Securing Longevity of Reinforced Concrete Infrastructure Through Enhanced Cathodic Protection Design. The sustainability of Australia's extensive maritime infrastructure is impaired by corrosion, causing ongoing rehabilitation and reduced service life. Cathodic protection (CP) is most widely used to restore corrosion-damaged concrete, however the design principles are debated and uncertainty exists on how ongoing performance should be monitored. Australian Industry will benefit from: (i) Less ex ....Securing Longevity of Reinforced Concrete Infrastructure Through Enhanced Cathodic Protection Design. The sustainability of Australia's extensive maritime infrastructure is impaired by corrosion, causing ongoing rehabilitation and reduced service life. Cathodic protection (CP) is most widely used to restore corrosion-damaged concrete, however the design principles are debated and uncertainty exists on how ongoing performance should be monitored. Australian Industry will benefit from: (i) Less expenditure and disruption to operations of key infrastructure; (ii) More sustainable maritime infrastructure requiring less labour, time and capital expenditure on inspection, testing, maintenance and rehabilitation works;(iii)Availability of experts with advanced training in CP of reinforced concrete; (iv) Update Australian CP Standard AS 2832.5-2002Read moreRead less
Converting Biomass into Value-Added Catalysts for Water Electrolysis. This project aims to employ agricultural waste to manufacture new highly active and stable non-precious metal catalysts for accelerating hydrogen production from water electrolysis. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the development of low-cost and sustainable catalysts for renewable hydrogen production and new technology for converting agricultural waste into value-added catalysts. The project outcomes are expec ....Converting Biomass into Value-Added Catalysts for Water Electrolysis. This project aims to employ agricultural waste to manufacture new highly active and stable non-precious metal catalysts for accelerating hydrogen production from water electrolysis. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the development of low-cost and sustainable catalysts for renewable hydrogen production and new technology for converting agricultural waste into value-added catalysts. The project outcomes are expected to benefit Australia by creating new commercial opportunities in ‘waste-to-catalyst’ conversion and generating a new pathway for managing and recycling agricultural waste, thus providing both environmental and economic benefits while contributing to a sustainable economy.Read moreRead less
Novel nanosensors for monitoring of water filtration membrane integrity. Novel nanosensors for monitoring of water filtration membrane integrity. This project aims to develop arrays of electrochemical biosensors based on nanostructured silicon for real-time monitoring of water filtration membrane integrity. Real-time monitoring of membrane performance, based on removing virus-sized particles, is a priority for the water industry to maximise asset life and meet increased demand for safe and high- ....Novel nanosensors for monitoring of water filtration membrane integrity. Novel nanosensors for monitoring of water filtration membrane integrity. This project aims to develop arrays of electrochemical biosensors based on nanostructured silicon for real-time monitoring of water filtration membrane integrity. Real-time monitoring of membrane performance, based on removing virus-sized particles, is a priority for the water industry to maximise asset life and meet increased demand for safe and high-quality water. Materials scientists, electrochemists, and specialists in water management and reuse aim to harness advances in nanostructured transducers and electrochemical protocols to develop online performance-monitoring technology. This project is expected to improve water treatment processes, removing viruses and reducing the risks and uncertainties of water recycling.Read moreRead less
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
Designing dendrimer-based lymphatic drug vectors as improved treatments for metastatic cancer. This project builds on areas of research strength in Australia (nanotechnology and biotechnology/biomaterials) and will add considerably to the expanding Australian expertise-base in dendrimer technology (in which it is a world leader). The project will advance the fundamental science base that underpins dendrimer design and has the potential to deliver substantial benefits in improved drug delivery an ....Designing dendrimer-based lymphatic drug vectors as improved treatments for metastatic cancer. This project builds on areas of research strength in Australia (nanotechnology and biotechnology/biomaterials) and will add considerably to the expanding Australian expertise-base in dendrimer technology (in which it is a world leader). The project will advance the fundamental science base that underpins dendrimer design and has the potential to deliver substantial benefits in improved drug delivery and therefore health outcomes for Australia. The interdisciplinary nature of this project will also result in a unique training program for the researchers involved. Such experience is in great demand in Australia where the developing biotechnology and nanotechnology industry is critically short of scientists with skills in drug delivery.Read moreRead less
