Minimisation of damage to residential structures due to ground movement. In Australia some 150,000 new houses are built every year with a total value of approximately $40 billion; making it one of the most significant industries affecting consumers and industries. With a quadrupling of the cost of building new houses in the last 20 years, an increase in the levels of expectations of owners, a high rate of reported damage in new and existing houses, and predications of worsening conditions under ....Minimisation of damage to residential structures due to ground movement. In Australia some 150,000 new houses are built every year with a total value of approximately $40 billion; making it one of the most significant industries affecting consumers and industries. With a quadrupling of the cost of building new houses in the last 20 years, an increase in the levels of expectations of owners, a high rate of reported damage in new and existing houses, and predications of worsening conditions under climate change scenarios; there is an urgent need to evaluate the causes of damage. The outcomes from this project will assist in minimising damage to houses from ground movement and in adopting new performance-based design methods for new homes to better match owner expectations. This will lead to cost effective and innovative solutions to meet adverse conditions.Read moreRead less
Functionally graded modelling of geopolymer and Portland cement concretes. This project aims to investigate why geopolymer concretes crack less than the Portland cement concretes. Carbon emissions from Portland cement is second only to fossil fuels. Geopolymer may emit less carbon dioxide than Portland cement concrete because it bleeds less and has higher creep. The project will test this hypothesis on geopolymer and Portland cement concretes, and emulate its findings in all types of concretes. ....Functionally graded modelling of geopolymer and Portland cement concretes. This project aims to investigate why geopolymer concretes crack less than the Portland cement concretes. Carbon emissions from Portland cement is second only to fossil fuels. Geopolymer may emit less carbon dioxide than Portland cement concrete because it bleeds less and has higher creep. The project will test this hypothesis on geopolymer and Portland cement concretes, and emulate its findings in all types of concretes. The project intends to create a specific market for geopolymer by developing a crack-free pavement and floors technology, while understanding cracking in concrete will reduce cracking issues.Read moreRead less
Three-dimensional printing of structures using fibre reinforced geopolymer concrete. This project aims to investigate geopolymer binders for cement. Three-dimensional printing using concrete can eliminate expensive formwork but is hampered by a lack of underpinning theoretical material and structural research. Conventional Portland cement’s setting characteristics limit its use for three-dimensional (3D) printing. The project will develop a theoretical framework for the structural properties of ....Three-dimensional printing of structures using fibre reinforced geopolymer concrete. This project aims to investigate geopolymer binders for cement. Three-dimensional printing using concrete can eliminate expensive formwork but is hampered by a lack of underpinning theoretical material and structural research. Conventional Portland cement’s setting characteristics limit its use for three-dimensional (3D) printing. The project will develop a theoretical framework for the structural properties of the 3D printed concrete and flow of geopolymer binder through aggregate bed, and design a fibre reinforcement system. This project is expected to improve construction, reduce injury rates and create high-end technology-based jobs.Read moreRead less
Additive manufacturing of functionally graded geopolymers. This project aims to use contour crafting for three-dimensional printing of functionally graded geopolymer concrete. Contour crafting has been touted for producing uniform structural members made of conventional concrete mixtures. This project will develop the existing technique to produce microstructurally graded geopolymer structures and include functionally graded placement of fibre within a geopolymer matrix. It will investigate mech ....Additive manufacturing of functionally graded geopolymers. This project aims to use contour crafting for three-dimensional printing of functionally graded geopolymer concrete. Contour crafting has been touted for producing uniform structural members made of conventional concrete mixtures. This project will develop the existing technique to produce microstructurally graded geopolymer structures and include functionally graded placement of fibre within a geopolymer matrix. It will investigate mechanical, thermal and durability properties of printed composite structures. The outcome of this research could lead to cost-effective automated production of specialised structural components.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180101587
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$364,446.00
Summary
Three-dimensional printable geo-polymer with orientable fibres for construction application. This project aims to develop a fibre-reinforced geo-polymer for three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP). 3DCP allows freeform construction without the use of expensive formwork, but is limited by the range of printable concretes and reinforcing methods. Geo-polymer is a sustainable material and has adjustable setting characteristics and better fibre-matrix interface properties than conventional cemen ....Three-dimensional printable geo-polymer with orientable fibres for construction application. This project aims to develop a fibre-reinforced geo-polymer for three-dimensional concrete printing (3DCP). 3DCP allows freeform construction without the use of expensive formwork, but is limited by the range of printable concretes and reinforcing methods. Geo-polymer is a sustainable material and has adjustable setting characteristics and better fibre-matrix interface properties than conventional cement. This project is expected to improve construction safety and costs.Read moreRead less
