Seismic analysis of cracking and deformations in concrete gravity dams. This project aims to establish a rational predictive capability for the responses of concrete gravity dams subject to extreme design earthquakes. This will include the development of innovative numerical methods for effective modelling of crack propagation and closure, large slips on crack faces and weak interfaces, dam-reservoir interaction, dam-foundation interaction and automatic mesh generation. The expected outcomes of ....Seismic analysis of cracking and deformations in concrete gravity dams. This project aims to establish a rational predictive capability for the responses of concrete gravity dams subject to extreme design earthquakes. This will include the development of innovative numerical methods for effective modelling of crack propagation and closure, large slips on crack faces and weak interfaces, dam-reservoir interaction, dam-foundation interaction and automatic mesh generation. The expected outcomes of the project will be a significantly improved prediction tool. It is also anticipated that the project will result in improvements in dam and public safety, and more efficient use of funds for dam safety upgrades and management.Read moreRead less
Non-contact Integrity Assessment of Façade Panels of High-rise Buildings. Disintegration of the external façade (with tiles, plates, etc.) of high-rise buildings presents a great challenge and a threat to community. This project develops fundamental knowledge and algorithms that underpin the deployment of a new technique for fast and automated quantitative integrity assessment of façade units of high-rise buildings, integrating mechanisms of directional acoustic waves, vibro-acoustics of façade ....Non-contact Integrity Assessment of Façade Panels of High-rise Buildings. Disintegration of the external façade (with tiles, plates, etc.) of high-rise buildings presents a great challenge and a threat to community. This project develops fundamental knowledge and algorithms that underpin the deployment of a new technique for fast and automated quantitative integrity assessment of façade units of high-rise buildings, integrating mechanisms of directional acoustic waves, vibro-acoustics of façade tiles or panels, laser sensing technology, deep learning algorithms and drone technology. Outcomes of this project are critical for implementing the new technology for enhanced safety to community and the development of new procedures for driving down maintenance costs of the external façade of high-rise buildings.Read moreRead less
Connections for hybrid steel-timber-concrete structures. Connections play a vital role in overall performance, reliability, and adaptability of civil structures. This project aims to develop innovative, easy to fabricate and efficient connections for hybrid structural systems that fully exploit advantages of steel, concrete and engineered timber to reduce the self-weight, cost and negative environmental impact and enhance opportunities for deconstruction, reusing and upgrading of the structures. ....Connections for hybrid steel-timber-concrete structures. Connections play a vital role in overall performance, reliability, and adaptability of civil structures. This project aims to develop innovative, easy to fabricate and efficient connections for hybrid structural systems that fully exploit advantages of steel, concrete and engineered timber to reduce the self-weight, cost and negative environmental impact and enhance opportunities for deconstruction, reusing and upgrading of the structures. Structural performance of the connections will be assessed by laboratory testing and advanced numerical modelling. Comprehensive knowledge on stiffness, strength, and ductility and world-first provisions for safe and cost-effective design of the hybrid steel-timber-concrete structures are generated.Read moreRead less
Torsion in innovative timber composite floors. Application of lightweight sustainably sourced timber panels combined with steel beams or reinforced concrete slabs in composite floors has the potential to significantly improve the speed and efficiency and reduce the carbon and energy footprint of the construction industry. This project aims to produce world first benchmark experimental data and advanced numerical and simple analytical models required for efficient, yet safe and reliable analysis ....Torsion in innovative timber composite floors. Application of lightweight sustainably sourced timber panels combined with steel beams or reinforced concrete slabs in composite floors has the potential to significantly improve the speed and efficiency and reduce the carbon and energy footprint of the construction industry. This project aims to produce world first benchmark experimental data and advanced numerical and simple analytical models required for efficient, yet safe and reliable analysis and design of timber-concrete and steel-timber composite floors subjected to complex 3-dimensional loading scenarios that involve combinations of torsion, bending and shear. The outcomes of this project are expected to promote innovation and advance knowledge in the field of structural mechanics.Read moreRead less
Geopolymer concrete for thin-walled structures in marine environment. This project aims to develop ultra-high performance geopolymer concrete thin-walled structures for the critical infrastructure in the marine environment. It is expected that this project will develop novel design rules for ultra-high performance geopolymer concrete thin-walled structures based on experimental testing, numerical modelling, validation, and simulation. This project is expected to increase the durability of coasta ....Geopolymer concrete for thin-walled structures in marine environment. This project aims to develop ultra-high performance geopolymer concrete thin-walled structures for the critical infrastructure in the marine environment. It is expected that this project will develop novel design rules for ultra-high performance geopolymer concrete thin-walled structures based on experimental testing, numerical modelling, validation, and simulation. This project is expected to increase the durability of coastal infrastructures and significantly reduce the loss of their capacities due to corrosion-induced damage. The development of ultra-high performance geopolymer concrete thin-walled structures is a significant engineering discovery, which is in line with the Australian government 2030 vision for sustainable development.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100406
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,548.00
Summary
