Innovative Rubber Vibration Isolators Using a Variable Die Extrusion Process. Derby Rubber's innovative variable-die extrusion process opens new possibilities for vibration-isolation pads, such as those used to isolate industrial machinery and railway tracks. Conceivably, clever, simple inexpensive solutions can be tailored to each application to provide most of the benefits of complex, expensive systems. The market would be large, and the margins attractive. We aim to achieve this via wide-rang ....Innovative Rubber Vibration Isolators Using a Variable Die Extrusion Process. Derby Rubber's innovative variable-die extrusion process opens new possibilities for vibration-isolation pads, such as those used to isolate industrial machinery and railway tracks. Conceivably, clever, simple inexpensive solutions can be tailored to each application to provide most of the benefits of complex, expensive systems. The market would be large, and the margins attractive. We aim to achieve this via wide-ranging innovation based on creativity in conceptual design, ingenuity of production process, and reliability in testing, all underpinned by new analytical capabilities to enable pad designs to be assessed in the design stage and subsequently tailored to a specific application.Read moreRead less
Plastic deformation and failure of high strength rail steels in heavy haul transportation of mineral products. The Australian Government has made infrastructure, including rail, as a national priority for investment to meet the freight transport demand. This project focuses on the deformation and failure of rail in heavy haul lines to transport ores in the mining industry. The outcomes will be applied to ensure the structural integrity of rail infrastructure.
Advanced IC engine diagnostics. The techniques to be developed will greatly improve the reliability of diesel engines, many of which are used in the mining and transport industries, extremely important to Australia's economy, and often remotely located. Not only will unforeseen costly breakdowns be minimized, but also the cost of excessive maintenance operations. This Australian developed technology will gain prestige from association with the internationally recognised company LMS International ....Advanced IC engine diagnostics. The techniques to be developed will greatly improve the reliability of diesel engines, many of which are used in the mining and transport industries, extremely important to Australia's economy, and often remotely located. Not only will unforeseen costly breakdowns be minimized, but also the cost of excessive maintenance operations. This Australian developed technology will gain prestige from association with the internationally recognised company LMS International, who supply test and simulation systems to most of the world's leading manufacturers of vehicles, aircraft etc.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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100273
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$407,679.00
Summary
Supercomputing to understand track buckling and related train derailments. This project aims to understand the contributions of railway train forces to a dangerous and high-cost track dynamic behaviour called buckling; by developing a supercomputing method that unlocks the capability for large-scale 3D train-track interaction research for railway trains of up to 250 vehicles. This project expects to generate new knowledge regarding track buckling, train derailments and train-track dynamics. Expe ....Supercomputing to understand track buckling and related train derailments. This project aims to understand the contributions of railway train forces to a dangerous and high-cost track dynamic behaviour called buckling; by developing a supercomputing method that unlocks the capability for large-scale 3D train-track interaction research for railway trains of up to 250 vehicles. This project expects to generate new knowledge regarding track buckling, train derailments and train-track dynamics. Expected outcomes include a new supercomputing method for train-track dynamics and derailment research and a science-based technique to assess track buckling safety. This project should provide significant benefits to the rail industry including enhanced rail safety, lower maintenance costs and improved transport efficiency.Read moreRead less
Novel vibro-acoustic technologies for detecting bearing and wheel defects in rail vehicles. Research will be conducted to provide the basis for the development of a novel automatic system that detects bearing and wheel defects in under-way railway wagons, thus helping to prevent catastrophic derailments and minimise fuel consumption. It will also maintain Australian industry at the forefront of the global track-side monitoring industry.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453398
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$161,075.00
Summary
A Non Contact Facility For Measuring Irreversible Energy, Residual Stress, and Full Field Stresses for Critical Rail Infra-Structure Assessment. To meet the national rail objectives as enunciated in the 2002 Green Paper there is an urgent requirement for a capability for: i) advanced (rail) prototype assessment, ii) rapid assessment of rail infra-structure, iii) for increasing the capacity of existing (rail) infra-structure. To address this we propose a facility with both a dissipative energy m ....A Non Contact Facility For Measuring Irreversible Energy, Residual Stress, and Full Field Stresses for Critical Rail Infra-Structure Assessment. To meet the national rail objectives as enunciated in the 2002 Green Paper there is an urgent requirement for a capability for: i) advanced (rail) prototype assessment, ii) rapid assessment of rail infra-structure, iii) for increasing the capacity of existing (rail) infra-structure. To address this we propose a facility with both a dissipative energy measurement and a 'lock in' thermograpghy capability. Recent Australian developments in thermo-elasticity enables the researchers to extend this facility to measure residual stress in complex components. The ability to measure dissipated energy, residual stress, ultrasonic waves, and full field stress will create a unique research capability.Read moreRead less
Prediction and control of fluid-structure interactions. Fluid-flows create a pressure that can deform the surface of a structure or cause it to vibrate; an extreme example is the fluttering of a flag. Flow-induced vibration of the external panels of vehicles causes damage, noise and can adversely affect performance. This project will develop a wholly new approach for the analysis of these interactions. The versatility and completeness of the approach permits a step-change in the design of panels ....Prediction and control of fluid-structure interactions. Fluid-flows create a pressure that can deform the surface of a structure or cause it to vibrate; an extreme example is the fluttering of a flag. Flow-induced vibration of the external panels of vehicles causes damage, noise and can adversely affect performance. This project will develop a wholly new approach for the analysis of these interactions. The versatility and completeness of the approach permits a step-change in the design of panels, reducing material and manufacturing costs without compromise to safety and performance - an immense benefit for the myriad engineered products or structures that feature flow over a deformable surface. Read moreRead less
Taming turbulence: Hydrodynamic stability and flow-structure interaction using grid-free computation. Turbulence is characterized as seemingly disordered fluctuations that impede the progress of an object through a fluid by creating increased frictional or drag forces. Using a new type of fluid-flow simulation, this project will generate advanced understanding of turbulence in the flow over the surface of a vehicle, be it a ship, car, aircraft or within a pipe, with the technological objective o ....Taming turbulence: Hydrodynamic stability and flow-structure interaction using grid-free computation. Turbulence is characterized as seemingly disordered fluctuations that impede the progress of an object through a fluid by creating increased frictional or drag forces. Using a new type of fluid-flow simulation, this project will generate advanced understanding of turbulence in the flow over the surface of a vehicle, be it a ship, car, aircraft or within a pipe, with the technological objective of reducing drag by adhering a compliant skin to the surface. While the correct choice of compliance relies upon understanding very complex flow-structure dynamics, the resulting technology is simple, robust and has low capital and maintenance costs. Clearly, drag reduction reduces fuel costs and lower fuel consumption is environmentally beneficial. Read moreRead less
Designing for Safe and Durable Structures. This project creates advanced concepts and tools for the analysis/design of new structures, and structural modifications with safety and durability constraints. It involves the marriage of the alternative finite element techniques, for assessing durability, recent developments in structural optimisations, and advances in parallel processing techniques. This project builds on the applicants recent pioneering work, one of which won the best paper award ....Designing for Safe and Durable Structures. This project creates advanced concepts and tools for the analysis/design of new structures, and structural modifications with safety and durability constraints. It involves the marriage of the alternative finite element techniques, for assessing durability, recent developments in structural optimisations, and advances in parallel processing techniques. This project builds on the applicants recent pioneering work, one of which won the best paper award at the 2nd Australasian Conference on Applied Mechanics. By marrying the skills associated with three internationally recognised key researchers this proposal represents a major advance in the basic understanding of structural optimisation and creates unique research linkages.Read moreRead less