Nonlinear Analysis And Behaviour Of Thin Concrete Axisymmeric Shells. This project concerns the highly complex behaviour of thin concrete shells and domes. These structures were in vogue in Australia in the 1970's because their construction is highly efficient, but their use ceased following several collapses. The reason was an inability at the time to predict their behaviour, which requires challenging theoretical methodologies and computer software. The project will develop sophisticated mathe ....Nonlinear Analysis And Behaviour Of Thin Concrete Axisymmeric Shells. This project concerns the highly complex behaviour of thin concrete shells and domes. These structures were in vogue in Australia in the 1970's because their construction is highly efficient, but their use ceased following several collapses. The reason was an inability at the time to predict their behaviour, which requires challenging theoretical methodologies and computer software. The project will develop sophisticated mathematical tools, that include concrete shrinkage, creep, cracking and thermal effects, to enable the design of safe concrete shells and domes, and it is underpinned by and builds on support awarded recently by the ARC to the investigators.Read moreRead less
Nonlinear Analysis and Behaviour of Shallow Concrete Arches. Concrete arches are widespread structural elements, but they are usually deep so that predicting their response is routine. The analysis of shallow arches is much more difficult, and with the contemporary use of higher strength concretes, shallow arches are often the optimum geometric configuration. This project aims to investigate the profoundly nonlinear behaviour of flat arches, which may be close to snap-through buckling, even unde ....Nonlinear Analysis and Behaviour of Shallow Concrete Arches. Concrete arches are widespread structural elements, but they are usually deep so that predicting their response is routine. The analysis of shallow arches is much more difficult, and with the contemporary use of higher strength concretes, shallow arches are often the optimum geometric configuration. This project aims to investigate the profoundly nonlinear behaviour of flat arches, which may be close to snap-through buckling, even under service load, due to creep and shrinkage. This research will fill an important gap in structural mechanics, and produce fundamental insights into the response of arches containing concrete. The outcomes will include much needed design guidance.Read moreRead less
Infrastructure project delivery: a life cycle evaluation model for public private partnerships. Governments continue to embrace public-private partnerships so as to obtain value for money and provide financial accountability to taxpayers. This project will determine the most appropriate way to engage the private sector in infrastructure delivery and develop a dynamic life cycle evaluation model to ensure projects are delivered effectively and efficiently.
Fundamentals of Damage Identification in Tubular Structures Using Guided Waves. This project addresses fundamental but frontier issues and techniques that will lead to ultimate solutions for online integrity/safety assessment of tubular engineering structures. The most important outcome will be the development of fundamental knowledge and algorithms of guided wave-based damage identification in tubular structures in applications, putting Australia at the international forefront of techniques in ....Fundamentals of Damage Identification in Tubular Structures Using Guided Waves. This project addresses fundamental but frontier issues and techniques that will lead to ultimate solutions for online integrity/safety assessment of tubular engineering structures. The most important outcome will be the development of fundamental knowledge and algorithms of guided wave-based damage identification in tubular structures in applications, putting Australia at the international forefront of techniques in efficient asset maintenance and management. This project focuses on cutting-edge technologies, including sensor networks with signal filtering/processing and software/hardware integration, which will incubate the commercialisation of practical sensor networks, benefiting the intellectual leadership of Australia.Read moreRead less
Use of rammed earth in Aboriginal communities of Australia. An exhaustive set of engineering and construction guidelines for rammed earth will be elaborated in order to produce affordable, safe and cost-effective houses in Aboriginal areas of Australia. The outcome of this project is the production of a 'Proposal Form for Standards Development' for rammed earth to be submitted to Standards Australia.
Optimising the design and implementation of public transport priority initiatives. This project strengthens national approaches to a pervasive Australian problem, growing traffic congestion deteriorating liveability, environmental health & economic performance of the cities where most Australians live. Public transport can address these issues but most is provided by buses which are caught up in traffic congestion. This project improves approaches for traffic priority design to improve the eff ....Optimising the design and implementation of public transport priority initiatives. This project strengthens national approaches to a pervasive Australian problem, growing traffic congestion deteriorating liveability, environmental health & economic performance of the cities where most Australians live. Public transport can address these issues but most is provided by buses which are caught up in traffic congestion. This project improves approaches for traffic priority design to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of on-road public transport. It optimises the design of individual and groups of priority treatments and will generate diagnostic tools to better target priority treatments. Findings will better focus Australia's approach to increasingly challenging transport futures.Read moreRead less
Optimising Decentralised Membrane Bioreactors for Water Reuse. Water is a critical resource in Australia and as pressures on water resources increase, water recycling has emerged as an important component of water management practises throughout Australia. Decentralised wastewater treatment systems (or package plants) offer opportunities for water recycling in regional communities; however this application is limited by our understanding on the removal of contaminants of concern through these tr ....Optimising Decentralised Membrane Bioreactors for Water Reuse. Water is a critical resource in Australia and as pressures on water resources increase, water recycling has emerged as an important component of water management practises throughout Australia. Decentralised wastewater treatment systems (or package plants) offer opportunities for water recycling in regional communities; however this application is limited by our understanding on the removal of contaminants of concern through these treatment systems. This project will assess the suitability and efficiency of decentralised membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for the removal of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) and pathogens in accordance with the 2006 National Guidelines for Water Recycling.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0883080
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$490,000.00
Summary
Detection of Trace Concentrations of Chemical Contaminants in Urban Water Systems. Water is a critical resource in Australia and as pressures on water resources increase, water recycling is becoming more prevalent. The presence of chemical contaminants such as low concentrations (ng/L) of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs), endocrine disrupters (EDCs) and other organic micropollutants in the aquatic environment has received much attention around the world including Australia due to their ....Detection of Trace Concentrations of Chemical Contaminants in Urban Water Systems. Water is a critical resource in Australia and as pressures on water resources increase, water recycling is becoming more prevalent. The presence of chemical contaminants such as low concentrations (ng/L) of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs), endocrine disrupters (EDCs) and other organic micropollutants in the aquatic environment has received much attention around the world including Australia due to their potential biological impact in urban water systems. The proposed equipment aims to establish analytical techniques and instrumental capacity for the selective analysis of chemical contaminants in order to improve our understanding of the fate of these compounds through different urban water systems.Read moreRead less
Optimising dissolved air flotation (DAF) for algae removal by bubble modification in drinking water and advanced wastewater systems. Algal blooms in potable water reservoirs and advanced wastewater treatment lagoons can impact the performance and economic viability of water treatment processes resulting in taste and odour episodes and the risk of algal toxins as well as causing further limitation to already stressed water resources in Australia. This project aims to develop an adaptation of the ....Optimising dissolved air flotation (DAF) for algae removal by bubble modification in drinking water and advanced wastewater systems. Algal blooms in potable water reservoirs and advanced wastewater treatment lagoons can impact the performance and economic viability of water treatment processes resulting in taste and odour episodes and the risk of algal toxins as well as causing further limitation to already stressed water resources in Australia. This project aims to develop an adaptation of the dissolved air flotation process that is already used for algae treatment that will provide a more robust, economic and sustainable barrier to algal cells in accordance with the Australian Drinking and Recycled Water Guidelines.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100089
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
Performance level structural testing facility. A structural testing facility is proposed for the new Advanced Engineering Building at The University of Queensland. The focus of the research supported by this facility will ensure the functionality of Australia’s infrastructure resources and the development of new engineering solutions that will enhance the country’s long-term economic growth.