Discovering how termites use vibrations to thrive in a predators' world. Our recent research revealed termites use vibrations to avoid predators/competitors for survival. However, the enabling mechanisms of this amazing ability remain unknown. The project aims at unlocking the secrets of these mechanisms by relating the mechanical properties of termite, legs, antennae and sensing organs (measured with advanced micro measurement techniques) to vibration signatures of ants and termites (extracted ....Discovering how termites use vibrations to thrive in a predators' world. Our recent research revealed termites use vibrations to avoid predators/competitors for survival. However, the enabling mechanisms of this amazing ability remain unknown. The project aims at unlocking the secrets of these mechanisms by relating the mechanical properties of termite, legs, antennae and sensing organs (measured with advanced micro measurement techniques) to vibration signatures of ants and termites (extracted using innovative signal processing techniques and nonlinear dynamics). We will develop novel bio-dynamics models that incorporate machine learning. We will test the models’ ability to manipulate termites foraging behaviour, with the ultimate objective of developing chemical-free, vibration-based pest control devices. Read moreRead less
A sentinel network for vibration-based termite control. Termite damage is costly and eradication via chemicals is hazardous to environment and health. As termites use vibrations to make foraging decisions and eavesdrop on competitors/predators, it is feasible but not attempted hitherto to detect and control termites using vibrations. A smart sentinel network will be developed to enable timber infrastructure to be continuously monitored for termites and for termites to be repelled using specific ....A sentinel network for vibration-based termite control. Termite damage is costly and eradication via chemicals is hazardous to environment and health. As termites use vibrations to make foraging decisions and eavesdrop on competitors/predators, it is feasible but not attempted hitherto to detect and control termites using vibrations. A smart sentinel network will be developed to enable timber infrastructure to be continuously monitored for termites and for termites to be repelled using specific vibration signals and manipulated structures, with minimal environmental and health impacts. For this network to be efficient and effective, an improved understanding on how vibrations influence termite sociality will be obtained by studying habituation and signal adaptation on collective behaviour.Read moreRead less
Vibro-acoustic communication in termites. Termites can affect any Australian: one third of all Australian homes are likely to be infested by termites during their lifespan, costing a damage bill of A$780 million annually. Despite this level of damage, our understanding of the underlying foraging behaviour of termites is poor. Termites, being blind, cannot use visual cues and chemical cues are insufficient to explain observed phenomena. Our preliminary work has identified vibro-acoustic signal ....Vibro-acoustic communication in termites. Termites can affect any Australian: one third of all Australian homes are likely to be infested by termites during their lifespan, costing a damage bill of A$780 million annually. Despite this level of damage, our understanding of the underlying foraging behaviour of termites is poor. Termites, being blind, cannot use visual cues and chemical cues are insufficient to explain observed phenomena. Our preliminary work has identified vibro-acoustic signals used for information gathering and communication in foraging. The project aims to study vibro-acoustic mechanisms for communication in termite foraging behaviour. Anticipated outcomes include a significant impact on termite control.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0668493
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$230,000.00
Summary
Characterising particulate laden flow in the lung airways: from drug delivery to primary anthropogenic sources. Facilities will provide infrastructure at Monash University and University of Sydney to continue the collaboration enhancing excellence in an exciting application of fluidics research, supporting the highest level of graduate training, providing innovative tools for industry and promoting industrial collaborations. The infrastructure is unique and will create international funding and ....Characterising particulate laden flow in the lung airways: from drug delivery to primary anthropogenic sources. Facilities will provide infrastructure at Monash University and University of Sydney to continue the collaboration enhancing excellence in an exciting application of fluidics research, supporting the highest level of graduate training, providing innovative tools for industry and promoting industrial collaborations. The infrastructure is unique and will create international funding and collaborative opportunities to support research and postgraduate training. The equipment will add value to existing infrastructure to enhance understanding of particulate flow with the paradoxical outcomes of improving drug deposition in respiratory delivery and of minimising anthropogenic particular deposition for better therapeutic and health outcomes.Read moreRead less
Multiscale modelling and nondeterministic optimisation for reliable stents. This project aims to study modelling and optimisation for a more reliable design of intravascular stents. Intravascular stents are a class of lifelong micro-devices to support blood vessel for restoring circulation. Despite its remarkable initial outcome, the high rate of long-term mechanical failure remains a major concern. This project will tackle plasticity, fatigue damage and fracture across different length scales. ....Multiscale modelling and nondeterministic optimisation for reliable stents. This project aims to study modelling and optimisation for a more reliable design of intravascular stents. Intravascular stents are a class of lifelong micro-devices to support blood vessel for restoring circulation. Despite its remarkable initial outcome, the high rate of long-term mechanical failure remains a major concern. This project will tackle plasticity, fatigue damage and fracture across different length scales. The proposed optimisation is expected to minimise failure, thereby enhancing the longevity and reliability of stent therapy. This will have significant benefits, such as accommodating variations in stents and service conditions for achieving a long-lasting and reliable therapeutical outcome.Read moreRead less
