Development of laser cladding technology to maintain rails in tram networks. This project aims to develop a new cost-effective maintenance technique by applying laser cladding to enhance the characteristics of new rails and track components and repair damaged ones, so as to ensure their structural integrity and improve the performance of rail infrastructure. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of railway maintenance using the innovative and interdisciplinary laser claddin ....Development of laser cladding technology to maintain rails in tram networks. This project aims to develop a new cost-effective maintenance technique by applying laser cladding to enhance the characteristics of new rails and track components and repair damaged ones, so as to ensure their structural integrity and improve the performance of rail infrastructure. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of railway maintenance using the innovative and interdisciplinary laser cladding technology. Expected outcomes of this project are crucial for manufacturers and operators of railway networks to develop and improve their railway maintenance strategies. This should provide significant benefits, such as extending lives of rails and special track components, and reducing wheel squeal and flanging noise.Read moreRead less
Mechanics of the shape of thin strip with varying thickness. This project aims to develop an innovative technology for the production of thin strip with controlled varying longitudinal thickness and shape. The project will propose a new thin strip rolling theory and strip shape control strategy providing an improved understanding of the mechanics of manufacturing thin strips with varying longitudinal thickness. The technology to manufacture rolled products with varying thickness for lightweight ....Mechanics of the shape of thin strip with varying thickness. This project aims to develop an innovative technology for the production of thin strip with controlled varying longitudinal thickness and shape. The project will propose a new thin strip rolling theory and strip shape control strategy providing an improved understanding of the mechanics of manufacturing thin strips with varying longitudinal thickness. The technology to manufacture rolled products with varying thickness for lightweight structures is in significant demand for the automotive, aerospace and electronics industries to reduce weight through optimum strip thickness and minimum joints. The benefits will include reduced weight, fuel consumption and construction time of automobiles and aircraft when the developed novel thin strip products are used, and therefore reducing manufacturing costs and negative environmental impacts.Read moreRead less
Designed to last: novel gradient coatings for extreme environments. Hard coatings are frequently applied to equipment operating in harsh environments. Often such coatings are highly brittle and so fragile under stress, especially at high temperatures or in corrosive environments. Premature failure can affect safety and lead to negative economic and environmental consequences. The objective of this project is to combine bioinspired microstructural design with an emerging alloying concept to produ ....Designed to last: novel gradient coatings for extreme environments. Hard coatings are frequently applied to equipment operating in harsh environments. Often such coatings are highly brittle and so fragile under stress, especially at high temperatures or in corrosive environments. Premature failure can affect safety and lead to negative economic and environmental consequences. The objective of this project is to combine bioinspired microstructural design with an emerging alloying concept to produce a breakthrough in the development of engineering coatings; for example, overcoming the long standing trade-off between hardness and toughness. Such an innovative coating is expected to be highly durable in extreme conditions, and in so doing will help transform manufacturing, mining and desalination industries.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101773
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Ultra-tough coatings via materials engineering . This project aims to develop new generation coatings that combine highly controlled compositions and bio-inspired microstructural characteristics for safety-critical applications. This is made possible through smart materials design, multi-scale modelling and novel fabrication technique. The new coatings are expected to offer exceptionally high toughness underlain by a unique combination of various strengthening modes at multiple length scales. Th ....Ultra-tough coatings via materials engineering . This project aims to develop new generation coatings that combine highly controlled compositions and bio-inspired microstructural characteristics for safety-critical applications. This is made possible through smart materials design, multi-scale modelling and novel fabrication technique. The new coatings are expected to offer exceptionally high toughness underlain by a unique combination of various strengthening modes at multiple length scales. The application of the coatings will enhance the performance and safety of mechanical components in engineering applications, reduce associated costs. In doing so, this project will bring substantial benefits to advanced manufacturing, mining and aerospace sectors. Read moreRead less
New Lead-Free Brass Solutions for Drinking Water Applications. The aim of this Linkage Project is to provide viable material solutions to address the health problem of Lead-contamination in drinking water arising from Leaded-brass plumbing products and the impact Lead-removal from brass will have on the brass industry. In order to achieve this, this project engages leading multidisciplinary researchers along with Australian and international industry partners from across the brass industry suppl ....New Lead-Free Brass Solutions for Drinking Water Applications. The aim of this Linkage Project is to provide viable material solutions to address the health problem of Lead-contamination in drinking water arising from Leaded-brass plumbing products and the impact Lead-removal from brass will have on the brass industry. In order to achieve this, this project engages leading multidisciplinary researchers along with Australian and international industry partners from across the brass industry supply and sales network. This project seeks to identify and harness the key material-product attributes required to develop and implement new, lead-free alloy alternatives that meet health-compliance, production and commercial viability, that offer benefits across the industry network and health benefits to society.Read moreRead less
