Failure Mechanisms of Roof Cladding under Fluctuating Wind Loads. Wind damage to low-rise buildings cause disruption to communities and result in economic losses. Improvements to the most vulnerable part (i.e. roof) will therefore have national benefits and associated economic benefits. Currently, roofing systems used in cyclonic areas are evaluated to DABM in the Northern Territory and to TR440 elsewhere, requiring the same product be tested under two different (and unsatisfactory) specificat ....Failure Mechanisms of Roof Cladding under Fluctuating Wind Loads. Wind damage to low-rise buildings cause disruption to communities and result in economic losses. Improvements to the most vulnerable part (i.e. roof) will therefore have national benefits and associated economic benefits. Currently, roofing systems used in cyclonic areas are evaluated to DABM in the Northern Territory and to TR440 elsewhere, requiring the same product be tested under two different (and unsatisfactory) specifications. This is due to the limited understanding of wind-induced fatigue of cladding. This project will provide the framework for understanding and minimizing cladding fatigue. A realistic single test will also reduce cost and result in better design systems.Read moreRead less
Reducing Blackout Risk through Live Modelling and Monitoring. This project aims to reduce the risk of blackouts through the development of on-line systems for modelling and monitoring of loads and power system controllers. This project is a collaboration with Transgrid, Powerlink, Vencorp and ElectraNetSA, four Transmission companies renowned for innovation in the area of system stability. The project proposes to develop innovative algorithms and to implement these algorithms using advanced hard ....Reducing Blackout Risk through Live Modelling and Monitoring. This project aims to reduce the risk of blackouts through the development of on-line systems for modelling and monitoring of loads and power system controllers. This project is a collaboration with Transgrid, Powerlink, Vencorp and ElectraNetSA, four Transmission companies renowned for innovation in the area of system stability. The project proposes to develop innovative algorithms and to implement these algorithms using advanced hardware, software and communication systems to dynamically generate decision tools for safe and efficient power system operating conditions. These systems will also generate alarms if any risky operational situations arise.Read moreRead less
Development of Fibre Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Products. The construction industry is one of the world's largest consumers of raw materials and it is widely accepted that current material usage trends are unsustainable. Development of new more efficient construction materials is paramount to overcoming this. This novel research will use advanced high strength glass and carbon fibres and polymer resins to improve the structural behaviour, versatility and economic viability of a natio ....Development of Fibre Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Products. The construction industry is one of the world's largest consumers of raw materials and it is widely accepted that current material usage trends are unsustainable. Development of new more efficient construction materials is paramount to overcoming this. This novel research will use advanced high strength glass and carbon fibres and polymer resins to improve the structural behaviour, versatility and economic viability of a nationally significant construction material known as Autoclaved Aerated Concrete. The material technologies developed by this research will lead to more efficient material use, a more sustainable materials solution and the potential to export the technology worldwide.Read moreRead less
New open MRI Technology for Kinematic Orthopaedic Imaging. This application intends to significantly enhance Open MRI as applied to dynamic joint imaging by technological and methodological innovation. Expected outcomes include better technology for the imaging of joints under loaded movement and consequently, improved understanding of joint function and disease. This technology will provide unique ability in Australia and brings together highly skilled groups in Biomedical Engineering, medical ....New open MRI Technology for Kinematic Orthopaedic Imaging. This application intends to significantly enhance Open MRI as applied to dynamic joint imaging by technological and methodological innovation. Expected outcomes include better technology for the imaging of joints under loaded movement and consequently, improved understanding of joint function and disease. This technology will provide unique ability in Australia and brings together highly skilled groups in Biomedical Engineering, medical equipment manufacturing and design and musculo-skeletal imaging.Read moreRead less
Optimum aeration strategies for shallow tidally flushed lakes. Shallow tidally flushed lakes frequently suffer from water quality problems which include catastrophic fish kills. Frequently these events are related to the response of a highly modified system to a natural event. One event is the change from a saline to a fresh environment with seasonal freshwater inflow, in which case the salt tolerant algal species dies. The balance between photosynthesis, sediment uptake, surface oxygen transfer ....Optimum aeration strategies for shallow tidally flushed lakes. Shallow tidally flushed lakes frequently suffer from water quality problems which include catastrophic fish kills. Frequently these events are related to the response of a highly modified system to a natural event. One event is the change from a saline to a fresh environment with seasonal freshwater inflow, in which case the salt tolerant algal species dies. The balance between photosynthesis, sediment uptake, surface oxygen transfer and flushing is lost, with the result that the lake quickly becomes anoxic, resulting in fish kills. This project examines some aeration solutions to this problem.Read moreRead less