Reduction of Legionnaires' Disease from Cooling Towers. Inhaled water droplets containing Legionella bacteria can cause potentially fatal Legionnaires? disease. Algae are the main source of organic matter in cooling towers on which Legionella feed. If droplets are prevented from leaving the tower they cannot cause disease. If no light enters a cooling tower no algae grow. This project aims to identify and develop designs and measurement methods for cooling towers which give low levels of drople ....Reduction of Legionnaires' Disease from Cooling Towers. Inhaled water droplets containing Legionella bacteria can cause potentially fatal Legionnaires? disease. Algae are the main source of organic matter in cooling towers on which Legionella feed. If droplets are prevented from leaving the tower they cannot cause disease. If no light enters a cooling tower no algae grow. This project aims to identify and develop designs and measurement methods for cooling towers which give low levels of droplets leaving and light entering. The new designs will reduce Legionnaires? disease infections by hundreds of times which eliminates a major urban hazard in Australia.Read moreRead less
Hydrodynamic Stability of the VentrAssist Blood Pump, an Experimental and Numerical Investigation. This project will investigate, both numerically and experimentally, the stability of the impeller-bearing system of a rotary blood pump and will make recommendations about the optimum bearing configurations. Findings from this project will contribute to the commercialisation of the blood pump undertaken by the research Group formed by the staff from UTS, UNSW and VentrAssist Pty Ltd - the first of ....Hydrodynamic Stability of the VentrAssist Blood Pump, an Experimental and Numerical Investigation. This project will investigate, both numerically and experimentally, the stability of the impeller-bearing system of a rotary blood pump and will make recommendations about the optimum bearing configurations. Findings from this project will contribute to the commercialisation of the blood pump undertaken by the research Group formed by the staff from UTS, UNSW and VentrAssist Pty Ltd - the first of its kind in Australia. Rotary blood pumps are at the leading edge of cardiac assist technology worldwide and an investigation of the impeller dynamics will add greatly to the understanding of the related important factors in blood pump design.Read moreRead less
The use of numerical and experimental techniques to develop energy efficient open refrigerated display cabinets. This project will provide knowledge for Australian industry to develop new energy efficient refrigerated display cabinets, putting Australia in the forefront of commercial refrigeration display cabinet technologies. This will have a significant impact on sustainability of our environment and will assist Australia to meet present and future international climate obligations by contrib ....The use of numerical and experimental techniques to develop energy efficient open refrigerated display cabinets. This project will provide knowledge for Australian industry to develop new energy efficient refrigerated display cabinets, putting Australia in the forefront of commercial refrigeration display cabinet technologies. This will have a significant impact on sustainability of our environment and will assist Australia to meet present and future international climate obligations by contributing to the reduction of greenhouse emissions. The Government has already introduced new MEPS levels, and are planning to increase these to more stringent levels in 2007. The development of the techniques proposed in this application will be essential for manufacturers if they are to economically meet these MEPS level requirements. Read moreRead less
Heat Transfer Enhancement Techniques for Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Equipment. The proposed Project will make significant contribution towards the both fundamental understanding of heat transfer enhancement using dimpled surfaces and the design of heat exchangers and, in particular to the application of dimpled surfaces in air conditioning and refrigeration industries. Unlike the previous CFD studies which have been made on the assumptions that the flow is steady and decoupled from the ....Heat Transfer Enhancement Techniques for Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Equipment. The proposed Project will make significant contribution towards the both fundamental understanding of heat transfer enhancement using dimpled surfaces and the design of heat exchangers and, in particular to the application of dimpled surfaces in air conditioning and refrigeration industries. Unlike the previous CFD studies which have been made on the assumptions that the flow is steady and decoupled from the heat transfer calculations in this Project the fully coupled problem will be solved, in which unsteady flows are allowed to occur over a dimpled surfaces. As a result we will be able to more accurately determine the resultant effects on the pressure drop and heat transfer. Read moreRead less
Properties and Characterisation of Magneto-Rheological Materials under Rotating Magnetic Field Excitation. Through the proposed theoretical and experimental studies, new electro-magneto-mechanical phenomena of the MR materials under various vectorial magnetisations will be observed. Based on the in-depth understanding of the complex vectorial magneto-rheological mechanisms, an accurate coupled model will be developed for design and analysis of novel dampers. These outcomes will greatly enhance t ....Properties and Characterisation of Magneto-Rheological Materials under Rotating Magnetic Field Excitation. Through the proposed theoretical and experimental studies, new electro-magneto-mechanical phenomena of the MR materials under various vectorial magnetisations will be observed. Based on the in-depth understanding of the complex vectorial magneto-rheological mechanisms, an accurate coupled model will be developed for design and analysis of novel dampers. These outcomes will greatly enhance the design capacity of Australian industry in smart structures, i.e. using novel dampers to reduce harmful vibrations and protect people in vehicles, buildings, and bridges. This will help Australians to live in a safer and healthier environment, and could save billions of dollars per year nationwide for treatment, recovery, and insurance claims.Read moreRead less