Net-shape micro manufacturing of composite micro channels. This project aims to develop a high precision net-shape micro manufacturing technology for the production of composite micro channels in a one-step process with excellent overall performance in quality and productivity. The new technology will enhance the production of commercial micro channels which have extensive applications in micro-electromechanical systems, health, medical and communications industries. This project will improve th ....Net-shape micro manufacturing of composite micro channels. This project aims to develop a high precision net-shape micro manufacturing technology for the production of composite micro channels in a one-step process with excellent overall performance in quality and productivity. The new technology will enhance the production of commercial micro channels which have extensive applications in micro-electromechanical systems, health, medical and communications industries. This project will improve the competitive advantage for Australia in the field of advanced manufacturing and has the potential to stimulate economic benefit and growth of the manufacturing industry.Read moreRead less
Metal folding fundamentals to shape new corrugated building products . FormFlow has developed a ground-breaking forming process enabling the use of corrugated iron as a structural element. This is a step change for Australia`s steel and building industry and will provide a direct benefit to fireproofing homes. Up scaling of this new technology poses significant challenges due to the lack of understanding in the new forming process and the effect of pre-processing on the incoming material. Fundam ....Metal folding fundamentals to shape new corrugated building products . FormFlow has developed a ground-breaking forming process enabling the use of corrugated iron as a structural element. This is a step change for Australia`s steel and building industry and will provide a direct benefit to fireproofing homes. Up scaling of this new technology poses significant challenges due to the lack of understanding in the new forming process and the effect of pre-processing on the incoming material. Fundamental knowledge of material behaviour will be developed with advanced models that account for the unique process deformation conditions. The intended outcome includes computer software for process design and new concepts for part shape control to improve product quality, repeatability and enable high volume manufacture.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100124
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$374,446.00
Summary
Fabrication of large-scale two-dimensional metallic nanosheets by accumulative rolling. This project aims to develop new techniques and insight into the thinning of metals from bulk to nano thicknesses which enables bulk manufacturing of large-scale two-dimensional (2D) metallic nanosheets. A novel rolling strategy will be adopted to achieve 2D metallic sheets with thicknesses less than 5nm and lateral sizes larger than 1mm, as well as demonstrating significantly improved electro-catalytic perfo ....Fabrication of large-scale two-dimensional metallic nanosheets by accumulative rolling. This project aims to develop new techniques and insight into the thinning of metals from bulk to nano thicknesses which enables bulk manufacturing of large-scale two-dimensional (2D) metallic nanosheets. A novel rolling strategy will be adopted to achieve 2D metallic sheets with thicknesses less than 5nm and lateral sizes larger than 1mm, as well as demonstrating significantly improved electro-catalytic performance. The proposed technique is expected to be a high-yield, low-cost alternative to traditional bottom-up techniques and is expected to be ready for implementation in industry for bulk manufacturing of 2D metallic nanosheets.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC180100005
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,889,410.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre in Surface Engineering for Advanced Materials. The ARC Training Centre in Surface Engineering for Advanced Materials aims to provide pathways for job creation and a high quality workforce in manufacturing. Surface engineering for advanced materials is a core need in all manufacturing sectors and controls the efficiency, productivity and sustainability of Australian industry. This Centre will integrate industry-university cooperation for applied training within an industrial s ....ARC Training Centre in Surface Engineering for Advanced Materials. The ARC Training Centre in Surface Engineering for Advanced Materials aims to provide pathways for job creation and a high quality workforce in manufacturing. Surface engineering for advanced materials is a core need in all manufacturing sectors and controls the efficiency, productivity and sustainability of Australian industry. This Centre will integrate industry-university cooperation for applied training within an industrial setting and will cover a spectrum of applications ranging from thin films to thick coatings and additive layered materials. The Centre will pursue outcomes that are reflected in terms of industry-fit researchers and deliver commercial benefits for industry.Read moreRead less
Automated Integrity Assessment of Self-Piercing Rivet Joints: i4.0 Approach. Lightweighting in the car industry by the use of aluminium reduces emissions substantially. It entails joining the car body sections by self-piercing rivets rather than the traditional spot welds. We aim to fill the technology gap for effective quality control of these joints. The project expects to solve the problem by merging industry 4.0 principles, three-dimensional X-ray technology, machine learning computer vision ....Automated Integrity Assessment of Self-Piercing Rivet Joints: i4.0 Approach. Lightweighting in the car industry by the use of aluminium reduces emissions substantially. It entails joining the car body sections by self-piercing rivets rather than the traditional spot welds. We aim to fill the technology gap for effective quality control of these joints. The project expects to solve the problem by merging industry 4.0 principles, three-dimensional X-ray technology, machine learning computer vision and structural mechanics. The expected outcomes are technologies for automation-friendly assessment of these joints. This should benefit industries from medical to electronics to automatically spot a random and delicate abnormality within a solid of complex geometry, such as that in live tissue or an electronic circuit.Read moreRead less