Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101489
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$387,220.00
Summary
Micro-mechanical and micro-structural aspects of strength variation in rocks under various loading conditions. Understanding rock failure is of vital interest to researchers and practitioners across a wide range of productive activities, including those of critical importance to the Australian economy such as mining and civil engineering design and contracting. The failure of rocks is a complex function of interactions between pre-existing micro-cracks and loading conditions. This project will d ....Micro-mechanical and micro-structural aspects of strength variation in rocks under various loading conditions. Understanding rock failure is of vital interest to researchers and practitioners across a wide range of productive activities, including those of critical importance to the Australian economy such as mining and civil engineering design and contracting. The failure of rocks is a complex function of interactions between pre-existing micro-cracks and loading conditions. This project will develop a much-needed understanding of the mechanisms leading to rock failure and damage. The project will explore micro and macro-scale mechanisms under both static and cyclic loading conditions. Laboratory testing and micro-analysis will be combined with discrete element modelling to achieve this end.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH150100030
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,577,087.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub to Transform Future Tall Timber Buildings. ARC Research Hub for Advanced Solutions to Transform Tall Timber Buildings. This hub aims to develop skills, knowledge and resources for novel designs of tall timber buildings that incorporate architectural, engineering and sustainability drivers while meeting regulatory constraints. The project aims to develop innovative engineering solutions that address crucial barriers to the use of structural timber in the fast growing and extensiv ....ARC Research Hub to Transform Future Tall Timber Buildings. ARC Research Hub for Advanced Solutions to Transform Tall Timber Buildings. This hub aims to develop skills, knowledge and resources for novel designs of tall timber buildings that incorporate architectural, engineering and sustainability drivers while meeting regulatory constraints. The project aims to develop innovative engineering solutions that address crucial barriers to the use of structural timber in the fast growing and extensive medium-rise tall buildings market where timber is, on many counts, the ideal construction material. It is expected that eliminating these barriers will open a new market for novel technologies and methods generated through this work.Read moreRead less
Performance Characteristics of an Innovative Structural System - Compound Curved Sandwich Shell Structure. An innovative structural system utilising sandwich panel technology and shell action has recently emerged. These aesthetically pleasing curved structures are durable and spacious with fast construction time. They have residential and commercial applications and have attracted considerable local and overseas interest. There are no definitive procedures for their analysis and design and thei ....Performance Characteristics of an Innovative Structural System - Compound Curved Sandwich Shell Structure. An innovative structural system utilising sandwich panel technology and shell action has recently emerged. These aesthetically pleasing curved structures are durable and spacious with fast construction time. They have residential and commercial applications and have attracted considerable local and overseas interest. There are no definitive procedures for their analysis and design and their behaviour is complex involving many variables such as sandwich layer interaction, shape, openings, structural action, etc. This project will generate fundamental knowledge on their behaviour over a range of properties and operating conditions and develop guidelines to ensure safe and economical design, bringing economic benefits to Australia.Read moreRead less
Failure Mechanisms of Roof Cladding under Fluctuating Wind Loads. Wind damage to low-rise buildings cause disruption to communities and result in economic losses. Improvements to the most vulnerable part (i.e. roof) will therefore have national benefits and associated economic benefits. Currently, roofing systems used in cyclonic areas are evaluated to DABM in the Northern Territory and to TR440 elsewhere, requiring the same product be tested under two different (and unsatisfactory) specificat ....Failure Mechanisms of Roof Cladding under Fluctuating Wind Loads. Wind damage to low-rise buildings cause disruption to communities and result in economic losses. Improvements to the most vulnerable part (i.e. roof) will therefore have national benefits and associated economic benefits. Currently, roofing systems used in cyclonic areas are evaluated to DABM in the Northern Territory and to TR440 elsewhere, requiring the same product be tested under two different (and unsatisfactory) specifications. This is due to the limited understanding of wind-induced fatigue of cladding. This project will provide the framework for understanding and minimizing cladding fatigue. A realistic single test will also reduce cost and result in better design systems.Read moreRead less
Understanding the performance of cold-formed steel frame wall systems in fires to design for superior fire resistance. This project will develop new light gauge steel frame (LSF) wall systems with superior fire resistance rating and associated design rules to enable innovative and safe applications of these wall systems in various building applications. This will enable expansion of the worldwide market for LSF wall systems by the industry partner.
