Development of Novel Concrete Noise Walls Incorporating Recycled Materials. This project will develop high-performance, lightweight, concrete noise walls and acoustic barriers that use recycled tyre and glass products to improve sound absorption, and address environmental problems associated with the mining of river sands, and stockpiling of waste tyre and glass products. Innovation in noise wall technology consists in developing low-carbon concrete mixes (using less cement) with a maximum amoun ....Development of Novel Concrete Noise Walls Incorporating Recycled Materials. This project will develop high-performance, lightweight, concrete noise walls and acoustic barriers that use recycled tyre and glass products to improve sound absorption, and address environmental problems associated with the mining of river sands, and stockpiling of waste tyre and glass products. Innovation in noise wall technology consists in developing low-carbon concrete mixes (using less cement) with a maximum amount of recycled product, together with reducing wall thickness, while maintaining the necessary engineering properties such as acoustics, strength, and durability. In addition to higher acoustic insulation, the novel low-carbon, lightweight, panels will improve material handling and affordability of noise barriers.Read moreRead less
Lowering noise emissions from gas turbines. This project aims to advance our understanding of the transmission and radiation of structure-borne noise in ductwork. The project expects to generate new and innovative techniques to lower structure-borne noise from the intake and exhaust systems used by gas turbines in the power generation industry. Expected outcomes include the development of advanced computational models, that are validated against experiment, and suitable for integration into a co ....Lowering noise emissions from gas turbines. This project aims to advance our understanding of the transmission and radiation of structure-borne noise in ductwork. The project expects to generate new and innovative techniques to lower structure-borne noise from the intake and exhaust systems used by gas turbines in the power generation industry. Expected outcomes include the development of advanced computational models, that are validated against experiment, and suitable for integration into a commercial design process. This will provide significant benefits for organisations working in the noise control industry, and lead to new ways of lowering environmental noise caused by ducts and pipes.Read moreRead less
A compact microphone array system for outdoor low frequency noise measurements. To investigate the impact of wind farm noise on surrounding communities, the sound level caused by wind turbines must be accurately measured, which sometimes is hard due to wind induced noise and other interference noise. This project aims to propose a novel compact microphone array solution, where the wind induced noise is attenuated by a specially designed windproof shell first, and then the residual wind induced n ....A compact microphone array system for outdoor low frequency noise measurements. To investigate the impact of wind farm noise on surrounding communities, the sound level caused by wind turbines must be accurately measured, which sometimes is hard due to wind induced noise and other interference noise. This project aims to propose a novel compact microphone array solution, where the wind induced noise is attenuated by a specially designed windproof shell first, and then the residual wind induced noise and other interference noise are further filtered out by a specific adaptive noise cancellation algorithm based on the spherical and differential microphone array structure. With the proposed system, the measurement configuration size is expected to be reduced from the current few metres to less than 10 centimetres, and with better accuracy.Read moreRead less
Gas metal arc welding process monitoring with acoustic sensing. This project aims to investigate the physical mechanisms of Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) sound generation, and establish an acoustic model that correlates the acoustic signal with other wielding parameters. Key acoustic features and identification algorithms for process monitoring will be explored, and a prototype GMAW process monitoring system developed. GMAW is an arc welding process that is widely used in industry and well suited ....Gas metal arc welding process monitoring with acoustic sensing. This project aims to investigate the physical mechanisms of Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) sound generation, and establish an acoustic model that correlates the acoustic signal with other wielding parameters. Key acoustic features and identification algorithms for process monitoring will be explored, and a prototype GMAW process monitoring system developed. GMAW is an arc welding process that is widely used in industry and well suited to automatic welding. The proposed monitoring method is an urgent need identified by industries for improving process control and quality. Auditory cues have been found to be critical for expert welders to adjust the weld process and to maintain quality, but the mechanisms underpinning the process are not well understood. The project will provide significant benefit to the Australian manufacturing industry’s productivity and innovation.Read moreRead less
