Fatigue Life Prediction of Nano-filler Modified Composites. The proposed project aims to study the behaviour and the failure mechanisms of polymer nanocomposites under cyclic loading. The outcomes of the project will make original contributions to our knowledge base on such materials. The mechanics modelling and statistical analysis of the prediction of fatigue life will provide a sound physical basis and a useful tool for any future improvement and optimisation of the composites to achieve bett ....Fatigue Life Prediction of Nano-filler Modified Composites. The proposed project aims to study the behaviour and the failure mechanisms of polymer nanocomposites under cyclic loading. The outcomes of the project will make original contributions to our knowledge base on such materials. The mechanics modelling and statistical analysis of the prediction of fatigue life will provide a sound physical basis and a useful tool for any future improvement and optimisation of the composites to achieve better reliability and integrity in their intended applications. This study will bring economic benefits to the end-users of advanced material technology including the Australian materials industries. Read moreRead less
A Microstructure Based Approach to Steel Design for Improved Crash Performance. There is a continual need for the automotive industry to develop vehicles with increased fuel efficiency and safety. This research will establish how different types of new advanced steels can contribute to improved crash worthiness, while also helping to increase fuel efficiency through lighter weight. This will lead to the development of new steels that offer even better crash performance while also providing more ....A Microstructure Based Approach to Steel Design for Improved Crash Performance. There is a continual need for the automotive industry to develop vehicles with increased fuel efficiency and safety. This research will establish how different types of new advanced steels can contribute to improved crash worthiness, while also helping to increase fuel efficiency through lighter weight. This will lead to the development of new steels that offer even better crash performance while also providing more realistic computer models for car designers.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775656
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$490,000.00
Summary
High Rate Testing System for Materials and Structures. Human or natural disasters such as terrorist attack or tsunami take place and they have catastrophic consequences, in terms of fatalities and psyche of fear among the population, as well as enormous financial loss. Vehicle accident is another example. In Australia, 1636 people were killed in 1481 road crashes, in 2005 alone. There is a great demand for research into devising novel materials and structures for optimum performance under such c ....High Rate Testing System for Materials and Structures. Human or natural disasters such as terrorist attack or tsunami take place and they have catastrophic consequences, in terms of fatalities and psyche of fear among the population, as well as enormous financial loss. Vehicle accident is another example. In Australia, 1636 people were killed in 1481 road crashes, in 2005 alone. There is a great demand for research into devising novel materials and structures for optimum performance under such circumstances. The proposed new high rate testing system will significantly advance research in this area. The facility will directly support a range of research projects in material and structural design in military and civil vehicles, aerospace industry and defence.Read moreRead less
Design Strategy for Cold Roll Formed Products. Roll forming is a widely used metal forming technology in Australia. The demands for shorter lead times, more complex shapes, new high strength materials and more demanding markets such as the automotive industry, requires increased virtual engineering at the design stage. This project will develop the models and tools required to enable the industry to efficiently design robust roll configurations to meet current and future demands. The outcomes ....Design Strategy for Cold Roll Formed Products. Roll forming is a widely used metal forming technology in Australia. The demands for shorter lead times, more complex shapes, new high strength materials and more demanding markets such as the automotive industry, requires increased virtual engineering at the design stage. This project will develop the models and tools required to enable the industry to efficiently design robust roll configurations to meet current and future demands. The outcomes from this project will not only benefit the industry partners involved but the general Australian roll forming industry, opening up new markets and opportunities.Read moreRead less
Enhanced Mechanical Properties of Steel Sheet through Novel Approach in Asymmetric Rolling. Steel sheet production is one of the major industries in Australia, which impacts the automotive and construction industries. There is an ongoing requirement to increase the strength of steel sheet without compromising ductility, which improves the strength / weight ratio and the automobile fuel efficiency. The novel rolling process proposed has the potential to address these requirements. The industrial ....Enhanced Mechanical Properties of Steel Sheet through Novel Approach in Asymmetric Rolling. Steel sheet production is one of the major industries in Australia, which impacts the automotive and construction industries. There is an ongoing requirement to increase the strength of steel sheet without compromising ductility, which improves the strength / weight ratio and the automobile fuel efficiency. The novel rolling process proposed has the potential to address these requirements. The industrial partner Tata Steel is a global steelmaker who has strategic partnerships with Bluescope Steel in Australia. The technology to be developed will be exploited both overseas and within Australia and assist in bringing Australia to a leading position in this area of research.Read moreRead less
Flexible roll forming of advanced high strength steel sheet . This project will develop light weight automotive components to assist fuel economy and crash worthiness through flexible roll forming. This process has the potential to form complex shapes from very high strength steels in a very cost effective and efficient small scale operation, highly suited to Australian manufacturing.
