Solutions for rapid penetration into sand for offshore energy installations. This project aims to develop a fundamental understanding of the response of saturated sand in seabeds during rapid penetration by offshore site investigation tools and foundation construction. The research is using innovative physical and advanced numerical modelling techniques to quantify the significant increase in sand resistance caused by rapid penetration, enabling reliable design and reducing risk of material fail ....Solutions for rapid penetration into sand for offshore energy installations. This project aims to develop a fundamental understanding of the response of saturated sand in seabeds during rapid penetration by offshore site investigation tools and foundation construction. The research is using innovative physical and advanced numerical modelling techniques to quantify the significant increase in sand resistance caused by rapid penetration, enabling reliable design and reducing risk of material failure associated with the high impact forces. Expected outcomes of the project include a conceptual framework and scientific-based design tool to predict the geotechnical performance of offshore installations. The research will provide the necessary scientific advances to install, moor and service offshore wind and wave energy devices more economically and efficiently.Read moreRead less
Improving the security of anchoring systems under extreme cyclones. This project aims to investigate the behaviour of anchoring systems under cyclonic loading and to innovate anchor designs to improve their security during extreme cyclones. Anchoring systems are increasingly playing the vital role of securing floating structures to extract ocean energies, but the current empirical knowledge and design method hinder confidence in engineering application. This project expects to advance the fundam ....Improving the security of anchoring systems under extreme cyclones. This project aims to investigate the behaviour of anchoring systems under cyclonic loading and to innovate anchor designs to improve their security during extreme cyclones. Anchoring systems are increasingly playing the vital role of securing floating structures to extract ocean energies, but the current empirical knowledge and design method hinder confidence in engineering application. This project expects to advance the fundamental scientific understanding of the geotechnical mechanism of anchors under cyclonic loading using innovative experimental and advanced numerical modelling. Outcomes will include quality first-hand data contributing to the knowledge base, innovative anchor designs and new scientific based design guidelines.Read moreRead less
A direct drive linear tube generator for ocean wave energy conversion. This project aims to investigate a direct drive linear electromagnetic generator system for the maximum wave energy conversion and frequency bandwidth. This system has a translator of a multiple degree of freedom non-linear oscillator system built with the Halbach ring array pattern and ferro-fluid bearings. To establish wave energy conversion science, this project will investigate the device, its integration with a buoy stru ....A direct drive linear tube generator for ocean wave energy conversion. This project aims to investigate a direct drive linear electromagnetic generator system for the maximum wave energy conversion and frequency bandwidth. This system has a translator of a multiple degree of freedom non-linear oscillator system built with the Halbach ring array pattern and ferro-fluid bearings. To establish wave energy conversion science, this project will investigate the device, its integration with a buoy structure under wave loadings and automatic control of power conversion and conditioning. The outcome could meet demands for wave energy conversion technologies that reduce power generation cost and emissions, benefiting the Australian economy and environment.Read moreRead less
Hydrogen carbon waste into concrete: AI assisted nanoscience approach. The carbon waste from hydrogen production will be converted into carbon nanosheets on abundant construction materials for the creation of stronger and more durable concrete. Cutting-edge nanoscience-based experiments, as well as sophisticated modelling techniques including machine learning and finite element modelling, will be employed. The findings will drive advances in clean hydrogen production, carbon waste utilisation, c ....Hydrogen carbon waste into concrete: AI assisted nanoscience approach. The carbon waste from hydrogen production will be converted into carbon nanosheets on abundant construction materials for the creation of stronger and more durable concrete. Cutting-edge nanoscience-based experiments, as well as sophisticated modelling techniques including machine learning and finite element modelling, will be employed. The findings will drive advances in clean hydrogen production, carbon waste utilisation, cement hydration, nanotechnology and concrete technology for the next generation of an upskilled workforce and the promotion of a circular economy. This project will be carried out in collaboration with Australian and international renowned experts in computational modelling, nanomaterials and concrete materials.Read moreRead less
