Intelligent Freeform Bio-fabrication for Customised Anatomical Structures for Reconstructive Surgery. This project contributes towards the ARC priority goal on advanced materials and frontier technologies by developing an intelligent freeform biofabrication facility to produce accurate anatomical biocompatible replica structures and implants for reconstructive surgery. The products, produced from patient's CT or MRI scan data, will contribute to complex surgical procedure planning and patient ed ....Intelligent Freeform Bio-fabrication for Customised Anatomical Structures for Reconstructive Surgery. This project contributes towards the ARC priority goal on advanced materials and frontier technologies by developing an intelligent freeform biofabrication facility to produce accurate anatomical biocompatible replica structures and implants for reconstructive surgery. The products, produced from patient's CT or MRI scan data, will contribute to complex surgical procedure planning and patient education. The proposed facility will be based on multifunctional freeform fabrication process supported by intelligent software tools and database of biocompatible materials. The prospective outcomes are likely to have an excellent commercial and patenting potential that may help Australia become a leader in biomanufacturing technology.Read moreRead less
Transforming drug screening technology. Transforming drug screening technology. This project aims to develop field-leading microchip technology, including the ability to measure contraction of micro-tissues on a chip. Micro-chip technology is in its infancy for use in drug discovery. However, interest in development and applications in Pharma and Biotech industries is immense. The project is intended to take proof-of-concept studies through to the “working model” stage and then to a level of ind ....Transforming drug screening technology. Transforming drug screening technology. This project aims to develop field-leading microchip technology, including the ability to measure contraction of micro-tissues on a chip. Micro-chip technology is in its infancy for use in drug discovery. However, interest in development and applications in Pharma and Biotech industries is immense. The project is intended to take proof-of-concept studies through to the “working model” stage and then to a level of industry-utility, focussing on predictive value, reproducibility and throughput. Successful development of the drug discovery micro-fluidics chip is expected to improve efficiency, reduce the costs and the use of experimental animals.Read moreRead less
Reduced fuel consumption through aerodynamic optimisation and the development of a new fuel consumption model for inter-modal trains in Australia. This project aims to improve intermodal freight train efficiency by developing new experimental and computational analytical techniques leading to aerodynamic optimisation and improved fuel consumption models. The aerodynamics solutions will be widely applicable to other rail and ground transportation modes.
Airports of the Future. This project will enhance the capabilities of Australian airport operators to design and manage complex airport systems. Research outcomes will enable the identification of patterns of behaviour and will provide tools to manage airport effectiveness and balance conflicting security, economic and passenger-driven pressures. Outcomes will improve productivity, enhance capabilities for critical infrastructure protection, and lessen the cost of mandated security, estimated t ....Airports of the Future. This project will enhance the capabilities of Australian airport operators to design and manage complex airport systems. Research outcomes will enable the identification of patterns of behaviour and will provide tools to manage airport effectiveness and balance conflicting security, economic and passenger-driven pressures. Outcomes will improve productivity, enhance capabilities for critical infrastructure protection, and lessen the cost of mandated security, estimated to grow to $152M by 2010 for the five major Australian airports. The deliverables of this project will be transferable to other complex socio-technical systems providing the potential to transform a range of Australian critical infrastructure and transportation hubs.Read moreRead less
Role of Reactive Particles in Explosive Emulsions. Concentrated water-in oil explosive emulsions are widely used in the minerals industry because they are cheap, easily detonated and relatively safe to handle. Their explosive energy can be significantly increased when reactive particles are introduced into the emulsion matrix. To do this, the interaction between the solid, oil, and water phases needs to be optimised. This investigation will increase our basic understanding of the physical and ch ....Role of Reactive Particles in Explosive Emulsions. Concentrated water-in oil explosive emulsions are widely used in the minerals industry because they are cheap, easily detonated and relatively safe to handle. Their explosive energy can be significantly increased when reactive particles are introduced into the emulsion matrix. To do this, the interaction between the solid, oil, and water phases needs to be optimised. This investigation will increase our basic understanding of the physical and chemical interactions that occur between the particle and the oil-water interface, and develop a more efficient explosive that can be produced continuously on a commercial scale.Read moreRead less
Optimizing blood flow in stented arteries: a fluid mechanics approach incorporating optical coherence tomography. Constriction in coronary arterial blood flow is a leading cause of death in Australia. Insertion of stents can rectify this problem but potentially lead to further complications. This project will use medical imaging data to construct computer models to study blood flow and particle motions in coronary arteries and improve stent designs.
