Assessment and Prediction of Particle Breakage under Cyclic Loading. Every year, transport industries spend millions of dollars to maintain existing tracks suffering excessive settlement due to heavy traffic. In railways, differential settlement and track fouling are mostly due to ballast breakage. Frequent maintenance requires large amounts of quarried ballast causing environmental degradation. Simulation of particle breakage subject to cyclic loading is pioneering fundamental research that wi ....Assessment and Prediction of Particle Breakage under Cyclic Loading. Every year, transport industries spend millions of dollars to maintain existing tracks suffering excessive settlement due to heavy traffic. In railways, differential settlement and track fouling are mostly due to ballast breakage. Frequent maintenance requires large amounts of quarried ballast causing environmental degradation. Simulation of particle breakage subject to cyclic loading is pioneering fundamental research that will have significant impact on the design and maintenance of future rail and road networks. A full understanding of the breakage mechanisms of aggregates will lead to innovative techniques in design and construction, including faster trains carrying heavier loads with reduced maintenance costs.Read moreRead less
An experimental and theoretical programme of research to resolve major obstruction-to-flow problems in bins and stockpiles. Many of Australia's industries rely on the efficient storage and handling of bulk solids materials such as minerals, chemicals, food-stuffs, agricultural products and pharmeceuticals. Often the handling processes are inefficient to the extent of affecting the economics of the industry. Here we propose two projects addressing those inefficiences resulting from stable obstr ....An experimental and theoretical programme of research to resolve major obstruction-to-flow problems in bins and stockpiles. Many of Australia's industries rely on the efficient storage and handling of bulk solids materials such as minerals, chemicals, food-stuffs, agricultural products and pharmeceuticals. Often the handling processes are inefficient to the extent of affecting the economics of the industry. Here we propose two projects addressing those inefficiences resulting from stable obstructions, such as "rat-holes", and those experimental arising from the unusual flow characteristics of fine powders. The major objectives are to use experimental and advanced mathematical modelling techniques, to produce reliable design models which minimise the occurrence of stable obstructions and provide reliable methods for increasing fine powder flow rates.Read moreRead less
Mathematical modelling of two-phase industrial granular flows. In many industrial processes involving flowing granular materials, the effect of air pressure can be significant. Such examples include pneumatic conveying, lock hoppers and air-impact moulding. The effect of pressurised air on a granular material can either compact it, or can cause sudden large flows. To model such complex phenomena, the frictional effects between the air and the solid granules must be accurately incorporated into a ....Mathematical modelling of two-phase industrial granular flows. In many industrial processes involving flowing granular materials, the effect of air pressure can be significant. Such examples include pneumatic conveying, lock hoppers and air-impact moulding. The effect of pressurised air on a granular material can either compact it, or can cause sudden large flows. To model such complex phenomena, the frictional effects between the air and the solid granules must be accurately incorporated into a two-phase continuum mechanical model for granular materials. This proposal will develop advanced mathematical models and computational procedures to predict complex two-phase granular flows for industrial problems.Read moreRead less
High Strength Steel Protection Bollards. Terrorist attacks cost Australians much human grief and millions of dollars. Prevention of an attack is paramount. Passive road bollards are commonly used to stop a vehicle approaching and/or entering security sensitive infrastructure. Thin-walled tubes are used to manufacture such bollards. However there is a lack of knowledge about their behaviour, and in particular high strength alloy steel bollards, when subjected to impact loads. The investigators wi ....High Strength Steel Protection Bollards. Terrorist attacks cost Australians much human grief and millions of dollars. Prevention of an attack is paramount. Passive road bollards are commonly used to stop a vehicle approaching and/or entering security sensitive infrastructure. Thin-walled tubes are used to manufacture such bollards. However there is a lack of knowledge about their behaviour, and in particular high strength alloy steel bollards, when subjected to impact loads. The investigators will apply their extensive knowledge in thin-walled tubular structures to establish the most economical means of designing high strength bollards. This knowledge will be transferred into design standards and Australia's limited defence resources.Read moreRead less
Wave Climate in the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Sea surface roughness has a major influence on global climate modelling. This project will provide a better understanding of the variability of sea waves in coastal waters. New technology of HF ocean radar can map wave fields over coastal waters and thus fill a gap between the open ocean satellite measurements and the point measurements from wave buoys. In this project we will improve the analysis of the radar echoes to produce sea wave spectra, a ....Wave Climate in the Southern Great Barrier Reef. Sea surface roughness has a major influence on global climate modelling. This project will provide a better understanding of the variability of sea waves in coastal waters. New technology of HF ocean radar can map wave fields over coastal waters and thus fill a gap between the open ocean satellite measurements and the point measurements from wave buoys. In this project we will improve the analysis of the radar echoes to produce sea wave spectra, and evaluate focussing of waves by complex currents on the continental shelf to help improve wave forecasting in coastal waters. The HF radar will be used to experimentally test current theories of wind wave spreading.Read moreRead less
