Miniature triaxial tests to investigate effects of pore fluid salt concentration on the mechanics of clays. Mitigating the land degradation caused by salinity is a national priority. In the urban environment salinity and the associated waterlogging have the potential to seriously degrade infrastructure and domestic housing. Currently the effects of salinity on the mechanical response of the ground are not well understood and there is a paucity of engineering models capable of predicting ground b ....Miniature triaxial tests to investigate effects of pore fluid salt concentration on the mechanics of clays. Mitigating the land degradation caused by salinity is a national priority. In the urban environment salinity and the associated waterlogging have the potential to seriously degrade infrastructure and domestic housing. Currently the effects of salinity on the mechanical response of the ground are not well understood and there is a paucity of engineering models capable of predicting ground behaviour. This project aims to address this situation by providing new knowledge and understanding of how changes in salt concentration affect the soil, and by developing models capable of predicting the observed behaviour. This will assist in the development of rational approaches to mitigate the effects of salinity.Read moreRead less
Erosion of variably saturated soils - a fundamental investigation. Soil erosion is a serious problem in Australia and internationally. Each year 75 billion tones of soil are removed due to erosion causing siltation and reduced storage capacity of reservoirs (and in some cases dam failures), while reducing agriculture productivity. Also, the internal erosion of dams has historically resulted in about 1 in 200 dams failing. This project will develop a framework for understanding the initiation, pr ....Erosion of variably saturated soils - a fundamental investigation. Soil erosion is a serious problem in Australia and internationally. Each year 75 billion tones of soil are removed due to erosion causing siltation and reduced storage capacity of reservoirs (and in some cases dam failures), while reducing agriculture productivity. Also, the internal erosion of dams has historically resulted in about 1 in 200 dams failing. This project will develop a framework for understanding the initiation, progression and rate of erosion of soils including previously overlooked parameters. It will significantly advance the ability to manage and predict soil erosion. Engineers, land management authorities and dam owners will benefit directly through the development of new experimental and predictive tools.Read moreRead less
Mechanics of dynamic loading and rapid penetration of soils. The project will produce improved understanding and new numerical tools that will permit cost effective simulation and modelling of rapid penetration of objects into the ground, and of the compaction processes used on the majority of construction sites. The free fall penetrometer will be developed to enable soil strength to be determined at remote sites, e.g. ocean seabed, jungles, swamps. The project will also assist in the selection ....Mechanics of dynamic loading and rapid penetration of soils. The project will produce improved understanding and new numerical tools that will permit cost effective simulation and modelling of rapid penetration of objects into the ground, and of the compaction processes used on the majority of construction sites. The free fall penetrometer will be developed to enable soil strength to be determined at remote sites, e.g. ocean seabed, jungles, swamps. The project will also assist in the selection of compaction equipment and procedures.Read moreRead less
The Influence of Cement Type, Age and Curing Conditions on the Flexural Capacity of Masonry Walls. The use of cements containing waste products such as fly ash and blast surface slag has increased markedly. This has desirable environmental and economic consequences, but the influence of these cements on the bond strength of masonry constructed from mortars containing these cements is unknown and in urgent need of clarification. This investigation studies this effect as well as the influence of ....The Influence of Cement Type, Age and Curing Conditions on the Flexural Capacity of Masonry Walls. The use of cements containing waste products such as fly ash and blast surface slag has increased markedly. This has desirable environmental and economic consequences, but the influence of these cements on the bond strength of masonry constructed from mortars containing these cements is unknown and in urgent need of clarification. This investigation studies this effect as well as the influence of age and curing conditions on masonry flexural strength at both a fundamental and applied level, thus allowing the impact of the use of mortars containing these cements on actual building performance to be assessed.Read moreRead less
The mechanics of healing and self-healing in clayey soils. This project aims to develop an experimentally-validated theory of healing and self-healing in clay and determine clay-polymer mixtures that heal cracks and fissures in clay. Healing of fissures will improve strength and reduce hydraulic conductivity, which will reduce risks associated with construction on fissured clay and make clay barrier systems in dehydrating environments more reliable. The project’s observations of crack healing ar ....The mechanics of healing and self-healing in clayey soils. This project aims to develop an experimentally-validated theory of healing and self-healing in clay and determine clay-polymer mixtures that heal cracks and fissures in clay. Healing of fissures will improve strength and reduce hydraulic conductivity, which will reduce risks associated with construction on fissured clay and make clay barrier systems in dehydrating environments more reliable. The project’s observations of crack healing are expected to advance understanding of this phenomenon of soil mechanics and of geotechnical applications where cracking can occur, such as in foundation design, waste containment, slope stability and embankment dams.Read moreRead less
Improved analysis techniques for seismic assessment of unreinforced masonry buildings with flexible floor/roof diaphragms. A major international collaboration between researchers in Australia, New Zealand and Italy is underway to develop a method for structural engineers to determine which masonry buildings post a significant hazard to the public in the event of an earthquake such as that which struck the city of Christchurch.
A complex systems approach to granular rheology: interconnecting topology, stability, dynamics and function. The response of granular materials (e.g. soil, rocks) to applied stresses and strains will be characterised in detail. Information mined from experimental and simulation tests will be used to develop robust predictive models of granular behaviour, crucial for effective earthquake mitigation as well as greener mining and construction technologies.
Cracking of Embankment Dams Under Normal Operating, and Flood Conditions, and the Implications for Internal Erosion and Piping Failure. Internal erosion and piping causes half of embankment dam failures and accidents. Historically about two percent of dams have been affected. The most common cause of initiation of erosion is in cracks or by hydraulic fracture in low stress zones. This project will develop methods for predicting the opening width and depth of desiccation and stress induced cra ....Cracking of Embankment Dams Under Normal Operating, and Flood Conditions, and the Implications for Internal Erosion and Piping Failure. Internal erosion and piping causes half of embankment dam failures and accidents. Historically about two percent of dams have been affected. The most common cause of initiation of erosion is in cracks or by hydraulic fracture in low stress zones. This project will develop methods for predicting the opening width and depth of desiccation and stress induced cracking in the dam crest, and for assessing whether the cracks will close before erosion begins as the reservoir water rises, or whether erosion will self limit or continue.Read moreRead less
Safeguarding Australia’s heritage masonry buildings from earthquake attack. The project aims to improve the guidance provided in Australian and New Zealand design codes for the seismic capacity assessment of heritage masonry buildings. The majority of culturally significant heritage buildings in Australia are constructed of unreinforced masonry, and all of these buildings were erected before seismic design guidelines or requirements existed. The risk posed by earthquakes to these important build ....Safeguarding Australia’s heritage masonry buildings from earthquake attack. The project aims to improve the guidance provided in Australian and New Zealand design codes for the seismic capacity assessment of heritage masonry buildings. The majority of culturally significant heritage buildings in Australia are constructed of unreinforced masonry, and all of these buildings were erected before seismic design guidelines or requirements existed. The risk posed by earthquakes to these important buildings is significant – as highlighted by the 2011 Christchurch earthquake where both major cathedrals in the city were heavily damaged. The project aims to develop an analysis and design method that accounts for the material properties and non-typical structural layouts used in heritage stone and clay brick masonry buildings that are most relevant to seismic response.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100006
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
X-ray Microscopy Facility for Imaging Geo-materials (XMFIG). The X-ray Microscopy Facility for Imaging Geo-Materials (XMFIG) will allow the investigation, with near-synchrotron capabilities, of the three dimensional internal structures and chemical compositions of geo-materials under relevant environmental conditions by engineers, geologists and materials scientists.