Repetitive control systems in networked environments. Repetitive control is used in many industry applications to track periodic references and reject periodic disturbances. The development of digital technology brings in more networked control systems, greatly improving distributed manufacturing, which creates new design challenges due to network-induced constraints such as delay, data packet dropouts and cyber-attacks. This project aims to provide new understanding of dynamic behaviours of rep ....Repetitive control systems in networked environments. Repetitive control is used in many industry applications to track periodic references and reject periodic disturbances. The development of digital technology brings in more networked control systems, greatly improving distributed manufacturing, which creates new design challenges due to network-induced constraints such as delay, data packet dropouts and cyber-attacks. This project aims to provide new understanding of dynamic behaviours of repetitive control systems in networked environments, and develop a new theory for the analysis and design of networked repetitive control, subject to network induced constraints. The new control systems should reduce the cost of automation systems and will significantly enhance their performance, allowing Australian industry to remain economically competitive.Read moreRead less
Quantitative structural health assessment of large membrane-like structures. This project aims to develop a new approach, based on remote sensing and computational modelling, to assess and manage the structural health of large floating covers used for odour control and biogas harvesting to prevent unexpected failures. The project has potential benefits for high-value-added manufacturing and maintenance of these floating covers by Australian industry.
Computerised diffraction tomography for structural health monitoring. Structural health monitoring (SHM) offers the prospect of a quantum gain in performance and efficiency for the design and structural integrity management of high-value assets (e.g. aircraft). The aims of this project are to develop and validate efficient computational tools for:
(i) Characterising the scattering of the Lamb waves by defects or boundaries, and
(ii) Implementing robust and versatile approaches to tomographic i ....Computerised diffraction tomography for structural health monitoring. Structural health monitoring (SHM) offers the prospect of a quantum gain in performance and efficiency for the design and structural integrity management of high-value assets (e.g. aircraft). The aims of this project are to develop and validate efficient computational tools for:
(i) Characterising the scattering of the Lamb waves by defects or boundaries, and
(ii) Implementing robust and versatile approaches to tomographic imaging of laminar defects or damage from experimental/synthetic scattered field data.
This project will result in the development of a validated and versatile SHM system for quantifying damage that is analogous to computerised tomography in medical imaging.Read moreRead less
Life Extension of Equipment Suffering Environmentally-Assisted Cracking: An Innovative Approach to Mitigation by Engineering of Materials in Service. Environmentally-assisted cracking (EAC) represents a serious threat to infrastructure exposed to caustic and chloride environments in process, marine, energy and chemical industries in Australia. Despite extensive research, there is no consensus mechanism for EAC. This project will investigate a fresh approach to life extension of in-service equipm ....Life Extension of Equipment Suffering Environmentally-Assisted Cracking: An Innovative Approach to Mitigation by Engineering of Materials in Service. Environmentally-assisted cracking (EAC) represents a serious threat to infrastructure exposed to caustic and chloride environments in process, marine, energy and chemical industries in Australia. Despite extensive research, there is no consensus mechanism for EAC. This project will investigate a fresh approach to life extension of in-service equipment suffering EAC, by developing and testing a mitigation measure reasonably independent of the EAC mechanisms. The task includes development of a consolidated strategy based on: accurate determination of the fundamental parameters for crack propagation, and in-situ thermomechnical treatment for local manipulation of material at and ahead of crack-tip, in order to retard/stop crack propagation.Read moreRead less
DETERMINATION OF SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ENVIRONMENTALLY-ASSISTED CRACKING OF SMALL AND MICROSTRUCTURALLY VARIED REGIONS WHILE MAINTAINING FRACTURE MECHANICS VALIDITY. The proposed work seeks to develop an improved tool for more accurate design data and improved materials selection criteria for critical equipment and infrastructure maintenance in major Australian industries, where environmentally-assisted cracking is a serious concern (viz., marine, polymer/chemical processing, aeronautical, alumina m ....DETERMINATION OF SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ENVIRONMENTALLY-ASSISTED CRACKING OF SMALL AND MICROSTRUCTURALLY VARIED REGIONS WHILE MAINTAINING FRACTURE MECHANICS VALIDITY. The proposed work seeks to develop an improved tool for more accurate design data and improved materials selection criteria for critical equipment and infrastructure maintenance in major Australian industries, where environmentally-assisted cracking is a serious concern (viz., marine, polymer/chemical processing, aeronautical, alumina mineral processing and pulp-and-paper). A successful validation of the novel testing approach (namely, Spiral Notch Torsion Test (SNTT)) for evaluating the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility of materials of practical interest that are difficult or impossible to adequately characterize by conventional tests, is as much a fundamental research challenge as its accomplishment will be industrially attractive.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100094
