Onset Theory: Pushing the design envelope for textile composite structures. This study aims to exploit an innovative physics-based approach to predict the strength of textile composites. This is particularly important in areas such as aircraft design, where drastic weight savings are needed to allow designers to remain competitive in a low-carbon future. Improved theory and design tools will remove conservatism and account for a large part of these weight savings. The new approach is the first t ....Onset Theory: Pushing the design envelope for textile composite structures. This study aims to exploit an innovative physics-based approach to predict the strength of textile composites. This is particularly important in areas such as aircraft design, where drastic weight savings are needed to allow designers to remain competitive in a low-carbon future. Improved theory and design tools will remove conservatism and account for a large part of these weight savings. The new approach is the first to be consistent at all length scales — from atoms to aeroplanes — ensuring relevance for new and evolving composite material systems. A novel understanding of crack initiation in textile laminates is intended to reduce design and certification effort for new aircraft and help to design more efficient airframes at a lower cost.Read moreRead less
Fluid-thermal-structural interactions on high-speed aerospace vehicles. Sixteen years after the retirement of Concorde, high-speed commercial flight is once again on the rise with the development of new supersonic business jets and small airliners as well as hypersonic transport and reusable space launch systems. Robust and efficient designs for these light-weight vehicles must address the problem of aerodynamic heating and its effect on structural performance and lifing. This project will desig ....Fluid-thermal-structural interactions on high-speed aerospace vehicles. Sixteen years after the retirement of Concorde, high-speed commercial flight is once again on the rise with the development of new supersonic business jets and small airliners as well as hypersonic transport and reusable space launch systems. Robust and efficient designs for these light-weight vehicles must address the problem of aerodynamic heating and its effect on structural performance and lifing. This project will design and perform first-of-kind experiments that reproduce the complex fluid-thermal-structural interactions representative of those experienced by these aircraft and rockets. We will then use these measurements to assess, validate and improve the current state-of-the-art of simulation and modelling approaches for design.Read moreRead less
A New Parallel Robot with breakthrough performance for Manufacturing of Aerospace Components - kinematic and dynamic synthesis, design optimisation and prototyping. The Gantry-Tau is a new parallel type robot manipulator that will have the large workspace benefit of traditional Gantry robots in addition to stiffness and accuracy benefits well beyond the capabilities of existing robots. Preliminary results have shown that the Gantry-Tau can become the most accurate Gantry manipulator to date, wit ....A New Parallel Robot with breakthrough performance for Manufacturing of Aerospace Components - kinematic and dynamic synthesis, design optimisation and prototyping. The Gantry-Tau is a new parallel type robot manipulator that will have the large workspace benefit of traditional Gantry robots in addition to stiffness and accuracy benefits well beyond the capabilities of existing robots. Preliminary results have shown that the Gantry-Tau can become the most accurate Gantry manipulator to date, with the potential of competing with dedicated machines in the manufacturing industry. The expected project outcome is a working prototype of the Gantry-Tau demonstrating machining performance on aerospace components, publications in high-ranked conferences and journals and several patent applications.Read moreRead less
Experimental validation of the strain invariant failure theory for carbon/epoxy composites. The project will be of national and international benefit, through providing a validated, enhanced design capability for advanced composite materials. Greater depth of understanding of such materials will allow more efficient structures to be designed in applications requiring high strength and stiffness, low weight, and resistance to corrosion and fatigue. Such applications include the aerospace, offshor ....Experimental validation of the strain invariant failure theory for carbon/epoxy composites. The project will be of national and international benefit, through providing a validated, enhanced design capability for advanced composite materials. Greater depth of understanding of such materials will allow more efficient structures to be designed in applications requiring high strength and stiffness, low weight, and resistance to corrosion and fatigue. Such applications include the aerospace, offshore and mining industries. There are, therefore, far-reaching benefits in industries important to Australia. In addition, the reputation of the Australian aerospace research industry will be promoted through a collaborative association with Boeing, a world leader in development of commercial aircraft.Read moreRead less
