The durability of geopolymeric products as a function of the nanostructured gel phase. A comprehensive physical, chemical and microscopic analysis will be conducted on a series of geopolymers and Ordinary Portland Cement samples manufactured from 1964 to 2001, with a focus on the characterisation of the nanostructured gel phase. The outcomes include (1) revealing the relationship between the nanostructured gel phase and durability; (2) the discovery of reaction mechanisms in geopolymerisation an ....The durability of geopolymeric products as a function of the nanostructured gel phase. A comprehensive physical, chemical and microscopic analysis will be conducted on a series of geopolymers and Ordinary Portland Cement samples manufactured from 1964 to 2001, with a focus on the characterisation of the nanostructured gel phase. The outcomes include (1) revealing the relationship between the nanostructured gel phase and durability; (2) the discovery of reaction mechanisms in geopolymerisation and formation of OPC; (3) computer modelling of nano-scale assemblies of atoms and molecules that will give desirable properties and durability, and (4) a tailored synthesis of geopolymers with vastly improved mechanical performance and acid, fire and bacterial resistance. This scientific understanding of long term durability will greatly enhance commercial acceptance of geopolymers.Read moreRead less
Architectural glass related injury: implications for improving public safety. The immediate benefit of the project is information for government, the building and furniture industries, regulators, and the community to underpin interventions to prevent architectural and furniture glass injury. A major longer term benefit is to provide the crucial injury and glass data for future conduct of the other two phases of the planned research program, namely, glass performance testing and simulated human- ....Architectural glass related injury: implications for improving public safety. The immediate benefit of the project is information for government, the building and furniture industries, regulators, and the community to underpin interventions to prevent architectural and furniture glass injury. A major longer term benefit is to provide the crucial injury and glass data for future conduct of the other two phases of the planned research program, namely, glass performance testing and simulated human-glass impact studies. These future studies will provide the scientific evidence for review of the Standards for architectural glass for application to the building, design and construction industry to increase safety for the Australian community. Read moreRead less
Geopolymers for nuclear applications. With the pressing need for the reduction of Greenhouse emissions from electricity generation in Australia, one option that must be seriously considered is nuclear energy. However, the issue of waste storage is a highly significant one that must be addressed. Geopolymeric cements are expected to perform much better than traditional Portland cements in nuclear applications, both for solidification of radioactive wastes and also for the construction of undergro ....Geopolymers for nuclear applications. With the pressing need for the reduction of Greenhouse emissions from electricity generation in Australia, one option that must be seriously considered is nuclear energy. However, the issue of waste storage is a highly significant one that must be addressed. Geopolymeric cements are expected to perform much better than traditional Portland cements in nuclear applications, both for solidification of radioactive wastes and also for the construction of underground waste storage bunkers. This project will use Australia's strong existing knowledge in geopolymers research, and apply it to the development of materials to fill the need for environmentally secure waste storage solutions.Read moreRead less
Electronically Conducting Nanofibres and Assemblies. With the use of new techniques that have just emerged in the last two years and are receiving rapidly growing interest throughout the world, this project will bring to Australia a new nanofabrication platform for making a variety of complex nanostructures. Fundamental researches on these complex nanostructures will greatly advance nanoscience. New nanotechnologies will be developed to address some world-wide challenging problems, e.g. energy ....Electronically Conducting Nanofibres and Assemblies. With the use of new techniques that have just emerged in the last two years and are receiving rapidly growing interest throughout the world, this project will bring to Australia a new nanofabrication platform for making a variety of complex nanostructures. Fundamental researches on these complex nanostructures will greatly advance nanoscience. New nanotechnologies will be developed to address some world-wide challenging problems, e.g. energy conversion and storage, chemical/biological sensing and other micro- and nanoelectronic devices. This project will bring both breakthrough science and frontier technologies for building and transforming Australian industries and help place Australia at the forefront of nanotechnology. Read moreRead less
Understanding the Behavior of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Liquids. The imminent manufacture of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs) at prices comparable to those of high-performance polymers such as Kevlar, will open up potential applications of SWNTs as high-performance fibres and coatings. A major challenge is the development of scalable processes for producing large objects made of SWNTs. This project, in collaboration with researchers at Rice and Stanford Universities, aims to unders ....Understanding the Behavior of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Liquids. The imminent manufacture of Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs) at prices comparable to those of high-performance polymers such as Kevlar, will open up potential applications of SWNTs as high-performance fibres and coatings. A major challenge is the development of scalable processes for producing large objects made of SWNTs. This project, in collaboration with researchers at Rice and Stanford Universities, aims to understand the principles that underlie the successful liquid state processing of SWNTs. The novel strategies that arise will cement Australia's position as a leading country for research in nanotechnology, and place it at the forefront of this field, with great potential for economic advantage.Read moreRead less
