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
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH220100016
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,959,803.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub to Advance Timber for Australia’s Future Built Environment. This project aims to transform Australia’s timber and construction sectors by stimulating rapid growth in timber innovation and uptake of use of timber in buildings. It plans to enable this transformation by addressing the diverse elements required to motivate investment, stimulate innovation, satisfy stakeholder demands, define long-term social-environmental-economic benefits and establish a roadmap for change. The exp ....ARC Research Hub to Advance Timber for Australia’s Future Built Environment. This project aims to transform Australia’s timber and construction sectors by stimulating rapid growth in timber innovation and uptake of use of timber in buildings. It plans to enable this transformation by addressing the diverse elements required to motivate investment, stimulate innovation, satisfy stakeholder demands, define long-term social-environmental-economic benefits and establish a roadmap for change. The expected outcomes will kickstart the change process, supported by growth in advanced manufacturing across the value chain. This should provide significant benefits in stimulating an opportunity for regional development and resource diversification whilst helping the sectors transition to a circular and net-zero economy.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
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH170100020
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,641,142.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for Processing Lignocellulosics into High Value Products. The ARC Research Hub for Processing Lignocellulosics into High Value Products aims to convert renewable and readily-available biomass material and waste streams from the Australian Pulp, Paper and Forest Industry into new, high-value products that are in high demand in existing and developing markets. The Research Hub will translate leading scientific discoveries in biomass conversion into the manufacture of advanced mate ....ARC Research Hub for Processing Lignocellulosics into High Value Products. The ARC Research Hub for Processing Lignocellulosics into High Value Products aims to convert renewable and readily-available biomass material and waste streams from the Australian Pulp, Paper and Forest Industry into new, high-value products that are in high demand in existing and developing markets. The Research Hub will translate leading scientific discoveries in biomass conversion into the manufacture of advanced materials that can be used in the industries of the future. Research aims to identify new applications and products. They will be derived from lignocellulose through the advent of new smart paper packaging, green chemical and materials with unique properties. Benefits will flow to the pharmaceutical, chemicals, plastics and food packaging industries.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
Offsite manufacture reimagined for high-performance adaptable housing. The project aims to address housing performance and affordability in Australia by deploying adaptable design for spatial reconfiguration and component reuse, to advance offsite timber manufacture towards energy efficient and healthy homes as mainstream practice. The intended outcome is the development, prototyping and monitoring of an offsite manufactured panelised lightweight timber system for high-performance homes, that is ....Offsite manufacture reimagined for high-performance adaptable housing. The project aims to address housing performance and affordability in Australia by deploying adaptable design for spatial reconfiguration and component reuse, to advance offsite timber manufacture towards energy efficient and healthy homes as mainstream practice. The intended outcome is the development, prototyping and monitoring of an offsite manufactured panelised lightweight timber system for high-performance homes, that is adaptable to all Australian climates and long-term household changes. This will contribute to the sustainable growth of the Australian housing market with significant benefits on housing affordability, adaptable design and long-lasting performance, while boosting the offsite manufactured timber construction sector.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102784
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Water-swellable rubber with nanoparticle-enabled super capacity as smart water-leakage sealant. A novel water-swellable rubber (WSR) sealant with continuous hydrophobic phase and isolated hydrophilic phase is developed for stopping water leakage from gaps and cracks. Nanoparticle-enabled blocks and network channels in rubber matrix effectively improve the integrity and capability of WSR as smart water-leakage sealants in various applications.
Molecular modelling of the structure and mechanical properties of clay-based polymer nanocomposites. Nanotechnology is one of the most rapidly growing areas in the 21st century. Its world market is expected to reach US$2.6 trillions in 2014, valued at 15% of global manufacturing output. The use of clay nanofillers as polymer reinforcement is an emerging cutting-edge research and of paramount importance in Australia in view of its heavy dependence on mineral industries. The project will tackle th ....Molecular modelling of the structure and mechanical properties of clay-based polymer nanocomposites. Nanotechnology is one of the most rapidly growing areas in the 21st century. Its world market is expected to reach US$2.6 trillions in 2014, valued at 15% of global manufacturing output. The use of clay nanofillers as polymer reinforcement is an emerging cutting-edge research and of paramount importance in Australia in view of its heavy dependence on mineral industries. The project will tackle the core problems in this field. The research outcomes will lead to highly value-added mineral products and better process control. Furthermore, the application of polymer nanocomposites in automotive and packaging industries will significantly decrease energy consumption and CO2 emission, and increase the shelf-life for food and beverage. Read moreRead less