Remote diagnostics for space-access flight testing. Aerospace flight testing is essential for assessing the reliability of space-access technologies including re-usable rockets and hypersonic air-breathing systems. Development of such technologies relies on acquisition of optical data in video and scientific formats, and such capabilities are now required in Australia. By leveraging contributions to international missions, this project develops the essential optical diagnostic tools and techniqu ....Remote diagnostics for space-access flight testing. Aerospace flight testing is essential for assessing the reliability of space-access technologies including re-usable rockets and hypersonic air-breathing systems. Development of such technologies relies on acquisition of optical data in video and scientific formats, and such capabilities are now required in Australia. By leveraging contributions to international missions, this project develops the essential optical diagnostic tools and techniques and establishes an enduring capability for space-access flight testing in Australia, thereby accelerating the research and development pathways for Australian enterprises and designating Australia as a prime destination for international aerospace businesses. Read moreRead less
Radiating hypersonic flows. Benefits will accrue through the involvement of Australia in the international program for future space missions. Through this project, Australia, already among the leaders in scramjet propulsion development, can also become a major player in spacecraft design. Significant educational benefits will be created due to the challenging nature of the work, through immediate contact with leading overseas researchers, and through subsequent marketing of flight vehicles. The ....Radiating hypersonic flows. Benefits will accrue through the involvement of Australia in the international program for future space missions. Through this project, Australia, already among the leaders in scramjet propulsion development, can also become a major player in spacecraft design. Significant educational benefits will be created due to the challenging nature of the work, through immediate contact with leading overseas researchers, and through subsequent marketing of flight vehicles. The project could lead to the involvement of Australian technology at a commercial level in a new generation of hardware for space exploration.Read moreRead less
Hypervelocity re-entry. Addressing a critical area of space travel and its practical utilisation it will help expand a key technology niche which will facilitate our involvement in major programs of the future. In international space programs each participant provides a unique technical contribution and shares in the intellectual and economic returns. Educational benefits arise due to the challenging nature of the work, contact with overseas researchers, and through the marketing and developm ....Hypervelocity re-entry. Addressing a critical area of space travel and its practical utilisation it will help expand a key technology niche which will facilitate our involvement in major programs of the future. In international space programs each participant provides a unique technical contribution and shares in the intellectual and economic returns. Educational benefits arise due to the challenging nature of the work, contact with overseas researchers, and through the marketing and development of flight vehicles and associated technology. There will be opportunity for our graduates to be employed in senior positions overseas, and to subsequently return to Australia with advanced skills and facilitate Australian collaboration from positions of influence.Read moreRead less
Development of large scale expansion tubes. The aim of this proposal is to develop a high Mach number scramjet simulation capability by modifying the X3 superorbital expansion tube at UQ for high suborbital operation at very high total pressures. This will enable Australia to do true Mach number simulation at higher speeds than is possible anywhere else, and mantain an international advantage in the development of scramjet flight propulsion. It will also put Australian researchers in a strong p ....Development of large scale expansion tubes. The aim of this proposal is to develop a high Mach number scramjet simulation capability by modifying the X3 superorbital expansion tube at UQ for high suborbital operation at very high total pressures. This will enable Australia to do true Mach number simulation at higher speeds than is possible anywhere else, and mantain an international advantage in the development of scramjet flight propulsion. It will also put Australian researchers in a strong position to participate in the next generation of US ground testing facilities, foreshadowed by the recent NASA purchase of a large shock tunnel driver. It will enable Australia to maintain a position of leadership in the development of new space travel concepts.Read moreRead less
Mach 10 Hydrogen fuelled scramjet development. Safe and economic access to space is a major technological challenge of the 21st century. Airbreathing engines, in particular, scramjets offer the potential to meet this challenge. The project aims to develop an understanding of the engineering and physical principals that determines the performance of a class of scramjet operating at hypervelocity speeds (>3km/s). Novel and innovative ideas will be explored which for the first time will provide ....Mach 10 Hydrogen fuelled scramjet development. Safe and economic access to space is a major technological challenge of the 21st century. Airbreathing engines, in particular, scramjets offer the potential to meet this challenge. The project aims to develop an understanding of the engineering and physical principals that determines the performance of a class of scramjet operating at hypervelocity speeds (>3km/s). Novel and innovative ideas will be explored which for the first time will provide the understandings necessary to make well founded predictions of the cost effectiveness of this approach, as well as provide the blue print to develop an engine which can operate at Mach 10.Read moreRead less