Response of residential structures to blast vibration. This proposed project combines the expertise and disciplines of residential construction, structural dynamics and blasting technology. The ultimate aim of the project is to develop a rational methodology for assessing the damage potential of ground vibration resulting from blasting on typical Australian residential structures. The project involves field blast vibration measurements, static and dynamic laboratory tests on structural sub-assem ....Response of residential structures to blast vibration. This proposed project combines the expertise and disciplines of residential construction, structural dynamics and blasting technology. The ultimate aim of the project is to develop a rational methodology for assessing the damage potential of ground vibration resulting from blasting on typical Australian residential structures. The project involves field blast vibration measurements, static and dynamic laboratory tests on structural sub-assemblages in a controlled environment, and comprehensive analytical modelling of both loading and response. The outcomes from this research will have direct application to the mining, insurance, construction and defence industries.Read moreRead less
Fatigue Behaviour of Dragline Tubular Structures. Fatigue failure is a major concern for dragline tubular structures. Several catastrophic collapses of such structure occurred. The fatigue behaviour of such large tubular structures is unknown. Fatigue cracks were observed in many existing draglines. The latest international design codes are inadequate to address this issue. The project will develop reliable methodologies for design, inspection, strengthening and assessment of such structures. Th ....Fatigue Behaviour of Dragline Tubular Structures. Fatigue failure is a major concern for dragline tubular structures. Several catastrophic collapses of such structure occurred. The fatigue behaviour of such large tubular structures is unknown. Fatigue cracks were observed in many existing draglines. The latest international design codes are inadequate to address this issue. The project will develop reliable methodologies for design, inspection, strengthening and assessment of such structures. The outcome will be reduced manufacturing and operational costs and a reduced catastrophic failure risk. This will increase the international competitiveness of Australian mining industry. Several other industry sectors will be benefited from the technology developed in this project.Read moreRead less
Using Mathematics to Maximize the Value of Open-Pit Mines. Mineral resources are one of Australia's greatest assets. Their effective management will bring substantial long-term benefits to the Australian economy. Planning the exploitation of a mineral resource is a highly complex task. Current methods are approximate, and do not fully consider two critical issues: (1) ore mined at different times must be blended to achieve saleable product and (2) resource markets may not evolve as predicted ....Using Mathematics to Maximize the Value of Open-Pit Mines. Mineral resources are one of Australia's greatest assets. Their effective management will bring substantial long-term benefits to the Australian economy. Planning the exploitation of a mineral resource is a highly complex task. Current methods are approximate, and do not fully consider two critical issues: (1) ore mined at different times must be blended to achieve saleable product and (2) resource markets may not evolve as predicted. In this project we shall develop creative mathematical solutions to maximise the expected net present value of mines with far greater accuracy, taking into account blending and the uncertain nature of future demand.Read moreRead less
Improving explosive emulsions by understanding surfactant interactions. This project will design new surfactants that will lead to more cost effective, stable and reliable explosive emulsions. The pressure required to force dispersed phase droplets to coalesce will be measured both directly and by osmotic stress. These parameters have not previously been measured for an inverse emulsion system. The measurements made will be correlated to the structure of the stabilising surfactant enabling new a ....Improving explosive emulsions by understanding surfactant interactions. This project will design new surfactants that will lead to more cost effective, stable and reliable explosive emulsions. The pressure required to force dispersed phase droplets to coalesce will be measured both directly and by osmotic stress. These parameters have not previously been measured for an inverse emulsion system. The measurements made will be correlated to the structure of the stabilising surfactant enabling new and more effective surfactants to be designed.Read moreRead less
Bubble Stabilization and Density Control in Self-Supporting Explosive Emulsions. The mining industry in Australia employs about 70,000 people and has a total sales and service income of about $55B. Most mining outputs are commodities and a reduction in cost is the primary method of increasing market share. DNAP is a major supplier of explosive services to mines that produce coal, iron ore and gold for export. The work in this project will lead to more efficient explosives emulsions and allow mi ....Bubble Stabilization and Density Control in Self-Supporting Explosive Emulsions. The mining industry in Australia employs about 70,000 people and has a total sales and service income of about $55B. Most mining outputs are commodities and a reduction in cost is the primary method of increasing market share. DNAP is a major supplier of explosive services to mines that produce coal, iron ore and gold for export. The work in this project will lead to more efficient explosives emulsions and allow mining tolower total cost per unit sold. Such improvements in mining efficiencies will have a direct impact of the selling price of the product. Increased export earnings and a greater number of people employed in the industry would be direct results of the successful completion of the work proposed.Read moreRead less
Automated On-Line Analysis and Contaminant Detection in Mineral Ore Processing. On-belt analysis is a key to efficient functioning of several
industries involved in the mining and use of minerals. It provides
chemical analysis of the minerals as they run through the instrument
on a conveyer belt. It permits quality control and detection of
impurities. The Scantech on-line analyser is at the forefront of this
technology. Our aim is to produce novel techniques to significantly
improve and m ....Automated On-Line Analysis and Contaminant Detection in Mineral Ore Processing. On-belt analysis is a key to efficient functioning of several
industries involved in the mining and use of minerals. It provides
chemical analysis of the minerals as they run through the instrument
on a conveyer belt. It permits quality control and detection of
impurities. The Scantech on-line analyser is at the forefront of this
technology. Our aim is to produce novel techniques to significantly
improve and make more efficient the processing of data from the
analyser. A particular focus will be quicker and improved calibration
of the instrument. These techniques will increase the accuracy and
speed while reducing the costs of such analysers, thus retaining and
enhancing their competitiveness in the global market.
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Mercury emissions from direct iron smelting technology. The proposed research will enhance the environmental performance of the first Australian direct ironmaking industry. This industry will maintain the commitment to environmental responsibility offering cleaner technologies and production. The project will enhance the social acceptability of this metallurgical operation within the regional and global communities. Optimisation of emission reduction technologies will ensure improved environment ....Mercury emissions from direct iron smelting technology. The proposed research will enhance the environmental performance of the first Australian direct ironmaking industry. This industry will maintain the commitment to environmental responsibility offering cleaner technologies and production. The project will enhance the social acceptability of this metallurgical operation within the regional and global communities. Optimisation of emission reduction technologies will ensure improved environmental standards and awareness of the industry's commitment to improved environmental performance among the local communities. The proposed work will also ensure Australia remains at the forefront of energy and ore utilisation technology, ensuring sustainable resource and environmental management control.Read moreRead less