Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170101502
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Life cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emissions for road infrastructure. This project aims to develop an assessment model to accurately measure greenhouse gas emissions that roads generate over their life cycle. The project will integrate recent methodological developments and practical advances from road construction and maintenance into its proposed assessment model. The expected outcome will be an assessment model and mapping tool which will visualise emissions levels and better map these e ....Life cycle assessment of greenhouse gas emissions for road infrastructure. This project aims to develop an assessment model to accurately measure greenhouse gas emissions that roads generate over their life cycle. The project will integrate recent methodological developments and practical advances from road construction and maintenance into its proposed assessment model. The expected outcome will be an assessment model and mapping tool which will visualise emissions levels and better map these emissions into the cost-benefit analysis of roads. This will make greenhouse gas reduction more effective and cheaper, and make the Australian infrastructure sector more competitive.Read moreRead less
Thermal-induced unilateral plate buckling of concrete pavements: design and evaluation. The project addresses the upheaval buckling of concrete pavements, which is caused by increasingly frequent heat spells. It will consider both the vulnerability assessment of existing pavements, and the design of new pavements made from low-carbon geopolymer concretes (which are lighter than conventional pavements) against upheaval buckling.
Composite steel-timber structural system. This project aims to deliver a novel composite steel–timber system that alleviates many of the environmental concerns of the industry, while improving efficiency by using lighter materials. It aims to develop a unique composite system comprised of steel I-section beams and prefabricated timber slabs, with shear connection being provided by bolting or screws. The project plans to assess the structural system experimentally and numerically, and to craft gu ....Composite steel-timber structural system. This project aims to deliver a novel composite steel–timber system that alleviates many of the environmental concerns of the industry, while improving efficiency by using lighter materials. It aims to develop a unique composite system comprised of steel I-section beams and prefabricated timber slabs, with shear connection being provided by bolting or screws. The project plans to assess the structural system experimentally and numerically, and to craft guidelines for the safe and efficient design of these members. The novel lightweight composite system would enhance the speed of construction, allow for deconstructability and reuse and, because plantation timber sequestrates carbon dioxide, have a low carbon footprint.Read moreRead less
An innovative mechanism for optimising freeway traffic efficiency, safety, and sustainability via variable speed limit control. Congestion, safety, and emissions are three major traffic problems threatening the Australian economy. This project aims to develop a novel approach to collectively handle these problems for freeway traffic using variable speed limits (VSL). The project tasks address modelling, VSL controller design and automatic fine tuning of VSL controllers.
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL100100063
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,423,222.00
Summary
An Innovative and Advanced Systems Approach for Full Life-Cycle, Low-Emissions Composite and Hybrid Building Infrastructure. This project will develop a 'green' sustainable composite steel-concrete building frame system that reduces greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life-cycle of building construction, usage and deconstruction. It will eliminate the use of ordinary Portland cement, which is a major carbon dioxide producer, by using geopolymer concrete made from fly-ash, and will use econom ....An Innovative and Advanced Systems Approach for Full Life-Cycle, Low-Emissions Composite and Hybrid Building Infrastructure. This project will develop a 'green' sustainable composite steel-concrete building frame system that reduces greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life-cycle of building construction, usage and deconstruction. It will eliminate the use of ordinary Portland cement, which is a major carbon dioxide producer, by using geopolymer concrete made from fly-ash, and will use economic thin-walled, high-strength steel sections. Deconstructability is provided through bolted joints and by using tensioned bolts as shear connectors between the steel skeleton and concrete flooring. This project is underpinned by the extensive background of the candidate, and provides a very timely solution to a major contemporary engineering challenge facing Australia.Read moreRead less
Functionally graded modelling of geopolymer and Portland cement concretes. This project aims to investigate why geopolymer concretes crack less than the Portland cement concretes. Carbon emissions from Portland cement is second only to fossil fuels. Geopolymer may emit less carbon dioxide than Portland cement concrete because it bleeds less and has higher creep. The project will test this hypothesis on geopolymer and Portland cement concretes, and emulate its findings in all types of concretes. ....Functionally graded modelling of geopolymer and Portland cement concretes. This project aims to investigate why geopolymer concretes crack less than the Portland cement concretes. Carbon emissions from Portland cement is second only to fossil fuels. Geopolymer may emit less carbon dioxide than Portland cement concrete because it bleeds less and has higher creep. The project will test this hypothesis on geopolymer and Portland cement concretes, and emulate its findings in all types of concretes. The project intends to create a specific market for geopolymer by developing a crack-free pavement and floors technology, while understanding cracking in concrete will reduce cracking issues.Read moreRead less
Foundation systems for reactive soils using scarification and screw piles. This project will investigate the use of soil scarification, in combination with screw piles, as a reliable option for light-weight foundations on damaging reactive (expansive) clay soils. It will validate an innovative foundation alternative that will result in significant cost savings for residential foundations on reactive soil.
