Novel wave energy foundation solutions to survive extreme loads. This project aims to develop an economic and efficient anchoring system for taut-moored wave energy converters to enable us to exploit sustainable wave energy resources. Australia’s potential near-shore wave energy resource is four times larger than the current total capacity of our installed power generation. But the development of ocean wave energy is presently hampered by expensive, traditional anchoring systems. Using better es ....Novel wave energy foundation solutions to survive extreme loads. This project aims to develop an economic and efficient anchoring system for taut-moored wave energy converters to enable us to exploit sustainable wave energy resources. Australia’s potential near-shore wave energy resource is four times larger than the current total capacity of our installed power generation. But the development of ocean wave energy is presently hampered by expensive, traditional anchoring systems. Using better estimation of extreme loads, the project will use multidisciplinary approaches to investigate unique anchoring concepts with the aim of developing novel strategies to avoid the most extreme loads and enabling optimum anchor design. The outcomes of the project are intended to help to deliver economically viable wave energy projects.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100119
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Unlocking the changing strength of fine-grained soils in numerical analyses. This project aims to numerically simulate strain-softening-hardening in fine-grained soils. Fine-grained soils soften during deformation and harden as excess pore pressures dissipate. Models exist that allow strain-softening and hardening in finite element simulations, but suffer from mesh-dependency. Regularisation methods can alleviate mesh-dependency, but an appropriate characteristic length for the regularisation is ....Unlocking the changing strength of fine-grained soils in numerical analyses. This project aims to numerically simulate strain-softening-hardening in fine-grained soils. Fine-grained soils soften during deformation and harden as excess pore pressures dissipate. Models exist that allow strain-softening and hardening in finite element simulations, but suffer from mesh-dependency. Regularisation methods can alleviate mesh-dependency, but an appropriate characteristic length for the regularisation is needed and difficult to determine. This project will use image-based soil deformation measurement and aspects of the finite element method to determine appropriate regularisation techniques, characteristic lengths and constitutive relations. Reliably modelling strain-softening and hardening in finite element simulations is expected to reduce uncertainty in design and make civil infrastructure cheaper.Read moreRead less
Development of advanced deterioration model for the design of stabilised pavement bases. The Australian road network is a lifeline infrastructure that underpins the nation's living standards and economy. Much of these roads have deteriorated and require rehabilitation to get a new lease of life. This project intends to develop advanced methods to extend the lives of these pavements using in-situ recycling of old pavement materials.
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC170100006
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,937,625.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Advanced Technologies in Rail Track Infrastructure. The ARC Training Centre for Advanced Technologies in Rail Track Infrastructure aims to transform Australia’s rail construction and maintenance technologies through specialist training of industry-focused researchers. Generation of new knowledge and close collaboration with companies within the rail supply chain will result in enhanced rail capacity and supply chain efficiency across the rail network. This will include in ....ARC Training Centre for Advanced Technologies in Rail Track Infrastructure. The ARC Training Centre for Advanced Technologies in Rail Track Infrastructure aims to transform Australia’s rail construction and maintenance technologies through specialist training of industry-focused researchers. Generation of new knowledge and close collaboration with companies within the rail supply chain will result in enhanced rail capacity and supply chain efficiency across the rail network. This will include increased axle loads and higher speeds, greater safety margins, reduced construction and maintenance costs, and a body of competent railway professionals in the nation’s work force.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100010
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$900,000.00
Summary
National Facility for Cyclic Testing of High-speed Rail (FCTHSR). National facility for cyclic testing of high-speed rail: Frontier technologies in rail transport demand access to state-of-the-art testing facilities for track modelling. The proposed national Facility for Cyclic Testing of High-Speed Rail (FCTHSR) is internationally a first-of-its-kind and it will be designed and built in-house for examining an array of Australian ground conditions and integrated track components. This unique fac ....National Facility for Cyclic Testing of High-speed Rail (FCTHSR). National facility for cyclic testing of high-speed rail: Frontier technologies in rail transport demand access to state-of-the-art testing facilities for track modelling. The proposed national Facility for Cyclic Testing of High-Speed Rail (FCTHSR) is internationally a first-of-its-kind and it will be designed and built in-house for examining an array of Australian ground conditions and integrated track components. This unique facility will offer a national and international hub for industry-driven research and consulting. The project outcomes will propel more Australian researchers to be among the world-leaders of rail technologies providing better solutions to challenging track environments. Prototype testing will ensure safer and cost-effective track designs.Read moreRead less
