Degradation mechanisms of structural composites under extreme weather. The changing weather patterns and increasing solar radiation in Australia have greatly impacted the durability of construction materials and caused substantial damage to critical infrastructure. This project aims to understand the synergistic effects of different environmental conditions on the degradation mechanisms of advanced polymer composites and to develop new models on the long-term performance for these materials. Thi ....Degradation mechanisms of structural composites under extreme weather. The changing weather patterns and increasing solar radiation in Australia have greatly impacted the durability of construction materials and caused substantial damage to critical infrastructure. This project aims to understand the synergistic effects of different environmental conditions on the degradation mechanisms of advanced polymer composites and to develop new models on the long-term performance for these materials. This project expects to generate new knowledge on polymer composites incorporating new classes of fibres, resin systems, and functional fillers. Expected outcomes include the discovery of new composite technologies for the longevity of Australian infrastructure - crucial to our economic prosperity and quality of life.
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Orthogonal Sensing Strategies for Soft Sensors to Discern Multiple Stimuli . The project seeks to create new orthogonal sensing technologies that enable a single soft sensor to detect multiple mechanical and thermal stimuli, overcoming the challenge of cross-talk between stimuli. The project expects to generate new knowledge of orthogonal sensing mechanisms and the effects of microstructure designs. The expected outcomes include novel soft sensors capable of accurately detecting pressure, stretc ....Orthogonal Sensing Strategies for Soft Sensors to Discern Multiple Stimuli . The project seeks to create new orthogonal sensing technologies that enable a single soft sensor to detect multiple mechanical and thermal stimuli, overcoming the challenge of cross-talk between stimuli. The project expects to generate new knowledge of orthogonal sensing mechanisms and the effects of microstructure designs. The expected outcomes include novel soft sensors capable of accurately detecting pressure, stretch, shear, and temperature simultaneously. The new technologies are expected to support Australian companies in developing, producing and exporting sensors for soft robots and wearable devices for health monitoring, an area recognized as a key priority by the Federal Government’s Industry Growth Centres.Read moreRead less
Bioinspired Ceramifiable Fire-Retardant Composite Coatings. This project aims to design bioinspired, adhesive, ceramifiable fire-retardant coatings through understanding their composition-property relationship and fire-retardant mechanism. The fire-retardant coatings are then applied to typical polymer foams to create fire-safe building thermal insulation materials. This project will generate new knowledge in materials science that helps to expedite next-generation advanced fire-retardant coatin ....Bioinspired Ceramifiable Fire-Retardant Composite Coatings. This project aims to design bioinspired, adhesive, ceramifiable fire-retardant coatings through understanding their composition-property relationship and fire-retardant mechanism. The fire-retardant coatings are then applied to typical polymer foams to create fire-safe building thermal insulation materials. This project will generate new knowledge in materials science that helps to expedite next-generation advanced fire-retardant coatings for a variety of flammable substrates. Expected outcomes of this project are cost-effective fire-retardant coatings and fire-safe, inexpensive thermal insulation materials. This project will bring significant economic benefits to Australia and help to create fire-resilient and energy-efficient buildings.Read moreRead less
Harmonic analysis of Laplacians in curved spaces. Harmonic Analysis is a branch of mathematics which is interrelated to other fields of mathematics like complex analysis, number theory and partial differential equations (pdes) with many applications in engineering and technology. This project aims to solve a number of difficult fundamental problems at the frontier of harmonic analysis in understanding Laplacians in curved spaces. Such Laplacians control the propagation of heat and waves on manif ....Harmonic analysis of Laplacians in curved spaces. Harmonic Analysis is a branch of mathematics which is interrelated to other fields of mathematics like complex analysis, number theory and partial differential equations (pdes) with many applications in engineering and technology. This project aims to solve a number of difficult fundamental problems at the frontier of harmonic analysis in understanding Laplacians in curved spaces. Such Laplacians control the propagation of heat and waves on manifolds and Lie groups, arising in mathematical physics and quantum mechanics. Expected outcomes are the solutions of dispersive equations and the framework of singular integrals in curved spaces; new ideas and techniques in harmonic analysis developed; and training of Australian future mathematicians.Read moreRead less
Real groups, Hodge theory, and the Langlands program. This mathematics project aims to settle open questions in real groups. The real groups are the fundamental symmetries occurring in nature and are important both in number theory and in the physical sciences. In particular, this project aims to reach a comprehensive understanding of Langlands duality for real groups, investigate how Hodge theory can be used to describe the unitary dual, and investigate the micro-local structure of systems of d ....Real groups, Hodge theory, and the Langlands program. This mathematics project aims to settle open questions in real groups. The real groups are the fundamental symmetries occurring in nature and are important both in number theory and in the physical sciences. In particular, this project aims to reach a comprehensive understanding of Langlands duality for real groups, investigate how Hodge theory can be used to describe the unitary dual, and investigate the micro-local structure of systems of differential equations. Potential benefits include increasing the international stature of mathematics in Australia and improving the quality of the workforce.Read moreRead less
