Crack Propagation within Graded Interfaces. Functionally graded interfaces are a technologically new way of joining materials in a wide range of biomedical and industrial applications. The reduction in the interfacial stresses resulting from the graded interface increases the structural integrity of the component, however, existing models do not fully address issues of plasticity and cyclic fatigue to their fracture. The intention of this study is to investigate how modifications to the ductil ....Crack Propagation within Graded Interfaces. Functionally graded interfaces are a technologically new way of joining materials in a wide range of biomedical and industrial applications. The reduction in the interfacial stresses resulting from the graded interface increases the structural integrity of the component, however, existing models do not fully address issues of plasticity and cyclic fatigue to their fracture. The intention of this study is to investigate how modifications to the ductile reinforcement phase and how the cyclic loading influence crack extension within a graded interface. These results will assist in future design and prediction of the in-service lifetime of components containing gradient interfaces.Read moreRead less
Some Outstanding Mechanics Problems in Layered Ferroelectromagnetic Composites with Enhanced Magnetoelectric Effect. The proposed research has high impact on both science and technology of ferroelectromagnetic materials. The outcomes will expand Australia's knowledge base and research capability in this emerging field. Relevant industries, such as smart materials and devices, can benefit from the results of this project. The theoretical, experimental and numerical results can be directly transfo ....Some Outstanding Mechanics Problems in Layered Ferroelectromagnetic Composites with Enhanced Magnetoelectric Effect. The proposed research has high impact on both science and technology of ferroelectromagnetic materials. The outcomes will expand Australia's knowledge base and research capability in this emerging field. Relevant industries, such as smart materials and devices, can benefit from the results of this project. The theoretical, experimental and numerical results can be directly transformed to design and application guidelines for the materials engineers and scientists to develop innovative and structurally/functionally reliable ferroelectromagnetic composites and their various devices and products.Read moreRead less
Fatigue Life Prediction of Nano-filler Modified Composites. The proposed project aims to study the behaviour and the failure mechanisms of polymer nanocomposites under cyclic loading. The outcomes of the project will make original contributions to our knowledge base on such materials. The mechanics modelling and statistical analysis of the prediction of fatigue life will provide a sound physical basis and a useful tool for any future improvement and optimisation of the composites to achieve bett ....Fatigue Life Prediction of Nano-filler Modified Composites. The proposed project aims to study the behaviour and the failure mechanisms of polymer nanocomposites under cyclic loading. The outcomes of the project will make original contributions to our knowledge base on such materials. The mechanics modelling and statistical analysis of the prediction of fatigue life will provide a sound physical basis and a useful tool for any future improvement and optimisation of the composites to achieve better reliability and integrity in their intended applications. This study will bring economic benefits to the end-users of advanced material technology including the Australian materials industries. Read moreRead less
Active Vibration Control of a Cricket Bat using Piezoelectric-based Smart Materials Technology. Improvement of sporting equipment performance of late has largely ignored the game of cricket. Using the combined disciplines of advanced materials and control technologies, it is anticipated that the traditional cricket bat can be vastly improved while keeping to bat modification guidelines as specified in the rules of the game. This project involves the dynamic study of the bat using established e ....Active Vibration Control of a Cricket Bat using Piezoelectric-based Smart Materials Technology. Improvement of sporting equipment performance of late has largely ignored the game of cricket. Using the combined disciplines of advanced materials and control technologies, it is anticipated that the traditional cricket bat can be vastly improved while keeping to bat modification guidelines as specified in the rules of the game. This project involves the dynamic study of the bat using established experimental techniques. Once the various regions of high strain rates are determined, smart materials technologies will be used to reduce the transient vibrations transmitted to the batsman. The effect of this monitoring and control is to increase the comfort level and hence, effectiveness of the batsman.Read moreRead less
Towards new generations of lubricants using nanoparticles. Engines are essential to the Australian manufacturing, transport, power generation, mining and construction industries. Our project will develop the basic science for high-performance lubricants and wear-resistant materials using nanoparticles. These lubricants and materials will have a significant impact in reducing system failure from the chronic wear and friction of moving parts and optimise the cost structures of system manufacturing ....Towards new generations of lubricants using nanoparticles. Engines are essential to the Australian manufacturing, transport, power generation, mining and construction industries. Our project will develop the basic science for high-performance lubricants and wear-resistant materials using nanoparticles. These lubricants and materials will have a significant impact in reducing system failure from the chronic wear and friction of moving parts and optimise the cost structures of system manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Thermo-electro-chemo-mechanical properties of biological systems. The proposal is aimed at developing a new theoretical framework for piezoelectric biological materials and structures, through theoretical analysis, computation and numerical simulations, as well as experimental investigations, to produce high-reliability, high-performance hydrogel components and smart soft tissue structures. It is envisaged that successful outcomes of this program will give the Australian biological industry a te ....Thermo-electro-chemo-mechanical properties of biological systems. The proposal is aimed at developing a new theoretical framework for piezoelectric biological materials and structures, through theoretical analysis, computation and numerical simulations, as well as experimental investigations, to produce high-reliability, high-performance hydrogel components and smart soft tissue structures. It is envisaged that successful outcomes of this program will give the Australian biological industry a technology edge over their competitors and provide easy-to-use guidelines for the design of smart biological systems.Read moreRead less
Fracture Mechanics of Functionally Graded Materials: Coupled Thermoelectromechanical Problems. The primary goal of this project is to develop mathematical and computational models and techniques that are capable of novel design of functionally graded materials and structures that can dramatically increase the performance and reliability of artificial structures and devices. The applications areas are broad: from lightweight thermal protective coatings used in high-temperature environments to bio ....Fracture Mechanics of Functionally Graded Materials: Coupled Thermoelectromechanical Problems. The primary goal of this project is to develop mathematical and computational models and techniques that are capable of novel design of functionally graded materials and structures that can dramatically increase the performance and reliability of artificial structures and devices. The applications areas are broad: from lightweight thermal protective coatings used in high-temperature environments to biological hard tissues like bones and teeth. Efficient numerical methods will be developed to overcome difficulties encountered in material properties and loading conditions. The project will provide useful guidelines to design new, intelligent, multi-phase material systems, including biomaterial systems for biomedical applications.Read moreRead less
Determination of the Properties of Hyper-Elastic Materials by Deep Indentation. We seek to develop the scientific basis for the interpretation of the results of "deep" indentation testing of non-linear elastic (hyper-elastic) materials. Simple tests (such as indentation) produce complex strain fields. Interpretation of the resulting data in terms of stiffness, for example, requires a complex model of the deformation process that can be utilised to link the observed behaviour to the basic prope ....Determination of the Properties of Hyper-Elastic Materials by Deep Indentation. We seek to develop the scientific basis for the interpretation of the results of "deep" indentation testing of non-linear elastic (hyper-elastic) materials. Simple tests (such as indentation) produce complex strain fields. Interpretation of the resulting data in terms of stiffness, for example, requires a complex model of the deformation process that can be utilised to link the observed behaviour to the basic properties of interest. This project is dedicated to an understanding of the complex deformation associated with large strain indentation of hyper-elastic materials and structures, development of finite element based models for this deformation and creation of techniques for interpretation of the results of such indentation tests.Read moreRead less