Performance, Evaluation, and Enhancement of Hydrated Cement Treated Crushed Rock Base (HCTCRB) as a Road Base Material for Western Australian Roads. The development of knowledge of HCTCRB, an advanced material in the pavement engineering discipline, will underpin growth in the highway and road construction industry. The key outcomes of this study will enhance and change highway and road organisations, contractors, engineers and others interested in the use and design of pavement materials. This ....Performance, Evaluation, and Enhancement of Hydrated Cement Treated Crushed Rock Base (HCTCRB) as a Road Base Material for Western Australian Roads. The development of knowledge of HCTCRB, an advanced material in the pavement engineering discipline, will underpin growth in the highway and road construction industry. The key outcomes of this study will enhance and change highway and road organisations, contractors, engineers and others interested in the use and design of pavement materials. This is particularly so in light of the recent change to a new era of analytical approaches, rather than the empirical approach of the past. When the outcomes of this project are applied, they will result in an improvement in overall road and highway quality. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100130
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,000.00
Summary
An earthquake shaking table to investigate soil-structure interactions. An earthquake shaking table to investigate soil-structure interactions: This project aims to develop Australia's most advanced earthquake shaking table. Earthquakes are a problem of great significance to Australia. Infrastructure in civil, transport, mining and energy sectors may be at an unacceptable risk of damage under earthquake loading as current design practices do not account for the interaction between infrastructure ....An earthquake shaking table to investigate soil-structure interactions. An earthquake shaking table to investigate soil-structure interactions: This project aims to develop Australia's most advanced earthquake shaking table. Earthquakes are a problem of great significance to Australia. Infrastructure in civil, transport, mining and energy sectors may be at an unacceptable risk of damage under earthquake loading as current design practices do not account for the interaction between infrastructure and the ground under such loading. The shaking table will simulate earthquakes and enable controlled testing of three-tonne models of foundation and soil-structure interaction systems typical of Australia's infrastructure. The discoveries made are expected to be integral to the modernisation of Australia's seismic design standards so that earthquake-induced damage and risk exposure can be minimised.Read moreRead less
Understanding vibratory piles in sand: installation and lateral response. This project aims to address uncertainties in the design of vibro-driven piles. This promising alternative to impact-driven piles offers faster installation and requires no noise mitigation. The project expects to generate new knowledge of the effect of the installation process in sand on in-service pile response by integrating findings from innovative experiments and numerical modelling. This is particularly important for ....Understanding vibratory piles in sand: installation and lateral response. This project aims to address uncertainties in the design of vibro-driven piles. This promising alternative to impact-driven piles offers faster installation and requires no noise mitigation. The project expects to generate new knowledge of the effect of the installation process in sand on in-service pile response by integrating findings from innovative experiments and numerical modelling. This is particularly important for highly sensitive structures such as offshore wind turbines, which provide a rapidly increasing share of global energy supply. Expected outcomes include practical recommendations for vibro-piles in sand. This should provide sizeable benefits by unlocking vibro-piles as a viable method to reduce offshore wind farm costs.Read moreRead less
Design guideline for suction caissons supporting offshore wind turbines. This project aims to develop an industry guideline for suction caisson foundations, that are a new form of fixed platform anchor, for offshore wind turbines. The project expects to generate new knowledge of caisson response during installation and over millions of wind/wave load cycles, by integrating field experience with measurements from innovative experiments. The expected outcomes of this project include new methods to ....Design guideline for suction caissons supporting offshore wind turbines. This project aims to develop an industry guideline for suction caisson foundations, that are a new form of fixed platform anchor, for offshore wind turbines. The project expects to generate new knowledge of caisson response during installation and over millions of wind/wave load cycles, by integrating field experience with measurements from innovative experiments. The expected outcomes of this project include new methods to guide suction installation in difficult soil layering and predicting rotation and stiffness over a turbine’s operational life. The benefits of these scientific advances will contribute to the economic and reliable design of suction caisson foundations and a more rapid take-up of offshore wind energy.Read moreRead less