Barriers for cost - effective rock fall hazard mitigation. Rock fall barriers are used throughout Australia to protect its extensive road and rail networks. These networks are vital links in the nation's infrastructure and underpin its economic prosperity and development. There are thousands of cuttings on Australia' transport networks, many of which have the potential to be affected by rock falls. These events can take lives and severely disrupt the performance of our transport infrastructure. ....Barriers for cost - effective rock fall hazard mitigation. Rock fall barriers are used throughout Australia to protect its extensive road and rail networks. These networks are vital links in the nation's infrastructure and underpin its economic prosperity and development. There are thousands of cuttings on Australia' transport networks, many of which have the potential to be affected by rock falls. These events can take lives and severely disrupt the performance of our transport infrastructure. This project will develop new cost-effective methods for designing against rock fall events using a combination of advanced testing and computer modelling.Read moreRead less
Influence of tunnelling on pile foundations. The effects of tunnel construction on the behaviour of existing pile foundations will be investigated. In particular, models will be developed to predict the influence of tunnel excavation on the bearing capacity, average settlement, differential settlement and tilt of pile groups and the loads and bending moments induced in the piles of the group and the pile cap. These models will allow rational assessment of the effects on buildings undermined by ....Influence of tunnelling on pile foundations. The effects of tunnel construction on the behaviour of existing pile foundations will be investigated. In particular, models will be developed to predict the influence of tunnel excavation on the bearing capacity, average settlement, differential settlement and tilt of pile groups and the loads and bending moments induced in the piles of the group and the pile cap. These models will allow rational assessment of the effects on buildings undermined by tunnels. This work is significant and timely because of the growing trend to place transport infrastructure underground in many cities of the world.Read moreRead less
New design guidelines and simplified analysis methods for geosynthetic reinforced pile-supported embankments. There is a growing demand in Australia for efficient technologies for soft soils due to increasing infrastructure development on marginal land characterized by soft ground. One such technology that is becoming popular is geosynthetic reinforced pile-supported embankment as it requires less land, construction time and maintenance. The outcomes of this research will lead to cost-effective ....New design guidelines and simplified analysis methods for geosynthetic reinforced pile-supported embankments. There is a growing demand in Australia for efficient technologies for soft soils due to increasing infrastructure development on marginal land characterized by soft ground. One such technology that is becoming popular is geosynthetic reinforced pile-supported embankment as it requires less land, construction time and maintenance. The outcomes of this research will lead to cost-effective and reliable infrastructure design of benefit to the many future infrastructure projects, totalling billions of dollars, planned for Australia. This project will therefore contribute significantly to the sustainability of our environment and increase the international competitiveness and export potential of the Australian construction industry.Read moreRead less
Application of expanded polystyrene (EPS) geofoam and deep cement mixed columns for protection of existing foundations during urban construction. Urban construction activities are increasing in the capital cities of Australia, and the occurrence of new construction activities near existing structures is increasing. The main outcome of this project will provide economic engineering strategies for the protection of buildings during urban construction activities, hence minimising construction relat ....Application of expanded polystyrene (EPS) geofoam and deep cement mixed columns for protection of existing foundations during urban construction. Urban construction activities are increasing in the capital cities of Australia, and the occurrence of new construction activities near existing structures is increasing. The main outcome of this project will provide economic engineering strategies for the protection of buildings during urban construction activities, hence minimising construction related damage, litigation and delays as witnessed recently during Sydney's Lane Cove tunnel collapse. Proposed novel solutions using EPS geofoam and deep cement mixing will significantly increase the international competitiveness and export potential of the Australian construction industry, and improve community confidence in developers and the Engineering profession.Read moreRead less
Characterisation and modelling of structured soils. The aim of this project is to undertake a fundamental study of the mechanical behaviour of structured soils in order to formulate appropriate constitutive models. This work is significant because it will contribute to the progress of soil mechanics as a science, advancing it from the study of reconstituted laboratory soils to that of real soils. The project should ultimately lead to cost savings in many geotechnical engineering practices beca ....Characterisation and modelling of structured soils. The aim of this project is to undertake a fundamental study of the mechanical behaviour of structured soils in order to formulate appropriate constitutive models. This work is significant because it will contribute to the progress of soil mechanics as a science, advancing it from the study of reconstituted laboratory soils to that of real soils. The project should ultimately lead to cost savings in many geotechnical engineering practices because it will provide a better understanding of the response of real soil to loading, and provide greater confidence in predictions of the performance of geotechnical structures.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL0992039
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,860,400.00
Summary
Failure Analysis of Geotechnical Infrastructure. With a forecast public and private sector investment of around 200 billion dollars in Australia's infrastructure over the next five years, there is an unprecedented need to design and build this infrastructure as cheaply and safely as possible. Given the magnitude of the investment involved, even small percentage savings resulting from advanced research will lead to large returns in absolute dollar terms. This project will provide engineers with ....Failure Analysis of Geotechnical Infrastructure. With a forecast public and private sector investment of around 200 billion dollars in Australia's infrastructure over the next five years, there is an unprecedented need to design and build this infrastructure as cheaply and safely as possible. Given the magnitude of the investment involved, even small percentage savings resulting from advanced research will lead to large returns in absolute dollar terms. This project will provide engineers with new and better tools for predicting the safety of geostructures such as roads, railways, tunnels, dams, and port facilities. Moreover, commercialisation of the corresponding software worldwide will provide knowledge transfer from the university sector to industry and generate technology exports.Read moreRead less
Geostructural stability analysis with adaptive mesh refinement. AIMS: To conduct fundamental research on new methods for predicting the stability of geostructures such as tunnels, dams, highways and foundations. To translate this research into innovative computer software and better civil design procedures.