Comfort and ergonomics: Innovative seating solutions for commercial vehicles. Comfort and ergonomics: Innovative seating solutions for commercial vehicles. This project aims to develop a 6-degree-of-freedom seating system for commercial vehicles, including heavy duty trucks and mobile machinery, to reduce unwanted multiple directional vibrations to the driver’s body. Long-term exposure to vibrations from uneven road surfaces, vibrating tools, and vibrating machinery affects driver comfort, fatig ....Comfort and ergonomics: Innovative seating solutions for commercial vehicles. Comfort and ergonomics: Innovative seating solutions for commercial vehicles. This project aims to develop a 6-degree-of-freedom seating system for commercial vehicles, including heavy duty trucks and mobile machinery, to reduce unwanted multiple directional vibrations to the driver’s body. Long-term exposure to vibrations from uneven road surfaces, vibrating tools, and vibrating machinery affects driver comfort, fatigue and safety, and can also cause neck and shoulder pain, lower back injuries, and spinal injuries. The expected outcome of the project is a comfortable and ergonomic seating system that, agriculture, transportation, mining and construction vehicles, both in Australia and internationally, can widely use.Read moreRead less
INTEGRATED PASSIVE AND ACTIVE CONTROL OF HUMMING NOISE FROM KCGM’S HAUL TRUCKS. This project aims to resolve an environmental noise issue caused by the humming noise of Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines haul trucks in the areas of Kalgoorlie, Boulder, and Williamstown. This solution utilises integrated passive and active control systems to attenuate the frequency components of humming noise from a truck’s exhaust and engine. A novel aspect of this technique is the use of passive micro-perforate ....INTEGRATED PASSIVE AND ACTIVE CONTROL OF HUMMING NOISE FROM KCGM’S HAUL TRUCKS. This project aims to resolve an environmental noise issue caused by the humming noise of Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines haul trucks in the areas of Kalgoorlie, Boulder, and Williamstown. This solution utilises integrated passive and active control systems to attenuate the frequency components of humming noise from a truck’s exhaust and engine. A novel aspect of this technique is the use of passive micro-perforated structures to provide the necessary sound absorption capability and to alter the sound propagation and radiation properties of the truck exhaust and engine, and increase the effectiveness of active control.Read moreRead less
Innovative Magnetorheological Suspension Systems for Forklift Trucks. This project aims to improve forklift design to reduce the vibration experienced by forklift drivers. Research consistently links forklift driving with a high incidence of back pain and musculoskeletal injuries through exposure to hand, arm and whole-body vibrations that are caused by the rigid passive suspension in traditional forklifts, which cannot properly absorb vibration stemming from deviations in driving surfaces, chan ....Innovative Magnetorheological Suspension Systems for Forklift Trucks. This project aims to improve forklift design to reduce the vibration experienced by forklift drivers. Research consistently links forklift driving with a high incidence of back pain and musculoskeletal injuries through exposure to hand, arm and whole-body vibrations that are caused by the rigid passive suspension in traditional forklifts, which cannot properly absorb vibration stemming from deviations in driving surfaces, changes in mass, or common loading, lifting and unloading actions. The project aims to draw on the research team’s expertise in magnetorheological technology to develop and evaluate a new tuneable integrated semi-active wheel and chassis and seat suspension system that can vary damping and stiffness to control mass uncertainty and vibration.Read moreRead less
A sentinel network for vibration-based termite control. Termite damage is costly and eradication via chemicals is hazardous to environment and health. As termites use vibrations to make foraging decisions and eavesdrop on competitors/predators, it is feasible but not attempted hitherto to detect and control termites using vibrations. A smart sentinel network will be developed to enable timber infrastructure to be continuously monitored for termites and for termites to be repelled using specific ....A sentinel network for vibration-based termite control. Termite damage is costly and eradication via chemicals is hazardous to environment and health. As termites use vibrations to make foraging decisions and eavesdrop on competitors/predators, it is feasible but not attempted hitherto to detect and control termites using vibrations. A smart sentinel network will be developed to enable timber infrastructure to be continuously monitored for termites and for termites to be repelled using specific vibration signals and manipulated structures, with minimal environmental and health impacts. For this network to be efficient and effective, an improved understanding on how vibrations influence termite sociality will be obtained by studying habituation and signal adaptation on collective behaviour.Read moreRead less