Towards Distributed Phased Array Radar for High Resolution Weather Monitoring. Several recent reports on climate change by leading international and national bodies forecast that the rate of weather hazards such as storms and wind-shear, and of weather-associated phenomena such as bush fires will increase over the next 40 years. The current technology for monitoring weather events, and effects like wind-shift, which has a serious impact on dangers associated with bush fires, has significant wea ....Towards Distributed Phased Array Radar for High Resolution Weather Monitoring. Several recent reports on climate change by leading international and national bodies forecast that the rate of weather hazards such as storms and wind-shear, and of weather-associated phenomena such as bush fires will increase over the next 40 years. The current technology for monitoring weather events, and effects like wind-shift, which has a serious impact on dangers associated with bush fires, has significant weaknesses. We will deliver considerable improvements in monitoring capability by developing the technology for using a network of small phased array radars. We aim to place monitoring resources where end-user needs are greatest.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668482
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$485,000.00
Summary
X-ray micro-tomography facility. This proposal identifies a new area of importance in the investigation of the function and structure of materials as diverse as muscle and metal coatings - the ability to quantify the physical structure of an object. Researchers can further couple that ability with existing facilities at La Trobe University, which allow the chemical makeup on an interface to be analysed. The planned research projects will benefit the community in applications ranging from compos ....X-ray micro-tomography facility. This proposal identifies a new area of importance in the investigation of the function and structure of materials as diverse as muscle and metal coatings - the ability to quantify the physical structure of an object. Researchers can further couple that ability with existing facilities at La Trobe University, which allow the chemical makeup on an interface to be analysed. The planned research projects will benefit the community in applications ranging from composite and light-weight materials for aerospace, metal coatings for automotive and tool manufacture and tissue engineering for artificial heart valves. This breadth of application ensures a truly multidisciplinary training environment for students in contact with the facility.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0346968
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$377,000.00
Summary
Victorian Surface Science Partnership. The aim of this proposal is to build a cooperative grouping of surface science resources for Victoria to facilitate world-class research on the nature and behaviour of chemical, semiconductor, environmental, biological and industrial materials. The new Facility will provide state-of-the-art infrastructure necessary for the participating groups to maintain their international reputations, will build stronger research collaborations between the partners, will ....Victorian Surface Science Partnership. The aim of this proposal is to build a cooperative grouping of surface science resources for Victoria to facilitate world-class research on the nature and behaviour of chemical, semiconductor, environmental, biological and industrial materials. The new Facility will provide state-of-the-art infrastructure necessary for the participating groups to maintain their international reputations, will build stronger research collaborations between the partners, will attract researchers from overseas and will be used by a range of commercial clients. The theme of "surface characterisation" draws together a great diversity of projects being undertaken by the collaborating group comprising around 30 research groups and commercial entities.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560975
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$406,385.00
Summary
Advanced Surface Imaging and Spectroscopy Facility. The aim of this proposal is to build a cooperative grouping of materials and surface science resources to facilitate world-class research on the nature and behaviour of chemical, semiconductor, environmental, biological and industrial materials. The new Facility will provide state-of-the-art infrastructure necessary for the participating groups to maintain their international reputations, will build stronger research collaborations between the ....Advanced Surface Imaging and Spectroscopy Facility. The aim of this proposal is to build a cooperative grouping of materials and surface science resources to facilitate world-class research on the nature and behaviour of chemical, semiconductor, environmental, biological and industrial materials. The new Facility will provide state-of-the-art infrastructure necessary for the participating groups to maintain their international reputations, will build stronger research collaborations between the partners, will attract researchers from overseas and will be used by a range of commercial clients. The theme of "surface characterisation" draws together a great diversity of projects being undertaken by the collaborating group comprising around 30 research groups and commercial entities.Read moreRead less
Fusion of Laser Ranging Data and Imagery for Generation of 3D Virtual Models. The creation of image texture-mapped, three-dimensional (3D) digital models of object scenes is becoming increasingly more important in virtual reality generation. Visually realistic computer models find application in reverse engineering and industrial metrology and design, but their utility is often limited by shortcomings in accuracy and completeness. This project aims, through a fusion of laser scanner data and dig ....Fusion of Laser Ranging Data and Imagery for Generation of 3D Virtual Models. The creation of image texture-mapped, three-dimensional (3D) digital models of object scenes is becoming increasingly more important in virtual reality generation. Visually realistic computer models find application in reverse engineering and industrial metrology and design, but their utility is often limited by shortcomings in accuracy and completeness. This project aims, through a fusion of laser scanner data and digital photogrammetric imagery, to develop improved mathematical models and computational systems to facilitate advances in automated 3D object reconstruction for high-definition, metrically accurate photo-realistic digital models. The principal outcome from the project will be enhanced 3D computer modelling for engineering applications.
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