HyPoCrete: Hydrogen storage using an innovative concrete composite system. This project aims to develop an innovative polymer concrete composite system for the safe and efficient storage of hydrogen. New knowledge is expected to be generated on the novel use of polymer and concrete materials in hydrogen storage technologies. The expected outcomes include a new class of prefabricated, modular storage system that is highly efficient and low cost. The scalability and resilience of the system will b ....HyPoCrete: Hydrogen storage using an innovative concrete composite system. This project aims to develop an innovative polymer concrete composite system for the safe and efficient storage of hydrogen. New knowledge is expected to be generated on the novel use of polymer and concrete materials in hydrogen storage technologies. The expected outcomes include a new class of prefabricated, modular storage system that is highly efficient and low cost. The scalability and resilience of the system will be achieved by using concrete, a material widely used in the construction industry for its mechanical performance, durability and affordability. This should provide significant benefits in fostering the hydrogen economy by providing an efficient and resilient storage system for industrial quantities of hydrogen.Read moreRead less
Efficient construction: analysis of integrated supply chains for innovative off site housing manufacturing. The Australian housing industry is failing to meet demand. Housing construction is too slow, as indicated by a 40 per cent increase in average construction time over the last fifteen years. Industry fragmentation is an oft-cited cause of construction inefficiency. A solution is offsite manufacturing. Australia lags other countries in adoption of off-site manufacturing. To achieve adoption ....Efficient construction: analysis of integrated supply chains for innovative off site housing manufacturing. The Australian housing industry is failing to meet demand. Housing construction is too slow, as indicated by a 40 per cent increase in average construction time over the last fifteen years. Industry fragmentation is an oft-cited cause of construction inefficiency. A solution is offsite manufacturing. Australia lags other countries in adoption of off-site manufacturing. To achieve adoption and diffusion, fragmentation needs to be addressed. This project aims to analyse the factors affecting supply chain integration to support innovative offsite manufacturing and develop a novel collaborative practice based implementation model.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100548
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$439,847.00
Summary
A novel high-temperature concrete-based system for renewable energy storage. This project aims to develop a novel alkali-activated concrete-based system for renewable energy storage. The system is based on the excellent performance, durability and affordability of concrete, which is widely used in the construction industry. The project expects to generate new knowledge in concrete thermal energy storage by using a holistic experimental and computational approach. Expected outcomes include insigh ....A novel high-temperature concrete-based system for renewable energy storage. This project aims to develop a novel alkali-activated concrete-based system for renewable energy storage. The system is based on the excellent performance, durability and affordability of concrete, which is widely used in the construction industry. The project expects to generate new knowledge in concrete thermal energy storage by using a holistic experimental and computational approach. Expected outcomes include insights into the novel high-temperature concrete, the advanced numerical, data-driven model and the system, that is highly scalable, efficient and low cost. This should provide significant benefits in accelerating the use of concrete for energy storage technologies and fostering the national and global renewable energy transition.Read moreRead less
Innovative composite systems with enhanced resilience to extreme loads. The rapidly increasing global population (projected to be 9.8 billion by 2050) and global urbanisation have created a demand for the construction industry, thereby increasing the pressure on our planet’s limited resources for the construction industry. This high demand can yield detrimental effects to the environment due to the high carbon footprint of conventional construction materials, and is amplified by the threat of ac ....Innovative composite systems with enhanced resilience to extreme loads. The rapidly increasing global population (projected to be 9.8 billion by 2050) and global urbanisation have created a demand for the construction industry, thereby increasing the pressure on our planet’s limited resources for the construction industry. This high demand can yield detrimental effects to the environment due to the high carbon footprint of conventional construction materials, and is amplified by the threat of accidental or deliberate extreme loadings to buildings, which can trigger fatal progressive collapse events. The proposed project aims to develop an innovative structural system with that possesses superior structural resilience to extreme loads and progressive collapse using lightweight eco-friendly materials. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101221
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,154.00
Summary
Eco-friendly low shrinkage concrete integrating upcycled textile waste. This project aims to investigate a novel solution incorporating upcycled textile waste to reduce shrinkage induced cracking in reinforced concrete. The project is expected to generate new knowledge in crack nucleation and healing mechanisms in concrete and the application of flexible textile fibre reinforcement to control shrinkage induced cracking, creating a new fibre reinforced composite. The expected outcome is a reducti ....Eco-friendly low shrinkage concrete integrating upcycled textile waste. This project aims to investigate a novel solution incorporating upcycled textile waste to reduce shrinkage induced cracking in reinforced concrete. The project is expected to generate new knowledge in crack nucleation and healing mechanisms in concrete and the application of flexible textile fibre reinforcement to control shrinkage induced cracking, creating a new fibre reinforced composite. The expected outcome is a reduction in construction waste through extending the life span of concrete structures and reducing textile waste, 85% of which is currently disposed in landfills. The new composite could deliver a circular solution to textile waste leading to significant social, environmental and economic benefits.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100217