Reducing tool wear through novel surface treatments and improved lubrication. High strength steels can be used to make vehicles lighter and safer but forming them into parts requires large forces. This can lead to problems with tool wear and poor surface finish. This project will lead to improved understanding of what makes a lubricant effective and how to design a tool surface to reduce wear. This new knowledge will lead to improved tool designs and products. The competitiveness of the Australi ....Reducing tool wear through novel surface treatments and improved lubrication. High strength steels can be used to make vehicles lighter and safer but forming them into parts requires large forces. This can lead to problems with tool wear and poor surface finish. This project will lead to improved understanding of what makes a lubricant effective and how to design a tool surface to reduce wear. This new knowledge will lead to improved tool designs and products. The competitiveness of the Australian automotive manufacturing industry will be improved and there will be benefits for the local tooling industry, especially in the competition for overseas markets.Read moreRead less
Optimal Topological Design of 3D Continuum Structures for Crashworthiness. There is a widespread need throughout the Australian transport, defence and construction industries for high performance energy absorption devices. Data from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau show that in 2002 there were 1,715 people killed in 1,525 crashes in Australia. The proposed research will develop advanced techniques for improving crashworthiness of vehicles, roadside barriers and other energy absorption devi ....Optimal Topological Design of 3D Continuum Structures for Crashworthiness. There is a widespread need throughout the Australian transport, defence and construction industries for high performance energy absorption devices. Data from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau show that in 2002 there were 1,715 people killed in 1,525 crashes in Australia. The proposed research will develop advanced techniques for improving crashworthiness of vehicles, roadside barriers and other energy absorption devices. This will lead to significant reductions in injury to people and damage to structures caused by impact; and thus substantial savings for the nation from the enormous costs associated with the fatalities, injuries and structural damages. Read moreRead less
Life Extension of Equipment Suffering Environmentally-Assisted Cracking: An Innovative Approach to Mitigation by Engineering of Materials in Service. Environmentally-assisted cracking (EAC) represents a serious threat to infrastructure exposed to caustic and chloride environments in process, marine, energy and chemical industries in Australia. Despite extensive research, there is no consensus mechanism for EAC. This project will investigate a fresh approach to life extension of in-service equipm ....Life Extension of Equipment Suffering Environmentally-Assisted Cracking: An Innovative Approach to Mitigation by Engineering of Materials in Service. Environmentally-assisted cracking (EAC) represents a serious threat to infrastructure exposed to caustic and chloride environments in process, marine, energy and chemical industries in Australia. Despite extensive research, there is no consensus mechanism for EAC. This project will investigate a fresh approach to life extension of in-service equipment suffering EAC, by developing and testing a mitigation measure reasonably independent of the EAC mechanisms. The task includes development of a consolidated strategy based on: accurate determination of the fundamental parameters for crack propagation, and in-situ thermomechnical treatment for local manipulation of material at and ahead of crack-tip, in order to retard/stop crack propagation.Read moreRead less
Developing Light Weight Automotive Structures. In Australia, most automotive companies are now considering advanced high strength, formable steels for weight reduction. These steels are extremely complex with little published research in key areas of their application. The objective is to develop a detailed understanding of the forming and post forming properties of a range of these steels and from this to design and produce new lighter weight automotive structures. This work will include improv ....Developing Light Weight Automotive Structures. In Australia, most automotive companies are now considering advanced high strength, formable steels for weight reduction. These steels are extremely complex with little published research in key areas of their application. The objective is to develop a detailed understanding of the forming and post forming properties of a range of these steels and from this to design and produce new lighter weight automotive structures. This work will include improved finite element models to predict the shape as well as a detailed understanding of how to manufacture components from these steels at high production rates and the mechanical properties after manufacturing.
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