Creating pH-sensitive self-healing concrete using sludge waste for sewers. In Australia, our 117,000 km of concrete sewer pipes are currently internally corroding at a depth rate of 1-3 mm per annum. The repair of deteriorated concrete is costly and often short-lived. Based on an advanced composite technology, this project will develop a pH-sensitive self-healing concrete that can repair itself without human intervention at the early stage of corrosion. Sludge waste from drinking water treatment ....Creating pH-sensitive self-healing concrete using sludge waste for sewers. In Australia, our 117,000 km of concrete sewer pipes are currently internally corroding at a depth rate of 1-3 mm per annum. The repair of deteriorated concrete is costly and often short-lived. Based on an advanced composite technology, this project will develop a pH-sensitive self-healing concrete that can repair itself without human intervention at the early stage of corrosion. Sludge waste from drinking water treatment will be utilised as a healing agent to mitigate the corrosion. Combined experiments and molecular dynamics simulation will uncover all aspects of the healing process to enable the practical application of this technology. The findings will extend the lifetime of concrete structures and promote a circular economy.Read moreRead less
Robust cement-based sensors for smart automation in future infrastructure. Infrastructural health and operation monitoring are core parts of managing built assets. The project aims to develop robust cement-based sensors with integrated self-sensing and hydrophobicity, and to optimise their robustness and resilience for smart automation in future infrastructure. The new sensors are expected to more accurately assess structural health, monitor traffic-flow, decrease the costs of operation and main ....Robust cement-based sensors for smart automation in future infrastructure. Infrastructural health and operation monitoring are core parts of managing built assets. The project aims to develop robust cement-based sensors with integrated self-sensing and hydrophobicity, and to optimise their robustness and resilience for smart automation in future infrastructure. The new sensors are expected to more accurately assess structural health, monitor traffic-flow, decrease the costs of operation and maintenance through enhanced piezoresistivity and serviceability, and gain insights into intrinsic self-sensing and integral water repellency. The outcomes will improve predictions of performance and service, with major reductions in asset management costs through significantly more-efficient operation and maintenance.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101221
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,154.00
Summary
Eco-friendly low shrinkage concrete integrating upcycled textile waste. This project aims to investigate a novel solution incorporating upcycled textile waste to reduce shrinkage induced cracking in reinforced concrete. The project is expected to generate new knowledge in crack nucleation and healing mechanisms in concrete and the application of flexible textile fibre reinforcement to control shrinkage induced cracking, creating a new fibre reinforced composite. The expected outcome is a reducti ....Eco-friendly low shrinkage concrete integrating upcycled textile waste. This project aims to investigate a novel solution incorporating upcycled textile waste to reduce shrinkage induced cracking in reinforced concrete. The project is expected to generate new knowledge in crack nucleation and healing mechanisms in concrete and the application of flexible textile fibre reinforcement to control shrinkage induced cracking, creating a new fibre reinforced composite. The expected outcome is a reduction in construction waste through extending the life span of concrete structures and reducing textile waste, 85% of which is currently disposed in landfills. The new composite could deliver a circular solution to textile waste leading to significant social, environmental and economic benefits.Read moreRead less
Novel Hydrophobic Concrete for Durable and Resilient Mining Infrastructure. The mining field is harsh with various corrosive media that cause rapid deterioration and ageing of concrete. This project aims to develop a novel hydrophobic concrete with integrated water-proofing and self-healing capacities and optimise its efficacy and cost-effectiveness for durable and resilient mining infrastructure using hybrid water-repellent nanoparticles and raw crystalline admixtures. The new hydrophobic concr ....Novel Hydrophobic Concrete for Durable and Resilient Mining Infrastructure. The mining field is harsh with various corrosive media that cause rapid deterioration and ageing of concrete. This project aims to develop a novel hydrophobic concrete with integrated water-proofing and self-healing capacities and optimise its efficacy and cost-effectiveness for durable and resilient mining infrastructure using hybrid water-repellent nanoparticles and raw crystalline admixtures. The new hydrophobic concrete is expected to significantly improve structural safety, durability, and service life of mining infrastructure while simultaneously reducing protection costs, repair needs, and reconstruction. The outcomes will offer desirable benefits for Australia’s mining industry, with significant reductions in maintenance costs.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100548
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$439,847.00
Summary
A novel high-temperature concrete-based system for renewable energy storage. This project aims to develop a novel alkali-activated concrete-based system for renewable energy storage. The system is based on the excellent performance, durability and affordability of concrete, which is widely used in the construction industry. The project expects to generate new knowledge in concrete thermal energy storage by using a holistic experimental and computational approach. Expected outcomes include insigh ....A novel high-temperature concrete-based system for renewable energy storage. This project aims to develop a novel alkali-activated concrete-based system for renewable energy storage. The system is based on the excellent performance, durability and affordability of concrete, which is widely used in the construction industry. The project expects to generate new knowledge in concrete thermal energy storage by using a holistic experimental and computational approach. Expected outcomes include insights into the novel high-temperature concrete, the advanced numerical, data-driven model and the system, that is highly scalable, efficient and low cost. This should provide significant benefits in accelerating the use of concrete for energy storage technologies and fostering the national and global renewable energy transition.Read moreRead less