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,000.00
Summary
Facade fire failures in buildings: a robust nanocomposite solution. This project aims to develop an innovative fire resistant composite façade system which is also strong, lightweight, thermally efficient, environmentally friendly and cost-effective. The project expects to develop new knowledge in areas of fire safety and advanced manufacturing of a nanocomposite facade utilising advanced computational fluid dynamics simulations to model the external flame spread. The outcomes will provide impro ....Facade fire failures in buildings: a robust nanocomposite solution. This project aims to develop an innovative fire resistant composite façade system which is also strong, lightweight, thermally efficient, environmentally friendly and cost-effective. The project expects to develop new knowledge in areas of fire safety and advanced manufacturing of a nanocomposite facade utilising advanced computational fluid dynamics simulations to model the external flame spread. The outcomes will provide improved insight into the mechanism of external fire spread and development of the façade system which is safe, resilient and fire resistant. This work will be useful for building owners, construction authorities and researchers to tackle the global issues of combustible façades and provide better fire design strategies to protect occupants.Read moreRead less
Ultralow emission panel systems for rapid modular construction. This proposed project aims to develop an innovative ultra-low emission precast panel comprising a novel ultra-low carbon concrete mixture that is cast in vertical battery moulds. The new precast panels will have several significant enhancements compared to traditional precast panels, including faster manufacturing, reduced cost, and a much lower carbon footprint and life-cycle costs. A holistic theoretical and design framework will ....Ultralow emission panel systems for rapid modular construction. This proposed project aims to develop an innovative ultra-low emission precast panel comprising a novel ultra-low carbon concrete mixture that is cast in vertical battery moulds. The new precast panels will have several significant enhancements compared to traditional precast panels, including faster manufacturing, reduced cost, and a much lower carbon footprint and life-cycle costs. A holistic theoretical and design framework will be developed for predicting the behaviour of the innovative precast panel under structural, fire and impact loading. The panel will offer desirable benefits such as industry leading durability, ease of construction and assembly, economy and recyclability.Read moreRead less
Novel test and design methods for base course reinforced flexible pavements. This project aims to develop the mechanics of geosynthetic-reinforced flexible pavements as an urgent need for the Australian pavement industry to build more sustainable and economical roads. Novel laboratory test apparatus and in-situ test programs, and mathematical models will be developed, for the first time, to capture the responses of reinforced base courses in a complete and optimised way to determine the paramete ....Novel test and design methods for base course reinforced flexible pavements. This project aims to develop the mechanics of geosynthetic-reinforced flexible pavements as an urgent need for the Australian pavement industry to build more sustainable and economical roads. Novel laboratory test apparatus and in-situ test programs, and mathematical models will be developed, for the first time, to capture the responses of reinforced base courses in a complete and optimised way to determine the parameters for pavement design and performance evaluation. The outcomes will enable reliable prediction of reinforced pavement behaviour, leading to better-performing geosynthetic products and more resilient pavements, reduced material usage and damage in pavements, and less environmental impact and maintenance cost.Read moreRead less
The effects of cyclic loading on partially saturated soils. This project aims to predict the settlement and strength of the upper, partially saturated layer of the ground when it is subjected to cyclic loading. Most of our critical infrastructure is built on or in this layer, but currently we cannot reliably predict the ground response of partially saturated soils to the cyclic loads that arise from earthquakes, traffic and construction processes. The project is expected to develop a new numeric ....The effects of cyclic loading on partially saturated soils. This project aims to predict the settlement and strength of the upper, partially saturated layer of the ground when it is subjected to cyclic loading. Most of our critical infrastructure is built on or in this layer, but currently we cannot reliably predict the ground response of partially saturated soils to the cyclic loads that arise from earthquakes, traffic and construction processes. The project is expected to develop a new numerical model that can predict the effects of cyclic loads, and provide updated engineering guidance to ensure the integrity of infrastructure dependent on partially-saturated soils. Improved predictions of the processes involved resulting from this project will have significant economic benefits, as well as ensuring the safety and security of infrastructure and reduced maintenance costs.Read moreRead less
Mixed Mode Torsion-Shear-Bending Failure in SFRC Elements . In 2017 and 2018 the Australian Standards for the design of concrete bridges and structures were released; these are some of the first in the world, to include design procedures for steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) in a comprehensive way. While rules have been introduced for shear and bending of SFRC girders, the rules exclude the use fibres to carry torsional moments. This study investigates the torsion-bending-shear interaction ....Mixed Mode Torsion-Shear-Bending Failure in SFRC Elements . In 2017 and 2018 the Australian Standards for the design of concrete bridges and structures were released; these are some of the first in the world, to include design procedures for steel fibre reinforced concrete (SFRC) in a comprehensive way. While rules have been introduced for shear and bending of SFRC girders, the rules exclude the use fibres to carry torsional moments. This study investigates the torsion-bending-shear interaction performance of SFRC members. The study will provide vital data needed for for adoption by engineers and Standards bodies.Read moreRead less