Drag Force on Bubbles and Particles in Turbulent Flows. Australian exports are dominated by the minerals, metallurgical and chemicals industries, with minerals exports worth at least $40 billion annually. Many of the production processes are underpinned by the complex interaction between particles, bubbles and liquids. It is important that we understand the complex interactions taking place. This will enable us to improve existing operations and also to design completely new technologies, especi ....Drag Force on Bubbles and Particles in Turbulent Flows. Australian exports are dominated by the minerals, metallurgical and chemicals industries, with minerals exports worth at least $40 billion annually. Many of the production processes are underpinned by the complex interaction between particles, bubbles and liquids. It is important that we understand the complex interactions taking place. This will enable us to improve existing operations and also to design completely new technologies, especially in the emerging fields of nano and biotechnology. This project is important because it adds to our knowledge in the national priority area of Transforming Australian Industries, and its success will ensure that our industries remain at the forefront of innovation and are globally competitive. Read moreRead less
Extending the range of the flotation process for particle separation. The minerals industry is a significant contributor to Australia's prosperity. Flotation is an important process for upgrading low-grade ores to high-grade concentrates, and for recovering fine coal from tailings. This project is aimed at solving a long-term problem in current flotation practice, the difficulty in recovering ultrafine and coarse particles, currently lost from production. We will pursue two new discoveries recen ....Extending the range of the flotation process for particle separation. The minerals industry is a significant contributor to Australia's prosperity. Flotation is an important process for upgrading low-grade ores to high-grade concentrates, and for recovering fine coal from tailings. This project is aimed at solving a long-term problem in current flotation practice, the difficulty in recovering ultrafine and coarse particles, currently lost from production. We will pursue two new discoveries recently made by us, relating to the recovery of ultrafines and coarse particles. Benefits to Australia are of the order of $500 million a year in increased exports, education of high-quality graduates, export income from license fees and equipment.Read moreRead less
The role of floc structure in the formation of sediments and filter cakes. The project aims to understand at a fundamental level if and in what way the fractal structure of aggregates of fine particles is preserved when forming sediments and filter cakes. The effect of this structure on processes for separating solids and liquids is significant: each year, millions of dollars stand to be saved though more efficient filtration, and more efficient thickening of mineral slurries. Improved understan ....The role of floc structure in the formation of sediments and filter cakes. The project aims to understand at a fundamental level if and in what way the fractal structure of aggregates of fine particles is preserved when forming sediments and filter cakes. The effect of this structure on processes for separating solids and liquids is significant: each year, millions of dollars stand to be saved though more efficient filtration, and more efficient thickening of mineral slurries. Improved understanding allows intelligent design of flocculation systems to optimise the performance of downstream solid - liquid separation processes, maximising economic and environmental returns.Read moreRead less
Mass transport in aqueous foams. Flotation is extremely important in the minerals industry, whose exports are $110.5 billion annually. This project aims to significantly advance understanding of liquid transport in flotation froths, via a quantitative study of foam mass flow mechanisms. If successful, it may lead to modifications to current flotation devices, improving their froth-zone performance and saving money, water, energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
Application of First-principles Theory in Condensed Matter Physics, Surface Physics, Chemistry, and Engineering: Coatings, Catalysis, and Devices. The project addresses areas of high technological interest, namely the development of nitride-based materials for hard-coatings, spintronic (control and use of electron spin) and optoelectronic (in the blue/UV energy range) devices - as well as the area of heterogeneous oxidation catalysis. Using state-of-the-art methods it will lead to the developme ....Application of First-principles Theory in Condensed Matter Physics, Surface Physics, Chemistry, and Engineering: Coatings, Catalysis, and Devices. The project addresses areas of high technological interest, namely the development of nitride-based materials for hard-coatings, spintronic (control and use of electron spin) and optoelectronic (in the blue/UV energy range) devices - as well as the area of heterogeneous oxidation catalysis. Using state-of-the-art methods it will lead to the development of new materials and devices of relevance to industry.Read moreRead less