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$400,000.00
Summary
Development of a world-class facility for three dimensional dynamic testing. Development of a world-class facility for three dimensional dynamic testing: This project aims to establish a world-class facility for multi-directional dynamic testing. Currently there are no such facilities in Australia. The ability to recreate dynamic motion in all available degrees-of-freedom opens up enormous fields of research not currently possible in Australia. This includes such areas as vibration testing, mate ....Development of a world-class facility for three dimensional dynamic testing. Development of a world-class facility for three dimensional dynamic testing: This project aims to establish a world-class facility for multi-directional dynamic testing. Currently there are no such facilities in Australia. The ability to recreate dynamic motion in all available degrees-of-freedom opens up enormous fields of research not currently possible in Australia. This includes such areas as vibration testing, materials testing, biomechanics and human factors, blast and earthquake simulations, field robotics, automotive safety research, flight/vehicle simulation, and marine applications including sloshing of liquids and liquefaction of fines. In conjunction with a 3D laser doppler system this facility will be unique in the world for dynamic mechanical testing.Read moreRead less
Low emission, Gas Turbine Air Compressor (GTAC) demonstrator. Compressed air production consumes a significant portion of electricity generated world-wide. The fragility of power infrastructure in many developed countries, and the growing Chinese economy, has created very large markets for compressed air plants that run off Diesel and natural gas fuels. Australia's reliance on coal introduces the added greenhouse incentive of reduced electricity use.
This project will demonstrate a novel air ....Low emission, Gas Turbine Air Compressor (GTAC) demonstrator. Compressed air production consumes a significant portion of electricity generated world-wide. The fragility of power infrastructure in many developed countries, and the growing Chinese economy, has created very large markets for compressed air plants that run off Diesel and natural gas fuels. Australia's reliance on coal introduces the added greenhouse incentive of reduced electricity use.
This project will demonstrate a novel air compressor concept that features a natural gas fuelled micro-gas turbine. This device is expected to have comparable thermal efficiency to other air compressors, but with very significantly reduced greenhouse and overall emissions, much quieter operation, lower cost and increased device compactness.
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Characterisation and Mitigation of Caustic Cracking: A Safety and Maintenance Concern in Alumina and Pulp-and-Paper Processing. Extraction of alumina from mineral bauxite (Bayer process) and pulp-and-paper processing (Kraft process) are major industries in Australia. Cracking of reaction vessels, digesters, cleaning tanks and pipework are major concern for plant integrity, occupational health, safety and environment. Caustic cracking is often the first suspect when a failure occurs. The propose ....Characterisation and Mitigation of Caustic Cracking: A Safety and Maintenance Concern in Alumina and Pulp-and-Paper Processing. Extraction of alumina from mineral bauxite (Bayer process) and pulp-and-paper processing (Kraft process) are major industries in Australia. Cracking of reaction vessels, digesters, cleaning tanks and pipework are major concern for plant integrity, occupational health, safety and environment. Caustic cracking is often the first suspect when a failure occurs. The proposed program will investigate the role of critical impurities and additives, temperature and stress fluctuations in caustic cracking of mild steel and their weldments (known to be most susceptible). This project will also develop an intellectual and infrastructural base that will also be a vital resource for several Australian industries where such cracking is a major concern.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102906
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Topology optimisation for advanced engineered nanostructures. Advanced technological innovation requires extraordinary material properties, which can be generated directly from engineered nanostructures by manipulating surface plasmon resonances. The project will develop a new computational method for nanostructural design and expect to benefit aerospace, biomedical, optical and energy engineering fields.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130101046
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Ecotoxicology-on-a-chip: towards smart devices in environmental biomonitoring. High-throughput water quality monitoring is of great importance to the wellbeing of Australian society. The project will address this issue by developing new economical miniaturised biocybernetic instrumentation, designed for use by non-specialists and thus applicable for governmental, industrial and community projects.