Unlocking the diverse property profile of ultra-lightweight magnesium alloys. This project aims to develop the theory behind why micro alloying contributes to the formation of surface film properties. The exemplar is a prototype Magnesium-Lithium (Mg-Li) base alloy, with high specific-strength and corrosion resistance. This project will lead to the development of a new processable ultra-lightweight, corrosion resistant Mg-Li alloy family that is stronger than the prototype alloy, and with, at le ....Unlocking the diverse property profile of ultra-lightweight magnesium alloys. This project aims to develop the theory behind why micro alloying contributes to the formation of surface film properties. The exemplar is a prototype Magnesium-Lithium (Mg-Li) base alloy, with high specific-strength and corrosion resistance. This project will lead to the development of a new processable ultra-lightweight, corrosion resistant Mg-Li alloy family that is stronger than the prototype alloy, and with, at least, comparable ductility and corrosion resistance. Not only will the outcomes of the work be a fundamental advance to the fields of metallurgy and corrosion science, they will lead to the identification of an optimised compositional window for creating our second generation Mg-Li alloy family capable of being manufactured into ultra-lightweight, corrosion resistant metal products.Read moreRead less
Design of tuneable microstructures for additive manufacturing. The project intends to develop methods to tune the microstructure of materials in additive manufacturing so that components can be manufactured with maximum productivity and properties. Additive manufacturing is leading the mass customisation of manufacturing. Designed tunable microstructures enable structure and properties to be tailored for specific applications. One of the greatest challenges, however, is how to control the scale ....Design of tuneable microstructures for additive manufacturing. The project intends to develop methods to tune the microstructure of materials in additive manufacturing so that components can be manufactured with maximum productivity and properties. Additive manufacturing is leading the mass customisation of manufacturing. Designed tunable microstructures enable structure and properties to be tailored for specific applications. One of the greatest challenges, however, is how to control the scale and morphology of the microstructure. This project aims to use the interdependence model of grain refinement to control and design grain sizes. The project first plans to investigate the near-rapid solidification conditions in aluminium alloys. It then plans to re-design the harder-to-manufacture titanium alloys to improve grain size control.Read moreRead less
Left-handed metamaterials and negative refraction. This project will establish and support the first team in Australia working in the field of left-handed metamaterials, artificial materials in which waves behave in a unique and counter-intuitive way. The project will promote this new field, enhance its rapid development, and facilitate emerging novel technologies in Australia. It will also lead to close international collaborations with active theoretical and experimental groups, and bring impo ....Left-handed metamaterials and negative refraction. This project will establish and support the first team in Australia working in the field of left-handed metamaterials, artificial materials in which waves behave in a unique and counter-intuitive way. The project will promote this new field, enhance its rapid development, and facilitate emerging novel technologies in Australia. It will also lead to close international collaborations with active theoretical and experimental groups, and bring important expertise to Australia. We believe our initial efforts of purely fundamental nature and extensive collaboration with the overseas groups will have a significant impact on the development of this field and related novel technologies in Australia, attracting strong interest from industry.Read moreRead less
Electron Momentum Spectroscopy of Correlated Nanoscale Structures. Electron correlations play a vital role in determining the electronic properties of condensed matter and nanoscale structures. The most fundamental electronic property of a material is its spectral momentum density and this depends critically on electron correlations. It can be measured uniquely by electron momentum spectroscopy, even for amorphous and disordered materials. We will use our new world-leading electron momentum s ....Electron Momentum Spectroscopy of Correlated Nanoscale Structures. Electron correlations play a vital role in determining the electronic properties of condensed matter and nanoscale structures. The most fundamental electronic property of a material is its spectral momentum density and this depends critically on electron correlations. It can be measured uniquely by electron momentum spectroscopy, even for amorphous and disordered materials. We will use our new world-leading electron momentum spectrometer to measure the electronic structure of nanometer thick samples of correlated systems, such as alloys, superconductors, and reduced dimensional structures. These measurements will be used to test theories developed to describe the behaviour of these nanoscale structures.Read moreRead less
Real-time imaging of crystal strengthening mechanisms in metals. The strength limit of a metal is marked by rapid motion of crystalline defects. The associated speeds can locally approach that of sound. To probe the associated mechanisms clearly requires both spatial and temporal resolution. We propose to create a new bulk x-ray technique with an unprecedented combination of temporal and spatial resolution. We plan to exploit the technique to mediate a step change in modelling strength based on ....Real-time imaging of crystal strengthening mechanisms in metals. The strength limit of a metal is marked by rapid motion of crystalline defects. The associated speeds can locally approach that of sound. To probe the associated mechanisms clearly requires both spatial and temporal resolution. We propose to create a new bulk x-ray technique with an unprecedented combination of temporal and spatial resolution. We plan to exploit the technique to mediate a step change in modelling strength based on twinning. The formation of crystalline twins is known to dictate the strength of the light metal magnesium. A fuller understanding of the effect of twinning on strength in this metal will provide much needed confidence to implement it more widely in energy saving applications.Read moreRead less