A structure-based design approach to maximising targeting interactions. This project aims to build on a highly successful collaboration between the Australian biotechnology company Starpharma and Monash University, to better understand the design of next generation nanomaterials that home to specific target cells. The project seeks to capitalize on recent advances in dendrimer chemistry and protein engineering to explore the design of nanomaterials linked to engineered antibody fragments. The an ....A structure-based design approach to maximising targeting interactions. This project aims to build on a highly successful collaboration between the Australian biotechnology company Starpharma and Monash University, to better understand the design of next generation nanomaterials that home to specific target cells. The project seeks to capitalize on recent advances in dendrimer chemistry and protein engineering to explore the design of nanomaterials linked to engineered antibody fragments. The anticipated goal is attainment of exquisite, cell specific targeting affinity. Targeted nanomaterials have the potential to transform the clarity of imaging technologies; to facilitate the design of sensors and diagnostics that detect biochemical change in highly select cell populations and to revolutionise drug delivery.Read moreRead less
An innovative light weight composite panel system for high speed modular construction. This project aims to develop an innovative composite panel system using aerated geopolymer and a thin high strength steel casing. The new panel system aims to have a number of significant enhancements compared to traditional panels in terms of load resistance, much lower carbon footprint and life-cycle costs. It aims to offer desirable properties, such as being light-weight, easy to construct, economical, recy ....An innovative light weight composite panel system for high speed modular construction. This project aims to develop an innovative composite panel system using aerated geopolymer and a thin high strength steel casing. The new panel system aims to have a number of significant enhancements compared to traditional panels in terms of load resistance, much lower carbon footprint and life-cycle costs. It aims to offer desirable properties, such as being light-weight, easy to construct, economical, recyclable and reusable. A significant gap in knowledge exists in the material and system behaviour of the aerated geopolymer and its fire performance. It is intended that a comprehensive research program will be carried out to address those challenges and to provide design guidelines to rapidly progress these technologies in Australia and overseas.Read moreRead less
Improved monitoring of aquatic pollutants in national water resources. Clean water is predicted to become the world’s most valuable asset during this century, necessitating the improved monitoring of Australia’s limited water resources. Using a new and integrated monitoring approach, this project expects to develop and implement novel passive sampling technologies to monitor a range of water pollutants, specifically toxic ionised organic chemicals of emerging concern. The outcomes of this projec ....Improved monitoring of aquatic pollutants in national water resources. Clean water is predicted to become the world’s most valuable asset during this century, necessitating the improved monitoring of Australia’s limited water resources. Using a new and integrated monitoring approach, this project expects to develop and implement novel passive sampling technologies to monitor a range of water pollutants, specifically toxic ionised organic chemicals of emerging concern. The outcomes of this project will create cost-effective tools to advance the detection of emerging chemicals in drinking, ground, surface and waste waters. The technology will benefit millions of Australians by safeguarding essential water resources.Read moreRead less
Fire resistance of complex light gauge steel framed wall systems. This project aims to investigate the thermal and structural behaviour of high-strength Light gauge Steel Framed (LSF) wall systems when exposed to fire, and develop a generic model for predicting fire resistance levels of all LSF wall systems. Plasterboard-lined LSF walls are increasingly used as cost-effective load-bearing walls in low and mid-rise buildings worldwide. This has required new wall designs with complex steel stud wa ....Fire resistance of complex light gauge steel framed wall systems. This project aims to investigate the thermal and structural behaviour of high-strength Light gauge Steel Framed (LSF) wall systems when exposed to fire, and develop a generic model for predicting fire resistance levels of all LSF wall systems. Plasterboard-lined LSF walls are increasingly used as cost-effective load-bearing walls in low and mid-rise buildings worldwide. This has required new wall designs with complex steel stud wall configurations, but their fire resistance is not understood. This project will provide validated fire resistance data and fire design methods for a proposed national Fire Design Handbook and steel design codes, enabling more widespread, safer use of these walls. This will benefit the Australian steel industry, the construction industry and the community.
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Understanding Australia by analysing wastewater during the Census 2021 . This project aims to utilise the Australian Census 2021, a unique opportunity to link exposure to chemical and biological hazards with catchment socio-demographic data via systematic wastewater analysis. The project is expected to advance our capabilities to identify emerging hazards and understand factors that affect spatiotemporal trends in hazards across Australia. Moreover, in a world first, the project aims to assess c ....Understanding Australia by analysing wastewater during the Census 2021 . This project aims to utilise the Australian Census 2021, a unique opportunity to link exposure to chemical and biological hazards with catchment socio-demographic data via systematic wastewater analysis. The project is expected to advance our capabilities to identify emerging hazards and understand factors that affect spatiotemporal trends in hazards across Australia. Moreover, in a world first, the project aims to assess chemical fate on a national level by linking sales/use with fate and release from wastewater treatment plants and assess treatment efficiency at >100 plants around Australia. The project expects to provide insight for government, wastewater managers and industry into hazards that may affect environmental and human health.Read moreRead less