SIGNIFICANCE: Billions of dollars are spent annually on the construction of Australian infrastructure. This project will lead to new algorithms and computer software for designing this inf ....Geostructural stability analysis with adaptive mesh refinement. AIMS: To conduct fundamental research on new methods for predicting the stability of geostructures such as tunnels, dams, highways and foundations. To translate this research into innovative computer software and better civil design procedures.
SIGNIFICANCE: Billions of dollars are spent annually on the construction of Australian infrastructure. This project will lead to new algorithms and computer software for designing this infrastructure. Particular emphasis will be placed on the development of adaptive methods for three-dimensional problems involving complex ground profiles, where current procedures are inadequate.
EXPECTED OUTCOMES: Cutting-edge algorithms and computer software that will lead to cheaper and safer design of civil infrastructure. This will be accompanied by top-level refereed publications and a book.Read moreRead less
Advancement of Vacuum Pressure Application via Prefabricated Vertical Drains for Stabilising Soft Ground. Coastal Australia is under ever increasing pressure from rapid population growth which requires continual capital investment in civil infrastructure, such as road and rail links and large buildings. Many regions have soft compressible clays that present challenges for infrastructure design and construction. The use of vacuum preloading, together with vertical drains for soft soil stabilisati ....Advancement of Vacuum Pressure Application via Prefabricated Vertical Drains for Stabilising Soft Ground. Coastal Australia is under ever increasing pressure from rapid population growth which requires continual capital investment in civil infrastructure, such as road and rail links and large buildings. Many regions have soft compressible clays that present challenges for infrastructure design and construction. The use of vacuum preloading, together with vertical drains for soft soil stabilisation, can reduce construction and maintenance costs, while the increased soil strength will enhance the stability of infrastructure. This project will deliver design guidelines and specifications of enhanced vacuum consolidation application, as well as improving industrial competitiveness and export earnings through increased technology transfer.Read moreRead less
Geotechnical characterisation of compacted ground based on passive ambient noise techniques. The proposed research will provide our local construction and mining industries with a much needed fast and low cost technology for geotechnical investigation of very large sites which is currently not available. The project will help steer Australia to the forefront of ambient noise research for geotechnical site investigation, in the characterisation of unsaturated compacted soil and in the determinati ....Geotechnical characterisation of compacted ground based on passive ambient noise techniques. The proposed research will provide our local construction and mining industries with a much needed fast and low cost technology for geotechnical investigation of very large sites which is currently not available. The project will help steer Australia to the forefront of ambient noise research for geotechnical site investigation, in the characterisation of unsaturated compacted soil and in the determination of dynamic site characteristics which are required for seismic risk assessment. Two postgraduate students will benefit from this research by receiving research training at the highest level and it will also pave the way for exporting the technology developed overseas, particularly to our near neighbours in Asia and the Pacific. Read moreRead less
Effectiveness of prefabricated vertical band drains (PVD) in the stabilisation os soft clays. Stabilisation of structures in low-lying coastal Australia is affected by excessive settlement, low bearing capacity, and high lateral displacement of soft clays upon loading. The use of prefabricated vertical drains (PVD) prior to main construction can ensure pre-compression of soft clays by rapid pore water pressure dissipation, thereby increasing the soil strength and minimising its post construction ....Effectiveness of prefabricated vertical band drains (PVD) in the stabilisation os soft clays. Stabilisation of structures in low-lying coastal Australia is affected by excessive settlement, low bearing capacity, and high lateral displacement of soft clays upon loading. The use of prefabricated vertical drains (PVD) prior to main construction can ensure pre-compression of soft clays by rapid pore water pressure dissipation, thereby increasing the soil strength and minimising its post construction deformation. The main goal is to fully understand the stabilising mechanisms of PVD in soft clay, and to minimise the unfavourable effects of soil disturbances (smear) during installation. Extensive laboratory and field studies plus computer modelling will result in innovative design concepts and enhanced construction practices.Read moreRead less