High performance drying of plantation grown eucalypt timber. Forest industries generate $14 billion annually in Australia and employs 86,000 staff. Hardwood sawn timber is a value added product and microwave technology will increase returns due to more improved timber utilization and better profit margins due to more efficient processing and reduced drying degrade. At the forefront the development of clean, high-tech microwave drying technology and equipment, that is invented in Australia, will ....High performance drying of plantation grown eucalypt timber. Forest industries generate $14 billion annually in Australia and employs 86,000 staff. Hardwood sawn timber is a value added product and microwave technology will increase returns due to more improved timber utilization and better profit margins due to more efficient processing and reduced drying degrade. At the forefront the development of clean, high-tech microwave drying technology and equipment, that is invented in Australia, will allow Australian companies to be forefront in this industrial area, to sell licences, designs, project management and equipment on international markets. This initiative will value-add plantation forests, reduce oil consumption and sequester CO2 in high value products.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH150100030
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,577,087.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub to Transform Future Tall Timber Buildings. ARC Research Hub for Advanced Solutions to Transform Tall Timber Buildings. This hub aims to develop skills, knowledge and resources for novel designs of tall timber buildings that incorporate architectural, engineering and sustainability drivers while meeting regulatory constraints. The project aims to develop innovative engineering solutions that address crucial barriers to the use of structural timber in the fast growing and extensiv ....ARC Research Hub to Transform Future Tall Timber Buildings. ARC Research Hub for Advanced Solutions to Transform Tall Timber Buildings. This hub aims to develop skills, knowledge and resources for novel designs of tall timber buildings that incorporate architectural, engineering and sustainability drivers while meeting regulatory constraints. The project aims to develop innovative engineering solutions that address crucial barriers to the use of structural timber in the fast growing and extensive medium-rise tall buildings market where timber is, on many counts, the ideal construction material. It is expected that eliminating these barriers will open a new market for novel technologies and methods generated through this work.Read moreRead less
Novel bioderived and biodegradable wood plastic composites from wastes. This project pioneers the development of high performance wood plastic composites from polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) generated from pulp and paper waste. The key innovations are: developing a new bioderived and biodegradable high performance wood fibre composite with improved melt flow leading to better binding; and making direct use of PHA-rich biomass so avoiding the cost and environmental burden of polymer extraction. The ....Novel bioderived and biodegradable wood plastic composites from wastes. This project pioneers the development of high performance wood plastic composites from polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) generated from pulp and paper waste. The key innovations are: developing a new bioderived and biodegradable high performance wood fibre composite with improved melt flow leading to better binding; and making direct use of PHA-rich biomass so avoiding the cost and environmental burden of polymer extraction. The project aims to lead to new products and more diverse markets for the Australian forestry industry and maximise Australia’s competitive advantage in biomass-based product development.Read moreRead less
Composite steel-timber structural system. This project aims to deliver a novel composite steel–timber system that alleviates many of the environmental concerns of the industry, while improving efficiency by using lighter materials. It aims to develop a unique composite system comprised of steel I-section beams and prefabricated timber slabs, with shear connection being provided by bolting or screws. The project plans to assess the structural system experimentally and numerically, and to craft gu ....Composite steel-timber structural system. This project aims to deliver a novel composite steel–timber system that alleviates many of the environmental concerns of the industry, while improving efficiency by using lighter materials. It aims to develop a unique composite system comprised of steel I-section beams and prefabricated timber slabs, with shear connection being provided by bolting or screws. The project plans to assess the structural system experimentally and numerically, and to craft guidelines for the safe and efficient design of these members. The novel lightweight composite system would enhance the speed of construction, allow for deconstructability and reuse and, because plantation timber sequestrates carbon dioxide, have a low carbon footprint.Read moreRead less
Cellulosic and paper-based biosensors for blood analysis. Testing the blood compatibility of an Australian evacuated for surgery; measuring the iron content from India for anemia treatment; identifying the outbreak of malaria in Pakistan; measuring prostate specific antigen/blood screening in your home. These are novel applications for paper biosensors, which will improve health and create new jobs in Australia.