Engineering screw piles to secure offshore wind energy turbines. This project aims to tackle the scientific challenges of using screw piles as foundations for deep water offshore wind turbines. Current foundations for offshore infrastructure developments have reached their limits, and conventional screw piles are designed for land use. This project will use innovative geotechnical methods to develop verified designs, guidelines and numerical tools for predicting the forces required to install sc ....Engineering screw piles to secure offshore wind energy turbines. This project aims to tackle the scientific challenges of using screw piles as foundations for deep water offshore wind turbines. Current foundations for offshore infrastructure developments have reached their limits, and conventional screw piles are designed for land use. This project will use innovative geotechnical methods to develop verified designs, guidelines and numerical tools for predicting the forces required to install screw piles into the seabed and their capacity to resist extreme wind and wave forces relevant to these structures. As foundations cost up to 35% of construction, screw piles will provide significant economic and environmental benefits in reducing costs and unlocking substantial renewable energy from our oceans.Read moreRead less
Lifting objects off the seabed. This project aims to investigate the process of lifting objects off the seabed. Understanding this breakout process is the scientific basis for a variety of offshore applications such as oil and gas decommissioning, marine salvage and securing foundations under extreme storms. This project expects to advance the understanding of soil-fluid-structure interactions of this problem using innovative high-speed photography observations and advanced numerical coupled ana ....Lifting objects off the seabed. This project aims to investigate the process of lifting objects off the seabed. Understanding this breakout process is the scientific basis for a variety of offshore applications such as oil and gas decommissioning, marine salvage and securing foundations under extreme storms. This project expects to advance the understanding of soil-fluid-structure interactions of this problem using innovative high-speed photography observations and advanced numerical coupled analyses. Outcomes will include a numerical tool, verified against a high quality experimental database, to predict the breakout process and uplift required for pressing offshore challenges. The ability for Australia’s engineers to predict lift procedures more accurately will contribute to safer operations in Australian waters and to the more economic harnessing of ocean resources.Read moreRead less
Diamonds – Time Capsules of Ancient Mantle Volatiles and the Key to Dynamic Earth Evolution. This project aims to reconcile the radically different views on the structure of the Earth’s mantle, based on geochemical (mostly noble gas) and geophysical data. This objective will be addressed through innovative noble gas analyses of well-characterised diamond samples, including gem-stones used for previous dating studies. In combination with carbon isotopic results, this information will be used to c ....Diamonds – Time Capsules of Ancient Mantle Volatiles and the Key to Dynamic Earth Evolution. This project aims to reconcile the radically different views on the structure of the Earth’s mantle, based on geochemical (mostly noble gas) and geophysical data. This objective will be addressed through innovative noble gas analyses of well-characterised diamond samples, including gem-stones used for previous dating studies. In combination with carbon isotopic results, this information will be used to constrain the structure and temporal/spatial evolution of the Earth’s mantle. A related outcome will be an improved understanding of the mantle source regions of diamonds and diamond formation.Read moreRead less
Shifting the trend in radical battery research . The project aims to address a growing problem of increasing energy consumption by storing intermittent energy from the sun in affordable and efficient flow batteries. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of materials science and battery research by using innovative theoretical chemistry approaches to studying electrochemical properties of nitroxide radicals in ionic media. The project aims to develop radical organic flow batt ....Shifting the trend in radical battery research . The project aims to address a growing problem of increasing energy consumption by storing intermittent energy from the sun in affordable and efficient flow batteries. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the areas of materials science and battery research by using innovative theoretical chemistry approaches to studying electrochemical properties of nitroxide radicals in ionic media. The project aims to develop radical organic flow batteries by utilising ionic liquids to stabilise radicals. Intended outcomes of the project include improved efficiency of flow batteries that can store energy from widely used solar panels. This should provide significant benefits to Australia’s effort to switch to renewable energy technologies. Read moreRead less
Tracing the impact of urban experimentation in water and energy domains. This proposal aims to investigate how the processes of experimenting with alternative urban infrastructure systems can lead to sustainable urban transformations. Focusing on the urban water and energy sectors, this project expects to generate new cross-sector knowledge regarding the transition dynamics associated with delivering sustainable urban futures. The anticipated outcomes of examining how innovations become mainstre ....Tracing the impact of urban experimentation in water and energy domains. This proposal aims to investigate how the processes of experimenting with alternative urban infrastructure systems can lead to sustainable urban transformations. Focusing on the urban water and energy sectors, this project expects to generate new cross-sector knowledge regarding the transition dynamics associated with delivering sustainable urban futures. The anticipated outcomes of examining how innovations become mainstream include, improved institutional strategies and enhanced policy and program interventions. This work expects to positively impact the value and associated outcomes of government and private investment in innovative urban infrastructures dedicated to advancing sustainable and resilient urban environments.Read moreRead less