Carbon fibre thermoplastics as next-generation carbon fibre composites. By combining sizing, chemical grafting, and nano-reinforcement strategies, this project develops chemically and thermally robust thermoplastic interfacial sizing for carbon fiber/thermoplastic composites for rapid manufacturing. Thermostamped carbon fiber/thermoplastic composite prototypes will be used to verify the sizing. In order to demonstrate industrial viability, recyclability and reprocessability analyses will be cond ....Carbon fibre thermoplastics as next-generation carbon fibre composites. By combining sizing, chemical grafting, and nano-reinforcement strategies, this project develops chemically and thermally robust thermoplastic interfacial sizing for carbon fiber/thermoplastic composites for rapid manufacturing. Thermostamped carbon fiber/thermoplastic composite prototypes will be used to verify the sizing. In order to demonstrate industrial viability, recyclability and reprocessability analyses will be conducted. This sizing method can enable high-performance thermoplastic composites in nonaerospace applications with its atomistic level modelling and comprehensive characterisation routine. A key objective of this study is to produce sustainably manufactured composite materials that are also commercially relevant.Read moreRead less
Metallic materials with combined chemical and structural heterogeneities. This project aims to explore how combined spatial gradients in composition and microstructure affect the mechanical properties of metallic materials. Manipulation of composition and microstructure has been widely used to strengthen materials but this often deteriorates the ductility. The trade-off could be overcome through the introduction of gradient structures because the variations in both composition and microstructure ....Metallic materials with combined chemical and structural heterogeneities. This project aims to explore how combined spatial gradients in composition and microstructure affect the mechanical properties of metallic materials. Manipulation of composition and microstructure has been widely used to strengthen materials but this often deteriorates the ductility. The trade-off could be overcome through the introduction of gradient structures because the variations in both composition and microstructure would trigger simultaneous activation of multiple deformation mechanisms. This project is expected to provide guidance in the design of gradient metallic structures with optimum mechanical properties, which will significantly benefit Australian metallurgical and related industries.Read moreRead less
Bioinspired Flexible Haptic Memory Materials for Artificial Sensory Nerves. This project aims to develop next generation haptic memory materials for the applications of artificial sensory nerves, which can precisely detect, process and respond to mechanical stimuli. The project expects to achieve this aim by mimicking the functions of biological haptic memory system and integrating highly sensitive tactile sensors and synaptic devices into artificial sensory nerves. The anticipated outcomes wil ....Bioinspired Flexible Haptic Memory Materials for Artificial Sensory Nerves. This project aims to develop next generation haptic memory materials for the applications of artificial sensory nerves, which can precisely detect, process and respond to mechanical stimuli. The project expects to achieve this aim by mimicking the functions of biological haptic memory system and integrating highly sensitive tactile sensors and synaptic devices into artificial sensory nerves. The anticipated outcomes will be new electronic materials for a wide range of end uses in next-generation flexible sensor technologies including healthcare monitoring devices, intelligent soft robotic systems and neural prosthetics.Read moreRead less
Unlocking the ion selectivity of lithium superionic conductor membranes. This project aims to address a longstanding challenge in designing advanced membranes to enable sustainable lithium refining by unlocking the ion selectivity of lithium superionic conductors. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of membrane science and emerging nanoionics by using interdisciplinary approaches. Expected outcomes of this project include a novel class of lithium separation membranes and ....Unlocking the ion selectivity of lithium superionic conductor membranes. This project aims to address a longstanding challenge in designing advanced membranes to enable sustainable lithium refining by unlocking the ion selectivity of lithium superionic conductors. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of membrane science and emerging nanoionics by using interdisciplinary approaches. Expected outcomes of this project include a novel class of lithium separation membranes and their fabrication techniques. This should provide significant benefits in improving lithium extraction and recycling efficiency, reducing their environmental impact and building the research capacity in advanced membrane manufacturing and critical mineral refining in Australia. Read moreRead less
Novel multiscale fibre composites for cryogenic space technologies. This project aims to develop new composite materials technologies for cryogenic space applications. Multifunctional nanomaterials with negative thermal expansion properties will be developed to simultaneously reduce thermal stress and improve fracture toughness, suppressing microcracking of fibre composites observed in current materials at cryogenic temperatures. New interleaves will be developed to act as gas barriers and provi ....Novel multiscale fibre composites for cryogenic space technologies. This project aims to develop new composite materials technologies for cryogenic space applications. Multifunctional nanomaterials with negative thermal expansion properties will be developed to simultaneously reduce thermal stress and improve fracture toughness, suppressing microcracking of fibre composites observed in current materials at cryogenic temperatures. New interleaves will be developed to act as gas barriers and provide strength. The composites will provide a new lightweight solution for storing cryogenic propellants such as liquid hydrogen and oxygen, for the next generation re-usable spacecraft. The outcomes of this project will enable Australian companies to produce and export specialised, high-performance composite products.Read moreRead less