Role of Reactive Particles in Explosive Emulsions. Concentrated water-in oil explosive emulsions are widely used in the minerals industry because they are cheap, easily detonated and relatively safe to handle. Their explosive energy can be significantly increased when reactive particles are introduced into the emulsion matrix. To do this, the interaction between the solid, oil, and water phases needs to be optimised. This investigation will increase our basic understanding of the physical and ch ....Role of Reactive Particles in Explosive Emulsions. Concentrated water-in oil explosive emulsions are widely used in the minerals industry because they are cheap, easily detonated and relatively safe to handle. Their explosive energy can be significantly increased when reactive particles are introduced into the emulsion matrix. To do this, the interaction between the solid, oil, and water phases needs to be optimised. This investigation will increase our basic understanding of the physical and chemical interactions that occur between the particle and the oil-water interface, and develop a more efficient explosive that can be produced continuously on a commercial scale.Read moreRead less
Monitoring and Maintaining the Structural Health of Bridges Using Vibration Characteristics. Bridges form an important part of our physical infrastructure system and in Queensland alone there are nearly 3000 bridges with an annual maintenance cost in excess of 20 million dollars and a replacement value in excess of 2 billion dollars. It is necessary to ensure that these bridges function safely and efficiently at all times. Bridge failure will cause disruption to normal lives and expensive repa ....Monitoring and Maintaining the Structural Health of Bridges Using Vibration Characteristics. Bridges form an important part of our physical infrastructure system and in Queensland alone there are nearly 3000 bridges with an annual maintenance cost in excess of 20 million dollars and a replacement value in excess of 2 billion dollars. It is necessary to ensure that these bridges function safely and efficiently at all times. Bridge failure will cause disruption to normal lives and expensive repairs. Towards this end, this project will develop an innovative structural health monitoring system to monitor and maintain the structural health of our bridges. The project outcomes will have immediate applications in Australia and overseas with economic and social benefits to the community.Read moreRead less
Improving road network operations under non-recurrent events. This project aims to develop an innovative approach for improving Road Network Operations (RNO) under non-recurrent events through analysis of big data and images. The outcomes of this project can not only improve the mobility of people, but also provide improved safety outcomes for all users of the transport network. It will help optimise traffic control strategies and traffic designs, reduce the maintenance cost for road infrastruc ....Improving road network operations under non-recurrent events. This project aims to develop an innovative approach for improving Road Network Operations (RNO) under non-recurrent events through analysis of big data and images. The outcomes of this project can not only improve the mobility of people, but also provide improved safety outcomes for all users of the transport network. It will help optimise traffic control strategies and traffic designs, reduce the maintenance cost for road infrastructure and improve quality of life.Read moreRead less
The Effect of Fines Particles on Production and Permeability of cbm Reservoirs. Coalbed methane (cbm) energy resources in Australia exceed $20b in value. One of the production issues with recovering cbm is fines that are created or exist in the coal, which block gas flow to the recovery wells and damage downstream equipment. Understanding how fines are created and migrate within gas wells and then overcoming this problem, the purpose of this research, could deliver additional gas production wort ....The Effect of Fines Particles on Production and Permeability of cbm Reservoirs. Coalbed methane (cbm) energy resources in Australia exceed $20b in value. One of the production issues with recovering cbm is fines that are created or exist in the coal, which block gas flow to the recovery wells and damage downstream equipment. Understanding how fines are created and migrate within gas wells and then overcoming this problem, the purpose of this research, could deliver additional gas production worth over $1.8billion and reduce maintenance costs related to cbm extraction by $25m per year.Read moreRead less
Development of an adaptive statistical model for oceanic flooding hazards along the East Australian coast. Planning of invaluable coastal infrastructure and housing is critical to the economic and social well-being of Australian communities. Devastating flooding along coasts and estuaries in Australia frequently occurred before 1980, but has been less common since. However, the risks are clear and enormous as demonstrated in recent disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami ....Development of an adaptive statistical model for oceanic flooding hazards along the East Australian coast. Planning of invaluable coastal infrastructure and housing is critical to the economic and social well-being of Australian communities. Devastating flooding along coasts and estuaries in Australia frequently occurred before 1980, but has been less common since. However, the risks are clear and enormous as demonstrated in recent disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami. Climate change makes flood predictions even more difficult. This project will develop a new adaptive model which accounts for both the present and future climate and also regional variability. The research will be in collaboration with the NSW Dept of Climate Change to enable rapid government action to improve community trust in flood protection. Read moreRead less