A Stress Transfer Principle for Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Materials under Complex Loading. Many breakthrough technologies in the future will build upon carbon nanotube reinforced materials but the scientific basis in the area is still unavailable. This project aims to establish a reliable stress transfer principle so that the design, production and application of the materials can be accurately controlled and the great strength of carbon nanotubes can be wisely utilized. The research will resol ....A Stress Transfer Principle for Carbon Nanotube Reinforced Materials under Complex Loading. Many breakthrough technologies in the future will build upon carbon nanotube reinforced materials but the scientific basis in the area is still unavailable. This project aims to establish a reliable stress transfer principle so that the design, production and application of the materials can be accurately controlled and the great strength of carbon nanotubes can be wisely utilized. The research will resolve a key paradox and develop a series of innovative theories and technologies. The success of the project will make a significant impact on the nanoscience and nanotechnology associated with the applications of carbon nanotube reinforced materials.Read moreRead less
Micro-electromechanics and finite element analysis models for adaptive structures. Adaptive structures are becoming increasingly important due to their direct improvement of structural system performance. However, electroelastic behaviour and damage mechanism, which are primary concerns for adaptive structural design, are poorly understood. This project aims at developing micro-electromechanics and finite element analysis models to investigate the electroelastic properties and detect delaminatio ....Micro-electromechanics and finite element analysis models for adaptive structures. Adaptive structures are becoming increasingly important due to their direct improvement of structural system performance. However, electroelastic behaviour and damage mechanism, which are primary concerns for adaptive structural design, are poorly understood. This project aims at developing micro-electromechanics and finite element analysis models to investigate the electroelastic properties and detect delamination for adaptive structures. It combines the fields of micro-electromechanics and composite material analysis in a computational framework to provide a useful and cost-effective tool for modelling the response of adaptive structures. It is a challenging task and will have significant impact in the adaptive structure design community.Read moreRead less
Bacterial cell behaviour in micro/nano-confined environments. The project aims to progress the understanding of the mechanisms of marine bacteria biofilm formation and surface-modulated metabolic response. We will adjust the surface characteristics of photopolymers (as ?model? surfaces) and probe the bacterial response to surfaces, passively with micro/nano-fabricated structures and Atomic Force Microscopy; and actively with optical manipulation of single cells. The results will contribute to th ....Bacterial cell behaviour in micro/nano-confined environments. The project aims to progress the understanding of the mechanisms of marine bacteria biofilm formation and surface-modulated metabolic response. We will adjust the surface characteristics of photopolymers (as ?model? surfaces) and probe the bacterial response to surfaces, passively with micro/nano-fabricated structures and Atomic Force Microscopy; and actively with optical manipulation of single cells. The results will contribute to the fundamental knowledge regarding central biological phenomena -down to single-cell processes- as well as on applied knowledge regarding the manufacturing of antimicrobial surfaces that mimic natural bactericide processes, with larger implications on biomedical practice, and environmental, civil, mining and manufacturing industrial applications.Read moreRead less
Interface Engineering of Multilayer Nanostructures. Nanostructured multilayers can outperform coatings of their constituent layers in both hardness and strength. It is believed that the nature of interfaces in these materials is critical since they mediate dislocation motion and crack propagation. This project will use advanced synthesis, microanalysis and theoretical methods to investigate multilayer coatings with sharp, diffuse and rough interfaces in order to reveal their failure mechanisms u ....Interface Engineering of Multilayer Nanostructures. Nanostructured multilayers can outperform coatings of their constituent layers in both hardness and strength. It is believed that the nature of interfaces in these materials is critical since they mediate dislocation motion and crack propagation. This project will use advanced synthesis, microanalysis and theoretical methods to investigate multilayer coatings with sharp, diffuse and rough interfaces in order to reveal their failure mechanisms under stress. This will enable us to understand the principles required to design the strongest structures and facilitate the selection of materials and deposition parameters in order to produce coatings optimised for a range of demanding applications.Read moreRead less
Measuring and modelling the mechanical response of soils incorporating recycled tyres. Civil engineers use backfill to refill excavated areas around new structures. They have found recently that rubber chips and shredded rubber make excellent backfill when combined with a small percentage of cement to make ‘rubber soil’. The widespread use of rubber soil therefore offers a tremendous opportunity to make use of a serious waste product to achieve important engineering outcomes. However, too little ....Measuring and modelling the mechanical response of soils incorporating recycled tyres. Civil engineers use backfill to refill excavated areas around new structures. They have found recently that rubber chips and shredded rubber make excellent backfill when combined with a small percentage of cement to make ‘rubber soil’. The widespread use of rubber soil therefore offers a tremendous opportunity to make use of a serious waste product to achieve important engineering outcomes. However, too little is known about the technology. This project will model the behaviour of rubber soil in order to introduce it as an environmentally sustainable, cost-effective and technically sound choice of geomaterial for both standard and non-standard geotechnical structures.Read moreRead less