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH130100016
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,633,554.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for BioProcessing Advanced Manufacturing. ARC Research Hub for BioProcessing Advanced Manufacturing. The aim of the Research Hub is to develop functional materials to maximize the value of forest resources; and green chemistry and energy solutions for bioprocessing industries. Lignocellulosic streams will be converted into a complement of marketable materials, chemicals and energy products. Examples include new polymers and composites, smart packaging, chemical intermediates, fu ....ARC Research Hub for BioProcessing Advanced Manufacturing. ARC Research Hub for BioProcessing Advanced Manufacturing. The aim of the Research Hub is to develop functional materials to maximize the value of forest resources; and green chemistry and energy solutions for bioprocessing industries. Lignocellulosic streams will be converted into a complement of marketable materials, chemicals and energy products. Examples include new polymers and composites, smart packaging, chemical intermediates, fuel, green energy and nanocellulose and cellulosic fibre applications. These will drive advances in chemical engineering, materials and green chemistry for the full conversion of lignocellulosics. The Hub will complement research developments with short courses and a problem-based Masters in BioProcess Engineering to keep industry workers up to date with evolving science and technology.Read moreRead less
Tough bio-derived and biodegradable wood plastic composites. This project aims for the development of tough bio-based and biodegradable wood plastic composites (WPCs), directly addressing a key end-user demand that performance of bio-WPCs must be at least comparable with existing commercial WPCs. The project expects to generate key innovations such as developing a new, high performance, bio-based and biodegradable WPC by incorporating native spinifex-derived nano-cellulose fibres, ensuring excel ....Tough bio-derived and biodegradable wood plastic composites. This project aims for the development of tough bio-based and biodegradable wood plastic composites (WPCs), directly addressing a key end-user demand that performance of bio-WPCs must be at least comparable with existing commercial WPCs. The project expects to generate key innovations such as developing a new, high performance, bio-based and biodegradable WPC by incorporating native spinifex-derived nano-cellulose fibres, ensuring excellent, molecular-level dispersion with a novel low-cost and energy-efficient wet-mix technology. This will provide significant benefits as it will lead to new products and markets for the Australian forestry industry and for rural and indigenous Australia, maximising Australia’s competitive advantage in biomass-derived products.Read moreRead less
Development of alternative barriers for protection of wooden structures from termites. This research aims to develop alternative barriers to those currently used for protection of wooden structures against termites. Barriers are essential to protect wooden structures. The current application of low persistence chemicals has proven to be unreliable since organochlorines were phased out. The cost of building and structural replacements due to termite damage in Australia amounts to millions of doll ....Development of alternative barriers for protection of wooden structures from termites. This research aims to develop alternative barriers to those currently used for protection of wooden structures against termites. Barriers are essential to protect wooden structures. The current application of low persistence chemicals has proven to be unreliable since organochlorines were phased out. The cost of building and structural replacements due to termite damage in Australia amounts to millions of dollars annually and will increase due to eventual failure of the organochlorine termiticides. Thus the proposed research seeks to evaluate polymer materials and coatings, including bonded materials as alternate barriers together with an assessment of risks to environment and health.Read moreRead less
The effect of tunelling on existing rock bolts. As more underground facilities such as rail, road, sewerage and service tunnels are constructed in our major cities, more and more frequently new tunnels have to cross over or run alongside existing tunnels. As the roofs of tunnels are generally supported by rock bolts and lined with shotcrete, the support system can be damaged by the rock movements caused by the excavation of the new tunnel. Little research has been carried out on this problem, an ....The effect of tunelling on existing rock bolts. As more underground facilities such as rail, road, sewerage and service tunnels are constructed in our major cities, more and more frequently new tunnels have to cross over or run alongside existing tunnels. As the roofs of tunnels are generally supported by rock bolts and lined with shotcrete, the support system can be damaged by the rock movements caused by the excavation of the new tunnel. Little research has been carried out on this problem, and so often expensive deviations have to be made to tunnels to avoid going near existing ones. The proposed research will provide numerical tools to allow prediction of loads induced into rock bolts by nearby tunnels, leading to more economical and safer tunnel design.
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Enhanced Analysis of Time Dependent Viscous Behaviour of Soft Clay. Often post construction settlements of structures overlying clayey soils have been observed to be more than those predicted, or the predicted rate of settlement is not correct. The main benefit of this research is providing an accurate but simplified approach, which can be used by practicing engineers to predict the post construction settlement of structures in the design phase of construction projects. The community can conside ....Enhanced Analysis of Time Dependent Viscous Behaviour of Soft Clay. Often post construction settlements of structures overlying clayey soils have been observed to be more than those predicted, or the predicted rate of settlement is not correct. The main benefit of this research is providing an accurate but simplified approach, which can be used by practicing engineers to predict the post construction settlement of structures in the design phase of construction projects. The community can considerably benefit from the findings of this project including safer structures, significant reduction in the future maintenance costs and enhancing the performance of bridges, buildings, roads, railways and dams with less cracks and differential settlement.Read moreRead less