Development of constitutive models for concentrated suspensions via particle-level simulations. The outcome of this work will be a comprehensive theoretical framework by which accurate microstructural information is distilled into a macro-scale constitutive model of particulate suspensions, readily useable for modelling of practical industrial applications. This work will have a direct impact on the design capability and performance of a wide range of mechanisms and industrial processes involvin ....Development of constitutive models for concentrated suspensions via particle-level simulations. The outcome of this work will be a comprehensive theoretical framework by which accurate microstructural information is distilled into a macro-scale constitutive model of particulate suspensions, readily useable for modelling of practical industrial applications. This work will have a direct impact on the design capability and performance of a wide range of mechanisms and industrial processes involving suspensions. The development of better models for industrially useful suspensions offers a competitive advantage for a diverse range of Australia industry, from the food preparation sector, to mineral slurry transport, and water filtration and recycling.Read moreRead less
Direct simulation of composite microstructures in fluid and elastic media. The proposed innovative computational methodology will improve the design and performance of a wide range of mechanisms and industrial processes involving particulate inclusions, from engineering to biological applications. The resultant technology will make a contribution to maintain and enhance Australia's role in the development of advanced engineering materials through manipulating their composite microstructures. The ....Direct simulation of composite microstructures in fluid and elastic media. The proposed innovative computational methodology will improve the design and performance of a wide range of mechanisms and industrial processes involving particulate inclusions, from engineering to biological applications. The resultant technology will make a contribution to maintain and enhance Australia's role in the development of advanced engineering materials through manipulating their composite microstructures. The proposed computational method will also lead to new opportunities for Australian companies that develop computer simulation software. Our researchers in computational mechanics will gain further opportunities to extend the advances this project will make.Read moreRead less
Microstructural mechanisms of magnetorheological suspensions. A magnetorheological suspension (MRS) is a "smart material" which shows an enormous but reversible increase in flow resistance upon application of a magnetic field. These tunable fluids have many engineering applications, such as in adjustable vibration damping systems. This project comprises a series of innovative experiments and computer simulations, which will lead to a predictive constitutive model. We will investigate the underly ....Microstructural mechanisms of magnetorheological suspensions. A magnetorheological suspension (MRS) is a "smart material" which shows an enormous but reversible increase in flow resistance upon application of a magnetic field. These tunable fluids have many engineering applications, such as in adjustable vibration damping systems. This project comprises a series of innovative experiments and computer simulations, which will lead to a predictive constitutive model. We will investigate the underlying physical mechanisms governing the mechanical response of MRS, including the behaviour under small strains and under squeeze flow, the effects of rheometer wall conditions, and the role of matrix viscoelasticity or viscoplasticity.Read moreRead less
DYNAMICS OF EARTH'S RADIATION BELTS. Space weather is produced by rapid variations in wave fields and particle populations in near-Earth space, and has many effects. These include damage to spacecraft (causing operational anomalies and loss of service), degrading the performance of GPS, space-ground, HF radio and cable-based networks, and affecting surveillance radars. The core aim of this project is to improve knowledge of the waves and particles causing these effects. While being important to ....DYNAMICS OF EARTH'S RADIATION BELTS. Space weather is produced by rapid variations in wave fields and particle populations in near-Earth space, and has many effects. These include damage to spacecraft (causing operational anomalies and loss of service), degrading the performance of GPS, space-ground, HF radio and cable-based networks, and affecting surveillance radars. The core aim of this project is to improve knowledge of the waves and particles causing these effects. While being important to aerospace engineers, this work also consolidates Australia's international space profile and provides excellent training in this field. Since space weather causes significant radiation exposure to aircraft crew and passengers this work also has broader ramifications.Read moreRead less
Ring Current and Radiation Belt Dynamics. Outbursts of energy from the Sun manifest themselves as geomagnetic storms in the Earth's magnetosphere. These storms can severely disrupt and damage advanced technological systems operating on the ground and in space. Operational spacecraft may experience anomalies, pipelines in the long term may corrode and the performance of GPS navigational systems, HF (High Frequency) communications systems, mobile/cell telephone networks and defence surveillance ra ....Ring Current and Radiation Belt Dynamics. Outbursts of energy from the Sun manifest themselves as geomagnetic storms in the Earth's magnetosphere. These storms can severely disrupt and damage advanced technological systems operating on the ground and in space. Operational spacecraft may experience anomalies, pipelines in the long term may corrode and the performance of GPS navigational systems, HF (High Frequency) communications systems, mobile/cell telephone networks and defence surveillance radars may be degraded. It is important to understand the magnetospheric conditions contributing to these problems. This research identifies relevant mechanisms. It also enhances Australia's international space research profile, contributes to Australia's future and supports excellent postgraduate training.Read moreRead less