Development of Fibre Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Products. The construction industry is one of the world's largest consumers of raw materials and it is widely accepted that current material usage trends are unsustainable. Development of new more efficient construction materials is paramount to overcoming this. This novel research will use advanced high strength glass and carbon fibres and polymer resins to improve the structural behaviour, versatility and economic viability of a natio ....Development of Fibre Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Products. The construction industry is one of the world's largest consumers of raw materials and it is widely accepted that current material usage trends are unsustainable. Development of new more efficient construction materials is paramount to overcoming this. This novel research will use advanced high strength glass and carbon fibres and polymer resins to improve the structural behaviour, versatility and economic viability of a nationally significant construction material known as Autoclaved Aerated Concrete. The material technologies developed by this research will lead to more efficient material use, a more sustainable materials solution and the potential to export the technology worldwide.Read moreRead less
The response of beams subjected to axial load and lateral soil movements. Beams (piles, soil nails, and pipelines) are not only subjected to axial (vertical, axial and longitudinal)loading, but often withstand simultaneous lateral loading, due to either explicit structural loads, or due to loads induced by movement of the soils in which they are founded. Bridge piles adjacent to an approach embankment are one example. This project will provide experimental evidence to assist with the estimation ....The response of beams subjected to axial load and lateral soil movements. Beams (piles, soil nails, and pipelines) are not only subjected to axial (vertical, axial and longitudinal)loading, but often withstand simultaneous lateral loading, due to either explicit structural loads, or due to loads induced by movement of the soils in which they are founded. Bridge piles adjacent to an approach embankment are one example. This project will provide experimental evidence to assist with the estimation of capacity, axial and shear resistance, the validation of unified solutions for beams subjected to simultaneous lateral soil movements and axial loads. Such experimental evidence and analytical solutions are not currently available. The evidence will also assist with solving a contradictory, existing design principle, which will lead to an economic and efficient design approach.Read moreRead less
Numerical Modelling of Strain Localization in Reinforced Concrete and Its Application to Prediction of Crack Spacing and Crack Width. Cracking of concrete has a major influence on structural performance. Prediction of crack spacing and crack widths is essential for serviceability considerations of reinforced concrete. The available formulas to evaluate crack widths are approximate and give a wide scatter of predicted values. The project aims to provide a new numerical methodology that will (fina ....Numerical Modelling of Strain Localization in Reinforced Concrete and Its Application to Prediction of Crack Spacing and Crack Width. Cracking of concrete has a major influence on structural performance. Prediction of crack spacing and crack widths is essential for serviceability considerations of reinforced concrete. The available formulas to evaluate crack widths are approximate and give a wide scatter of predicted values. The project aims to provide a new numerical methodology that will (finally) predict crack spacing correctly. The expected outcomes include a numerical analysis model and a set of algorithms to predict crack widths. This will markedly improve the understanding of the mechanism of crack spacing and provide a better prediction of crack spacing and crack widths.Read moreRead less
Framework for a cost-effective geohazard assessment. Framework for a cost-effective geohazard assessment. This project aims to develop and validate a new, robust and cost-effective method for geotechnical hazard assessment of rock slopes. Each year in Australia, millions of dollars are spent on stabilising unstable slopes and mitigation measures to control the associated risk and avoid severe financial impacts. The proposed framework will combine a new qualitative approach for geotechnical hazar ....Framework for a cost-effective geohazard assessment. Framework for a cost-effective geohazard assessment. This project aims to develop and validate a new, robust and cost-effective method for geotechnical hazard assessment of rock slopes. Each year in Australia, millions of dollars are spent on stabilising unstable slopes and mitigation measures to control the associated risk and avoid severe financial impacts. The proposed framework will combine a new qualitative approach for geotechnical hazard assessment with accurate, efficient geo-structural surveys achieved with emerging surveying technologies. Stochastic components of slope geostructural description should minimise the surveying operations. This project is expected to reduce the cost and time of surveying geostructural features of slopes and designing mitigation measures.Read moreRead less
Optimising the design, construction and cost-effectiveness of screw auger piles in fine-grained cohesive soils. The purpose of the project is to optimise the design, construction and effectiveness of screw auger piles used in fine-grained cohesive soils, through achieving an improved understanding of their behaviour and performance. The expected outcome is enhanced design and construction of such piles in these soils, and greater cost-effectiveness.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE240100817