Composite Structures of High-Strength Steel and Concrete. This project plans to investigate the use in building frames of composite steel-concrete members that use high-strength steel (HSS) instead of mild steel (MS). HSS is finding increased use in construction, and HSS has a much greater strength-to-weight ratio than MS, leading to lighter composite structures, less material usage and smaller foundations. Overall, this reduces the cost and carbon footprint of steel-framed buildings. The invest ....Composite Structures of High-Strength Steel and Concrete. This project plans to investigate the use in building frames of composite steel-concrete members that use high-strength steel (HSS) instead of mild steel (MS). HSS is finding increased use in construction, and HSS has a much greater strength-to-weight ratio than MS, leading to lighter composite structures, less material usage and smaller foundations. Overall, this reduces the cost and carbon footprint of steel-framed buildings. The investigation is planned to involve physical testing, numerical studies, developing structural models and crafting design guidance for T-beams, columns and joints. The major intended outcome of the project is design guidance that will support the expanded use of HSS.Read moreRead less
Modelling and testing corroding reinforced concrete structures. The project aims to develop models and methods to enable the early detection of active steel corrosion. Most of Australia’s critical infrastructure is located on or near the coast in high saline conditions and is exposed to a high risk of reinforcing steel corrosion. Our ability to design and monitor such structures is crucial. The first part of the project aims to develop an innovative finite element model to improve the prediction ....Modelling and testing corroding reinforced concrete structures. The project aims to develop models and methods to enable the early detection of active steel corrosion. Most of Australia’s critical infrastructure is located on or near the coast in high saline conditions and is exposed to a high risk of reinforcing steel corrosion. Our ability to design and monitor such structures is crucial. The first part of the project aims to develop an innovative finite element model to improve the prediction of both active steel reinforcement corrosion and the time to concrete cracking in a chloride environment. It then plans to develop a non-destructive method, combining ultrasonic waves-based technology and acoustic emission, to detect active steel corrosion before any damage is visible on the structure.Read moreRead less
Three-dimensional printing of structures using fibre reinforced geopolymer concrete. This project aims to investigate geopolymer binders for cement. Three-dimensional printing using concrete can eliminate expensive formwork but is hampered by a lack of underpinning theoretical material and structural research. Conventional Portland cement’s setting characteristics limit its use for three-dimensional (3D) printing. The project will develop a theoretical framework for the structural properties of ....Three-dimensional printing of structures using fibre reinforced geopolymer concrete. This project aims to investigate geopolymer binders for cement. Three-dimensional printing using concrete can eliminate expensive formwork but is hampered by a lack of underpinning theoretical material and structural research. Conventional Portland cement’s setting characteristics limit its use for three-dimensional (3D) printing. The project will develop a theoretical framework for the structural properties of the 3D printed concrete and flow of geopolymer binder through aggregate bed, and design a fibre reinforcement system. This project is expected to improve construction, reduce injury rates and create high-end technology-based jobs.Read moreRead less