.Read moreRead less
Reducing the environmental impact of passenger vehicles by the design of lightweight alloy components. There are approximately a billion passenger vehicles in the world and the number is growing each year. The reduction in vehicle weight is therefore critical as it is one of the major contributors to both fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. A major challenge for the automotive industry is to address this problem by replacing high density materials with lighter weight materials with co ....Reducing the environmental impact of passenger vehicles by the design of lightweight alloy components. There are approximately a billion passenger vehicles in the world and the number is growing each year. The reduction in vehicle weight is therefore critical as it is one of the major contributors to both fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. A major challenge for the automotive industry is to address this problem by replacing high density materials with lighter weight materials with comparable properties. The aim is to design new lightweight aluminium alloys with the desired properties to replace existing high density steel fasteners in vehicles. It is expected that the new components aim to reduce the total weight of a standard car by at least 20kg; this would be a significant achievement in the eyes of automotive manufacturers.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102664
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
A micro-compression study of aluminium alloys: establishing the nanoscale mechanisms of precipitate-induced strengthening to achieve stronger alloys. This project will study the strengthening mechanisms of aluminium alloys by directly observing how dislocations interact with solute nanostructures. The research will advance our knowledge of dislocation dynamics in precipitation-strengthening alloys, and provide a quantitative method for controlling those nanostructures to achieve higher strength ....A micro-compression study of aluminium alloys: establishing the nanoscale mechanisms of precipitate-induced strengthening to achieve stronger alloys. This project will study the strengthening mechanisms of aluminium alloys by directly observing how dislocations interact with solute nanostructures. The research will advance our knowledge of dislocation dynamics in precipitation-strengthening alloys, and provide a quantitative method for controlling those nanostructures to achieve higher strength alloys.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100059
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
Vacuum induction furnace for casting titanium alloys. This titanium melting facility will provide a level of investment and national strategic focus necessary to sustain Australian competitive advantage in both titanium research and the global titanium market. The facility will support cutting-edge research and support the development of new titanium products.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100156
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$250,000.00
Summary
Advanced Laser Additive Manufacturing System for Extended Applications to Surface Engineering, Direct Manufacturing and New Alloy Development. Advanced laser additive manufacturing system for extended applications to surface engineering, direct manufacturing and new alloy development: This project will provide an advanced laser additive manufacturing system for extended applications. Although the facility was originally designed for forefront additive manufacturing, it enables innovative resear ....Advanced Laser Additive Manufacturing System for Extended Applications to Surface Engineering, Direct Manufacturing and New Alloy Development. Advanced laser additive manufacturing system for extended applications to surface engineering, direct manufacturing and new alloy development: This project will provide an advanced laser additive manufacturing system for extended applications. Although the facility was originally designed for forefront additive manufacturing, it enables innovative research on surface engineering to solve the long standing corrosion and wear problems associated with metal components and to produce biomedical coatings on titanium implants. The facility can also be used to develop high quality alloys, including titanium and magnesium alloys, through an accelerated metallurgy approach, leading to breakthrough progress in metal research. Such alloys are highly desired by automotive and aerospace industries to improve fuel efficiency through weight reduction. Read moreRead less
PRODUCTION OF OPTIMAL MICROSTRUCTURED POLYMER OPTICAL FIBRE. Microstructured optical fibres have been described as the 'next generation' of optical fibres, because of their ability to produce tailorisable optical effects. Our success in producing these fibres in polymer was a world-first. This project will yield a fundamental understanding of the fabrication process, so that for any fibre design the optimal drawing conditions can be determined and maintained for extended draws. This will allow i ....PRODUCTION OF OPTIMAL MICROSTRUCTURED POLYMER OPTICAL FIBRE. Microstructured optical fibres have been described as the 'next generation' of optical fibres, because of their ability to produce tailorisable optical effects. Our success in producing these fibres in polymer was a world-first. This project will yield a fundamental understanding of the fabrication process, so that for any fibre design the optimal drawing conditions can be determined and maintained for extended draws. This will allow improved draw reproducibility and fibre uniformity so that commercial quality fibres can be produced at economic rates. We will establish quantitative relationships between drawing parameters and optical properties, thus developing optimal designs and production processes.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560683
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$321,953.00
Summary
A furnace stack for advanced photovoltaic, photonic and microfabrication applications. Advanced silicon photovoltaic, photonic, optoelectronic and micro-electromechanical devices require state of the art processing equipment for the deposition of thin dielectric films and for controlled doping of the devices. Key techniques include the deposition of stoichiometric and silicon rich silicon nitride and silicon dioxide films, and the controlled wafer doping with boron and phosphorus. A state of the ....A furnace stack for advanced photovoltaic, photonic and microfabrication applications. Advanced silicon photovoltaic, photonic, optoelectronic and micro-electromechanical devices require state of the art processing equipment for the deposition of thin dielectric films and for controlled doping of the devices. Key techniques include the deposition of stoichiometric and silicon rich silicon nitride and silicon dioxide films, and the controlled wafer doping with boron and phosphorus. A state of the art furnace stack is to be procured which will satisfy these requirements on industrially relevant wafer sizes up to 150mm. The equipment will support a broad range of research projects in the above fields, ranging from fundamental investigations to applied research carried out in collaboration with industry partners.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL180100053
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,162,000.00
Summary
Re-discovering liquid metals from core to surface. This project aims to investigate and make new discoveries on the unique properties of liquid metals. Liquid metals have traditionally been used in mining, for switches, barometers, heat transfer units, and coolers and heaters. However, recent discoveries have indicated that liquid metals have untapped potential in applications for creating systems with extraordinary physical and chemical properties. This project will expand our knowledge of liqu ....Re-discovering liquid metals from core to surface. This project aims to investigate and make new discoveries on the unique properties of liquid metals. Liquid metals have traditionally been used in mining, for switches, barometers, heat transfer units, and coolers and heaters. However, recent discoveries have indicated that liquid metals have untapped potential in applications for creating systems with extraordinary physical and chemical properties. This project will expand our knowledge of liquid metals by exploring liquid metals as electron rich solvents and investigating new properties to develop future applications in electronics, optics, catalysts, thermal devices and bio systems.Read moreRead less