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$458,460.00
Summary
Predicting internal erosion in dams using real-time coupled experiments. Internal erosion causes nearly half of embankment dam failures globally. This project aims to develop a mechanics-based understanding of internal erosion to overcome the limitations of existing empirical approaches that do not capture the underlying physics. By innovatively coupling computational and physical experiments in real-time, this project expects to generate new insights that identify the factors leading to the ini ....Predicting internal erosion in dams using real-time coupled experiments. Internal erosion causes nearly half of embankment dam failures globally. This project aims to develop a mechanics-based understanding of internal erosion to overcome the limitations of existing empirical approaches that do not capture the underlying physics. By innovatively coupling computational and physical experiments in real-time, this project expects to generate new insights that identify the factors leading to the initiation and continuation of internal erosion. The expected outcome of this project is a probabilistic framework able to predict the internal erosion process. This should significantly enhance and inform the design of erosion control measures and provide a holistic risk assessment for embankment dams.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE180100101
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$744,697.00
Summary
New generation facility for impact testing. This project aims to develop a new generation, national-impact testing facility to study the impact response of civil and mechanical structures and components. This project expects to seek simultaneous, realistic impact scenarios with very high velocities, which were previously impossible. This will enhance the capability for innovative research on real-time behaviour of components/systems under high amplitude impacts to augment their protection throug ....New generation facility for impact testing. This project aims to develop a new generation, national-impact testing facility to study the impact response of civil and mechanical structures and components. This project expects to seek simultaneous, realistic impact scenarios with very high velocities, which were previously impossible. This will enhance the capability for innovative research on real-time behaviour of components/systems under high amplitude impacts to augment their protection through advanced materials. This project is essential for research on rational design philosophies and effective retrofitting of high-risk buildings, infrastructure and armoured vehicles. Benefits include the saving of lives and property through new knowledge from credible impact testing.Read moreRead less
Mitigating Vehicular Crashes into Masonry Buildings . Around 2000 vehicles crash annually into school, home and shop buildings located at close proximity to heavily trafficked roads in Australia and cause significant distress to occupants of building and vehicle. The impacted walls mostly of masonry, suffer severe damage often with vehicle intrusion into the building. Despite this, the intrusion mechanism is not understood and no effective mitigation strategies exist at present. This project wi ....Mitigating Vehicular Crashes into Masonry Buildings . Around 2000 vehicles crash annually into school, home and shop buildings located at close proximity to heavily trafficked roads in Australia and cause significant distress to occupants of building and vehicle. The impacted walls mostly of masonry, suffer severe damage often with vehicle intrusion into the building. Despite this, the intrusion mechanism is not understood and no effective mitigation strategies exist at present. This project will uncover the mechanics of vehicle intrusions through masonry walls and develop novel mitigation strategies using high energy absorbing auxetic composite render and innovative vibration isolation at wall edges. These innovations will lead to new theories that can save lives in the building and vehicle.Read moreRead less
Erosion processes in soils across scales. This project aims to develop a monitoring tool for predicting the evolution of internal erosion in dams based on innovative electromagnetic observation methods. Internal erosion is an insidious process occurring in the obscurity of the soil’s pore system until its consequences become visible and threaten the stability of the dams. These water retaining structures are vital for the future water and energy supply for our society and their failure can be ca ....Erosion processes in soils across scales. This project aims to develop a monitoring tool for predicting the evolution of internal erosion in dams based on innovative electromagnetic observation methods. Internal erosion is an insidious process occurring in the obscurity of the soil’s pore system until its consequences become visible and threaten the stability of the dams. These water retaining structures are vital for the future water and energy supply for our society and their failure can be catastrophic. By establishing an improved understanding of internal erosion as a sequence of processes on various scales, from the onset of erosion until the failure of the structure, this project will place Australia at the forefront of dam safety assessment.Read moreRead less
Development of advanced deterioration model for the design of stabilised pavement bases. The Australian road network is a lifeline infrastructure that underpins the nation's living standards and economy. Much of these roads have deteriorated and require rehabilitation to get a new lease of life. This project intends to develop advanced methods to extend the lives of these pavements using in-situ recycling of old pavement materials.