Swirling turbulent pipe flow technology for drying brown coal. This project aims to understand the complex fluid mechanicalprocesses in a brown coal drying machine. Brown coal from the Latrobe Valley contains about 70 percent moisture, which must be reduced for it to be used efficiently in power stations. Utilising cutting-edge techniques in laboratory and field measurements together with advanced computational methods in fluid mechanics, the project intends to further knowledge in swirling turb ....Swirling turbulent pipe flow technology for drying brown coal. This project aims to understand the complex fluid mechanicalprocesses in a brown coal drying machine. Brown coal from the Latrobe Valley contains about 70 percent moisture, which must be reduced for it to be used efficiently in power stations. Utilising cutting-edge techniques in laboratory and field measurements together with advanced computational methods in fluid mechanics, the project intends to further knowledge in swirling turbulent flows, particle transport and vortex breakdown. The result of this research is expected to produce a drier brown coal, leading to a cleaner environment and an increase in Australian coal value. Read moreRead less
Optimising haemodynamics in complex stented arteries. This project aims to optimise the hemodynamics (blood flow) in coronary arteries with high curvatures and bifurcations. Experience has shown that the build-up of plaque — and the resulting occlusion of blood flow — tends to occur in these complex arterial regions. The most common therapeutic strategy is the insertion of a stent to prop open the artery. However, the nature of the geometry often leads to post-stenting complications such as rest ....Optimising haemodynamics in complex stented arteries. This project aims to optimise the hemodynamics (blood flow) in coronary arteries with high curvatures and bifurcations. Experience has shown that the build-up of plaque — and the resulting occlusion of blood flow — tends to occur in these complex arterial regions. The most common therapeutic strategy is the insertion of a stent to prop open the artery. However, the nature of the geometry often leads to post-stenting complications such as restenosis and thrombosis, ultimately resulting in negative outcomes. In this project, advanced research methods from fluid dynamics and optimisation and control will be used to potentially minimise these highly undesirable effects.Read moreRead less
Performance enhancement of tidal turbine arrays. Performance enhancement of tidal turbine arrays. This project aims to understand the environmental impact of turbines, by studying how an optimised array of turbines interacts with the downstream turbulent tidal flow. Tidal power could contribute substantially to Australia's Renewable Energy goals. Australia's coastlines produce over 2.4 terajoules of tidal energy, and research into turbine optimisation, array design and environmental impact is ne ....Performance enhancement of tidal turbine arrays. Performance enhancement of tidal turbine arrays. This project aims to understand the environmental impact of turbines, by studying how an optimised array of turbines interacts with the downstream turbulent tidal flow. Tidal power could contribute substantially to Australia's Renewable Energy goals. Australia's coastlines produce over 2.4 terajoules of tidal energy, and research into turbine optimisation, array design and environmental impact is needed to exploit this potential. Fluid dynamics and optimisation researchers will design an improved vertical axis tidal turbine for use in the Torres Strait Islands. This project could improve tidal turbine design and turbine placement designs, and improve understanding of interactions between turbines and the maritime environment.Read moreRead less
Optimal design of controlled aerodynamic bodies: from concept to prototype. This interdisciplinary project will deliver technological advances in the areas of fluid dynamics, control systems and optimisation. It utilises advanced knowledge in these areas to design manoeuvrable aerodynamic bodies and will have a direct effect on Australian defence capability.