Composite steel-timber structural system. This project aims to deliver a novel composite steel–timber system that alleviates many of the environmental concerns of the industry, while improving efficiency by using lighter materials. It aims to develop a unique composite system comprised of steel I-section beams and prefabricated timber slabs, with shear connection being provided by bolting or screws. The project plans to assess the structural system experimentally and numerically, and to craft gu ....Composite steel-timber structural system. This project aims to deliver a novel composite steel–timber system that alleviates many of the environmental concerns of the industry, while improving efficiency by using lighter materials. It aims to develop a unique composite system comprised of steel I-section beams and prefabricated timber slabs, with shear connection being provided by bolting or screws. The project plans to assess the structural system experimentally and numerically, and to craft guidelines for the safe and efficient design of these members. The novel lightweight composite system would enhance the speed of construction, allow for deconstructability and reuse and, because plantation timber sequestrates carbon dioxide, have a low carbon footprint.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL100100063
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,423,222.00
Summary
An Innovative and Advanced Systems Approach for Full Life-Cycle, Low-Emissions Composite and Hybrid Building Infrastructure. This project will develop a 'green' sustainable composite steel-concrete building frame system that reduces greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life-cycle of building construction, usage and deconstruction. It will eliminate the use of ordinary Portland cement, which is a major carbon dioxide producer, by using geopolymer concrete made from fly-ash, and will use econom ....An Innovative and Advanced Systems Approach for Full Life-Cycle, Low-Emissions Composite and Hybrid Building Infrastructure. This project will develop a 'green' sustainable composite steel-concrete building frame system that reduces greenhouse gas emissions throughout the life-cycle of building construction, usage and deconstruction. It will eliminate the use of ordinary Portland cement, which is a major carbon dioxide producer, by using geopolymer concrete made from fly-ash, and will use economic thin-walled, high-strength steel sections. Deconstructability is provided through bolted joints and by using tensioned bolts as shear connectors between the steel skeleton and concrete flooring. This project is underpinned by the extensive background of the candidate, and provides a very timely solution to a major contemporary engineering challenge facing Australia.Read moreRead less
Durability and debonding resistance of composite based strengthening techniques for deteriorated structures. Australia has many concrete structures exposed to aggressive environments that are deteriorating prior to their intended design life due to durability issues. Externally bonded fibre reinforced polymer composite applications are emerging as a method of structural rehabilitation. This project will provide safe and reliable strengthened structures.
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100168
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$458,000.00
Summary
Three-dimensional concrete printing facility. This project aims to develop concrete types of construction materials and structural forms. Three-dimensional concrete printing is a process for construction automation, and adapting recent advances in Additive Manufacturing technologies makes rapid progress possible. However, unsuitable concrete and structural designs and a lack of underpinning material and structural research hamper development. The project will test material properties, fabricatio ....Three-dimensional concrete printing facility. This project aims to develop concrete types of construction materials and structural forms. Three-dimensional concrete printing is a process for construction automation, and adapting recent advances in Additive Manufacturing technologies makes rapid progress possible. However, unsuitable concrete and structural designs and a lack of underpinning material and structural research hamper development. The project will test material properties, fabrication technologies and structural design concepts; and build and test freeform concrete structures. Achieving construction automation is expected to reduce injury rates by eliminating dangerous jobs, create high-end technology-based jobs, and make concrete construction cheaper by eliminating formwork.Read moreRead less
A holistic integrated design approach for building envelopes incorporating sustainability, security and safety. This project aims to develop a highly secure and sustainable facade system for buildings with a significant enhancement over other conventional facades in terms of both protection against extreme loads and life cycle energy performance. The outcome of this project can be used to improve the sustainability and safety of buildings in Australia.