Interfacial Nanofluids. The fundamental understanding of Colloid and Surface Chemistry will be significantly enhanced through the understanding of the formation and properties of interfacial nanofluids. In addition, this project will provide the knowledge of the influence of nanofluids on the lubrication and the surface interaction. The future results will likely have great impact on the development of miniature devices, lab-on-a-chip and microfludics or nanofluidics systems, water treatment, m ....Interfacial Nanofluids. The fundamental understanding of Colloid and Surface Chemistry will be significantly enhanced through the understanding of the formation and properties of interfacial nanofluids. In addition, this project will provide the knowledge of the influence of nanofluids on the lubrication and the surface interaction. The future results will likely have great impact on the development of miniature devices, lab-on-a-chip and microfludics or nanofluidics systems, water treatment, minerals processing, the food industries, pumping of fuel and water, and other processes. And the research described in this proposal will help to maintain the high international profile of Australian science in the field of Colloid and Surface Research. Read moreRead less
Progressive liquefaction within marine sediments: comparison between geo-centrifuge modelling, full-scale wave tank tests and numerical modelling. The evaluation of wave-induced liquefaction within the marine sediment is particularly important for coastal and geotechnical engineers involved in the design of foundation around coastal structures. The proposed study will integrate the existing knowledge from the aspects of coastal and geotechnical engineering with that of overseas experts to provid ....Progressive liquefaction within marine sediments: comparison between geo-centrifuge modelling, full-scale wave tank tests and numerical modelling. The evaluation of wave-induced liquefaction within the marine sediment is particularly important for coastal and geotechnical engineers involved in the design of foundation around coastal structures. The proposed study will integrate the existing knowledge from the aspects of coastal and geotechnical engineering with that of overseas experts to provide coastal engineers with an effective tool for the design of foundations around marine structures. It will also assist in reducing the risk of potential environmental damage caused by failure of marine structures.Read moreRead less
Mathematical and mechanical modeling of nano particulate flow. Nano particulates are the basis for many new technologies, including coatings in the electronics industry, composite materials and medical and pharmaceutical applications. Worldwide industrial competition is increasingly determined by our capacity to handle such highly cohesive materials, and to exploit their novel physical, chemical and mechanical characteristics. Devising handling mechanisms and understanding nano particulate flows ....Mathematical and mechanical modeling of nano particulate flow. Nano particulates are the basis for many new technologies, including coatings in the electronics industry, composite materials and medical and pharmaceutical applications. Worldwide industrial competition is increasingly determined by our capacity to handle such highly cohesive materials, and to exploit their novel physical, chemical and mechanical characteristics. Devising handling mechanisms and understanding nano particulate flows depends on formulating accurate mathematical models which reflect the correct underlying physics. This APF proposal will utilise advanced continuum mechanics to develop the correct underlying conceptual ideas to resolve fundamental nanomechanical particulate flows, which will lead to the next generation of engineering tools.
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Geotechnical characterisation of compacted ground based on passive ambient noise techniques. The proposed research will provide our local construction and mining industries with a much needed fast and low cost technology for geotechnical investigation of very large sites which is currently not available. The project will help steer Australia to the forefront of ambient noise research for geotechnical site investigation, in the characterisation of unsaturated compacted soil and in the determinati ....Geotechnical characterisation of compacted ground based on passive ambient noise techniques. The proposed research will provide our local construction and mining industries with a much needed fast and low cost technology for geotechnical investigation of very large sites which is currently not available. The project will help steer Australia to the forefront of ambient noise research for geotechnical site investigation, in the characterisation of unsaturated compacted soil and in the determination of dynamic site characteristics which are required for seismic risk assessment. Two postgraduate students will benefit from this research by receiving research training at the highest level and it will also pave the way for exporting the technology developed overseas, particularly to our near neighbours in Asia and the Pacific. Read moreRead less
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