Many-Electron Dynamics and Electronic Structure of Materials Studied by Electron Momentum Spectroscopy. Electron momentum spectroscopy is a technique that resembles playing pool with electrons. This technique, largely developed in Australia, determines the binding energy and velocity distribution of electrons in matter. This distribution, closely related to the quantum mechanical wave function of the electrons, can be compared directly with calculations of the electronic structure. Such a compa ....Many-Electron Dynamics and Electronic Structure of Materials Studied by Electron Momentum Spectroscopy. Electron momentum spectroscopy is a technique that resembles playing pool with electrons. This technique, largely developed in Australia, determines the binding energy and velocity distribution of electrons in matter. This distribution, closely related to the quantum mechanical wave function of the electrons, can be compared directly with calculations of the electronic structure. Such a comparison helps establish which theory approaches nature most closely, and thus improves our understanding of the electronic structure. This understanding helps to predict the properties of materials, and hence this knowledge will facilitate the design of materials with desirable properties.Read moreRead less
Towards autonomous structural safety prognostics: integrating in-situ imaging and predictive modelling. This project aims to advance a scientific basis for autonomous safety prognostics by developing predictive models and in-situ damage imaging principles. Development of this new health prognostic approach will overcome the significant challenge of safety assurance of composite structures in the presence of in-service damage, which is largely hidden.
Baseline-free Methods for Early Damage Diagnosis using Nonlinear Ultrasound. To address the significant limitation of existing non-destructive evaluation techniques in detecting and characterising early damage, this project aims to discover the physical nature of self-generated nonlinear waves by structural damage and to explore its potential for an entirely new class of non-destructive evaluation and structural health monitoring techniques. Major applications are expected to include a baseline- ....Baseline-free Methods for Early Damage Diagnosis using Nonlinear Ultrasound. To address the significant limitation of existing non-destructive evaluation techniques in detecting and characterising early damage, this project aims to discover the physical nature of self-generated nonlinear waves by structural damage and to explore its potential for an entirely new class of non-destructive evaluation and structural health monitoring techniques. Major applications are expected to include a baseline-free structural health monitoring technique capable of detecting and quantifying barely-visible impact damage in advanced composite materials, non-destructive evaluation of structures made by additive manufacturing, and detection of hard-to-inspect locations in unitised structures.Read moreRead less
Origin and impact of solute clustering in light alloys. This project is designed to provide a physical metallurgy platform for understanding and interpreting the role of clusters of micro-alloying elements in precipitation in light alloys and aiding new alloy development. Phase transformations play an important role in determining the mechanical properties of many engineering materials. Understanding the origin and impact of solute clustering in phase transformations is crucial for achieving unp ....Origin and impact of solute clustering in light alloys. This project is designed to provide a physical metallurgy platform for understanding and interpreting the role of clusters of micro-alloying elements in precipitation in light alloys and aiding new alloy development. Phase transformations play an important role in determining the mechanical properties of many engineering materials. Understanding the origin and impact of solute clustering in phase transformations is crucial for achieving unprecedented properties in these materials. This project plans to combine atomic-scale characterisation and multi-scale computation to reveal the geometry and energetics of solute clusters and cluster-assisted nucleation in light alloys based on aluminium and magnesium. Applications may include the development of stronger and less costly metallic materials for the aerospace, aircraft and automotive industries.Read moreRead less
Pulsed Laser Deposition of Zinc Oxide-based Materials for Optoelectronic Device Applications. Zinc oxide (ZnO) is expected to play an important role in new optoelectronic components and systems such as visible and ultraviolet light sources, high temperature electronics and window materials for solar cells. This project will not only investigate the fundamental issues related to the growth of ZnO but also develop some solutions to realise the true potentials of ZnO-based materials. This project i ....Pulsed Laser Deposition of Zinc Oxide-based Materials for Optoelectronic Device Applications. Zinc oxide (ZnO) is expected to play an important role in new optoelectronic components and systems such as visible and ultraviolet light sources, high temperature electronics and window materials for solar cells. This project will not only investigate the fundamental issues related to the growth of ZnO but also develop some solutions to realise the true potentials of ZnO-based materials. This project is at the forefront of a number of important fields, and therefore the outcomes are expected to appeal to a large community of academics, national security and the high technology industries. It will position the Australian researchers among the pioneering groups in this area.Read moreRead less