Aligned recycled carbon fibre composites for high grade structural elements. By 2025, fibre composites will be a key waste stream worldwide. Current recycling methods are inept as they cause major reduction in mechanical and physical properties of recovered fibre. This project aims to produce high grade, low cost structural component from carbon fibre composite recyclates, and revolutionise their use in construction by carrying out an integrated experimental and advanced computational analyses. ....Aligned recycled carbon fibre composites for high grade structural elements. By 2025, fibre composites will be a key waste stream worldwide. Current recycling methods are inept as they cause major reduction in mechanical and physical properties of recovered fibre. This project aims to produce high grade, low cost structural component from carbon fibre composite recyclates, and revolutionise their use in construction by carrying out an integrated experimental and advanced computational analyses. Outcomes include development of a novel method for recovery and realignment of fibres without compromising mechanical and physical properties. This provides significant benefits by expanding fundamental knowledge of material science and advanced manufacturing, solving problem on waste and efficient use of natural resources.Read moreRead less
Hybrid Construction using Seawater, Sea Sand and Fibre Reinforced Polymer. Conventional concrete is made using fresh water and river sand. This project aims to develop a novel hybrid construction system using seawater, sea sand and industrial waste, together with fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) and stainless steel (SS), for use in civil engineering infrastructure in marine environments. To date there has been little work to understand the degradation kinetics and mechanisms of FRP and SS in such ....Hybrid Construction using Seawater, Sea Sand and Fibre Reinforced Polymer. Conventional concrete is made using fresh water and river sand. This project aims to develop a novel hybrid construction system using seawater, sea sand and industrial waste, together with fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) and stainless steel (SS), for use in civil engineering infrastructure in marine environments. To date there has been little work to understand the degradation kinetics and mechanisms of FRP and SS in such complicated corrosive environments. The project plans to provide a design methodology to ensure confidence in the safety of critical infrastructure such as bridges, highways, dams, airports, offshore piles and artificial islands. The proposed system would save fresh water and reduce damage to river ecosystems, carbon dioxide emissions and construction costs.Read moreRead less
A Green and Fire-resistant Magnesium Oxychloride Cementitious Composite . This project aims to develop a novel and green fibre reinforced magnesium oxychloride cementitious composite with durability and resilience for buildings subject to fire/bushfire attack via well-integrated multiscale numerical and experimental studies. This enhances integrity and safety of buildings and increases the energy efficiency for buildings. The project will significantly advance the research and application of gre ....A Green and Fire-resistant Magnesium Oxychloride Cementitious Composite . This project aims to develop a novel and green fibre reinforced magnesium oxychloride cementitious composite with durability and resilience for buildings subject to fire/bushfire attack via well-integrated multiscale numerical and experimental studies. This enhances integrity and safety of buildings and increases the energy efficiency for buildings. The project will significantly advance the research and application of green cement, and find a solution for recycle and reuse a large amount of waste/industry by-products in construction towards circular economy. The research outcomes are innovative material, models, experiment technology and modelling methods, with significant impact and benefits to environment, economy and society. Read moreRead less
Longer-term progression of localised corrosion of critical infrastructure. This project aims to help Australian and international industry better predict the severity of localised corrosion at structural steel details, over years and decades. This is significant for the safety, reliability and economics of critical steel infrastructure, such as offshore structures and pipelines and defence facilities operating in and near marine environments. To reduce first cost, these often are not provided wi ....Longer-term progression of localised corrosion of critical infrastructure. This project aims to help Australian and international industry better predict the severity of localised corrosion at structural steel details, over years and decades. This is significant for the safety, reliability and economics of critical steel infrastructure, such as offshore structures and pipelines and defence facilities operating in and near marine environments. To reduce first cost, these often are not provided with coatings (paints) or other protection. The expected outcomes include improved scientific understanding and world-leading corrosion prediction models. Benefits can be expected for Australian industry, infrastructure and economics, and keeping Australian engineering consultants internationally competitive. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101625
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$430,075.00
Summary
Developing an Advanced Drive-by Bridge Inspection Technology . 72% of bridges in Australia were constructed before 1976. Currently bridges are inspected by biennial visual inspection which is expensive, time consuming and subjective. Considering the large number of defective bridges in Australia and around the world and the limited budget of road authorities, this project aims to develop a low-cost and robust bridge monitoring framework by advanced data analytics, solely based on the response of ....Developing an Advanced Drive-by Bridge Inspection Technology . 72% of bridges in Australia were constructed before 1976. Currently bridges are inspected by biennial visual inspection which is expensive, time consuming and subjective. Considering the large number of defective bridges in Australia and around the world and the limited budget of road authorities, this project aims to develop a low-cost and robust bridge monitoring framework by advanced data analytics, solely based on the response of a moving vehicle passing over the bridge, with no equipment to be installed on the bridge. The project is significant because it opens a new direction for sustainable monitoring of such ageing infrastructure, consequently resulting in the lower costs of maintenance, enhanced safety and extended asset life.Read moreRead less