Innovative and safe design solutions for aluminium façade systems. This project plans to develop design rules and mullion profiles to support the use of façades using aluminium members with complex shapes. The façade is of great importance to the structural safety, energy efficiency and aesthetics of a building. Commonly used façade systems are made of glass supported by aluminium mullions with complex shapes. Current aluminium design standards do not consider the instability and failures caused ....Innovative and safe design solutions for aluminium façade systems. This project plans to develop design rules and mullion profiles to support the use of façades using aluminium members with complex shapes. The façade is of great importance to the structural safety, energy efficiency and aesthetics of a building. Commonly used façade systems are made of glass supported by aluminium mullions with complex shapes. Current aluminium design standards do not consider the instability and failures caused by wind actions on facades using such complex aluminium members. This project aims to conduct full-scale tests and develop advanced numerical models to resolve several critical problems and identify designs with superior wind resistance. Based on this, the project aims to provide innovative, accurate and safe design rules for the façade engineering profession and building industry.Read moreRead less
Fire resistance of complex light gauge steel framed wall systems. This project aims to investigate the thermal and structural behaviour of high-strength Light gauge Steel Framed (LSF) wall systems when exposed to fire, and develop a generic model for predicting fire resistance levels of all LSF wall systems. Plasterboard-lined LSF walls are increasingly used as cost-effective load-bearing walls in low and mid-rise buildings worldwide. This has required new wall designs with complex steel stud wa ....Fire resistance of complex light gauge steel framed wall systems. This project aims to investigate the thermal and structural behaviour of high-strength Light gauge Steel Framed (LSF) wall systems when exposed to fire, and develop a generic model for predicting fire resistance levels of all LSF wall systems. Plasterboard-lined LSF walls are increasingly used as cost-effective load-bearing walls in low and mid-rise buildings worldwide. This has required new wall designs with complex steel stud wall configurations, but their fire resistance is not understood. This project will provide validated fire resistance data and fire design methods for a proposed national Fire Design Handbook and steel design codes, enabling more widespread, safer use of these walls. This will benefit the Australian steel industry, the construction industry and the community.
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Enhancing the fire and energy ratings of cold-formed steel wall systems. This project intends to develop novel cold-formed light-gauge steel frame (LSF) wall systems with superior fire resistance and energy ratings for use in buildings. LSF systems are increasingly used in homes and offices. The project plans to investigate fundamental thermal, structural and energy performances of LSF walls and their components using experimental and numerical studies. It plans to develop enhanced plasterboards ....Enhancing the fire and energy ratings of cold-formed steel wall systems. This project intends to develop novel cold-formed light-gauge steel frame (LSF) wall systems with superior fire resistance and energy ratings for use in buildings. LSF systems are increasingly used in homes and offices. The project plans to investigate fundamental thermal, structural and energy performances of LSF walls and their components using experimental and numerical studies. It plans to develop enhanced plasterboards, insulations and innovative composite panels using suitable nanomaterials, chemical additives, fillers and phase-change materials and use these with innovative wall configurations to significantly improve the fire and energy performance of LSF walls. The new wall systems may increase occupant comfort and safety, reduce business losses in fires, and lead to low-energy buildings.Read moreRead less
Bearing capacities of innovative LiteSteel beams and their floor systems. This project will develop accurate bearing capacity design models for the new LiteSteel beams (LSB) to enable innovative and safe applications of LSBs in various flooring systems in buildings. Improved LSB floor systems will also be developed. This will enable expansion of the worldwide market for LSB products and systems by the industry partner.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101104
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$330,000.00
Summary
Novel Shelters Using Sheathed Cold–formed Steel Framing Systems. Safe shelters are needed within residential, school and commercial building systems to prevent the loss of lives during natural disasters. This project aims to understand how the fire, cyclone and earthquake resistance of shelters can be increased by using a new cold-formed and rivet fastened hollow flange section as studs and joists within the lightweight steel frame wall, and floor systems with superior configurations that are li ....Novel Shelters Using Sheathed Cold–formed Steel Framing Systems. Safe shelters are needed within residential, school and commercial building systems to prevent the loss of lives during natural disasters. This project aims to understand how the fire, cyclone and earthquake resistance of shelters can be increased by using a new cold-formed and rivet fastened hollow flange section as studs and joists within the lightweight steel frame wall, and floor systems with superior configurations that are lined with thin steel sheet and thermally superior boards. Experimental and numerical studies will be used to enhance our understanding of these novel and more complex systems and develop safer shelter systems at low cost. They can also be used in many other applications based on the emerging modular building concept.Read moreRead less