Experimental and numerical study of Encapsulated Compaction Grouting (ECG) in a loose fill slope. The proposed project will develop a flexible, cost-effective and environmentally friendly engineering solution (Encapsulated Compaction Grouting or ECG) for improving the performance of loose, soft soils. Important applications of the research include the mitigation of landslides, which pose a major threat to communities and infrastructure worldwide. Small-scale laboratory tests, full-scale field te ....Experimental and numerical study of Encapsulated Compaction Grouting (ECG) in a loose fill slope. The proposed project will develop a flexible, cost-effective and environmentally friendly engineering solution (Encapsulated Compaction Grouting or ECG) for improving the performance of loose, soft soils. Important applications of the research include the mitigation of landslides, which pose a major threat to communities and infrastructure worldwide. Small-scale laboratory tests, full-scale field tests and numerical analyses will be carried out to ensure that the proposed ECG method is an effective and economical engineering solution. The results of this integrated study will provide a valuable tool for engineers who wish to stabilise loose fill slopes or soft grounds.Read moreRead less
Thixotropic Structure Generation and Semisolid Casting of Aluminium and Magnesium Alloys. A range of aluminium and magnesium alloys will be prepared by controlled-pouring to produce structures suitable for semisolid forming. The conditions around grain nucleation and growth will be studied to ascertain the controlling factors in producing suitable microstructures. A computer model to simulate the thixotropic structure formation and define the processing parameters will be developed. Semisolid c ....Thixotropic Structure Generation and Semisolid Casting of Aluminium and Magnesium Alloys. A range of aluminium and magnesium alloys will be prepared by controlled-pouring to produce structures suitable for semisolid forming. The conditions around grain nucleation and growth will be studied to ascertain the controlling factors in producing suitable microstructures. A computer model to simulate the thixotropic structure formation and define the processing parameters will be developed. Semisolid casting using the produced feedstock will lead to extensive knowledge about the effect of different microstructures and alloys on semisolid castability. Outcomes from the project will significantly advance the scientific understanding of the thixotropic structure generation and accelerate the development of semisolid processing technology.Read moreRead less
A Unified Approach to Determine Permeabilities of Fibre Preforms for Manufacturing Advanced Composite Structures. A unified framework is developed first time to determine 3-D permeabilities of fibre preforms for advanced fibre composites using homogenisation theories based on micro-, meso- and macro-structures of fibre preforms. Mechanistic models based on experimental studies, theoretical analyses and computational modelling are established to quantify permeabilities in different scales. It off ....A Unified Approach to Determine Permeabilities of Fibre Preforms for Manufacturing Advanced Composite Structures. A unified framework is developed first time to determine 3-D permeabilities of fibre preforms for advanced fibre composites using homogenisation theories based on micro-, meso- and macro-structures of fibre preforms. Mechanistic models based on experimental studies, theoretical analyses and computational modelling are established to quantify permeabilities in different scales. It offers a unique technique to determine 3-D permeabilities for manufacturing advanced composite structures using various novel technologies based on resin impregnation or infusion, such as VARTM and RI. The outcomes of the project will fill the gap in the essential knowledge for cost-effective manufacturing of advanced composite structures in practical applications.Read moreRead less
Engineering the kinetic stability of alloys for advanced stainless material development. A framework for understanding and designing metals and alloys with kinetic stability in mind will allow for discovery and breakthrough science to underpin technological innovation. This work has potential benefits for multiple industry sectors, with the ultimate intent of developing advanced materials for use in transport, construction, energy generation and medicine; all sectors of which can improve our qua ....Engineering the kinetic stability of alloys for advanced stainless material development. A framework for understanding and designing metals and alloys with kinetic stability in mind will allow for discovery and breakthrough science to underpin technological innovation. This work has potential benefits for multiple industry sectors, with the ultimate intent of developing advanced materials for use in transport, construction, energy generation and medicine; all sectors of which can improve our quality of life, whilst also addressing the multi-billion dollars of loss attributed to metallic corrosion each year. Such work will also benefit Australia through the development of a strategic international capability in a highly interdisciplinary field.Read moreRead less
Lowering the barriers to a hydrogen technology: What slows proton conductors? When hydrogen burns the only product is water, therefore making it the most attractive form of clean energy. Central to the technological use of hydrogen is the need for a material through which only this element can pass, both so that the energy can be extracted and for purification. At present high temperatures are needed to allow hydrogen to pass through solids that exhibit this sieving property. Through state of th ....Lowering the barriers to a hydrogen technology: What slows proton conductors? When hydrogen burns the only product is water, therefore making it the most attractive form of clean energy. Central to the technological use of hydrogen is the need for a material through which only this element can pass, both so that the energy can be extracted and for purification. At present high temperatures are needed to allow hydrogen to pass through solids that exhibit this sieving property. Through state of the art computational methods the movement through these materials can be observed so that the regions that slow the hydrogen down can be identified. From this understanding it will be possible to design more efficient ways of producing energy that can provide clean air for cities and reliable power for remote communities.Read moreRead less