Influence of Spatial Variability on the Design and Performance of Pile Foundations. Currently, no model is available that incorporates the spatial variability of soil properties into the design and analysis of pile foundations. Furthermore, only basic rules-of-thumb are available to assist in determining the scope of appropriate site investigations for piles, and limited data are available for the LRFD of piles. The new and unique finite element model, site investigation guidelines and load re ....Influence of Spatial Variability on the Design and Performance of Pile Foundations. Currently, no model is available that incorporates the spatial variability of soil properties into the design and analysis of pile foundations. Furthermore, only basic rules-of-thumb are available to assist in determining the scope of appropriate site investigations for piles, and limited data are available for the LRFD of piles. The new and unique finite element model, site investigation guidelines and load resistance factors will reduce the over-design and uncertainty associated with pile design, which will lead to more reliable pile foundations and reduced construction cost overruns and delays. Conservatively, it is estimated that this research will result in savings in excess of $10 million per year, in Australia alone.Read moreRead less
Reducing the Risk of Foundation Failures by Improving the Effectiveness of Geotechnical Investigations. Inadequate geotechnical site investigation is the major factor in construction overruns and delays. In some instances failure may occur. Alternatively, such investigation may result in over-designed foundations. This research will examine these issues through sites, based on numerical simulations of variable soil conditions and investigations. Case studies will be used to verify the modelling. ....Reducing the Risk of Foundation Failures by Improving the Effectiveness of Geotechnical Investigations. Inadequate geotechnical site investigation is the major factor in construction overruns and delays. In some instances failure may occur. Alternatively, such investigation may result in over-designed foundations. This research will examine these issues through sites, based on numerical simulations of variable soil conditions and investigations. Case studies will be used to verify the modelling. A practical framework for planning and implementing geotechnical investigations, based on the variability of the soil profile will be developed. A key aspect of this framework is that, for the first time, site investigations will be linked to risk of foundation failure and cost of overdesign.Read moreRead less
Fibre reinforced polymer retrofitting of reinforced concrete flexural members. A cost-effective and durable technique for retrofitting reinforced concrete beams and slabs is to adhesively bond new advanced fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites to their surfaces. The potential plating market in Australia for bridges is $350 million, however, the technique can also be applied to strengthening other structures such as buildings. Tests have shown that FRP plates or sheets can debond prematurely, ....Fibre reinforced polymer retrofitting of reinforced concrete flexural members. A cost-effective and durable technique for retrofitting reinforced concrete beams and slabs is to adhesively bond new advanced fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites to their surfaces. The potential plating market in Australia for bridges is $350 million, however, the technique can also be applied to strengthening other structures such as buildings. Tests have shown that FRP plates or sheets can debond prematurely, which at present severely limits the application. The aim of this research project is to quantify the debonding mechanisms, strengths and ductilities of adhesively bonded FRP plated beams to provide design rules that can be used in practice.Read moreRead less
Modelling rolling dynamic compaction. Modelling rolling dynamic compaction. This project aims to measure the influence and efficacy of rolling dynamic compaction (RDC)—a new ground improvement technology used worldwide—in soil types using RDC modules of different shapes and weights in an experimental testing facility. It will examine authentic 1:13 scale RDC models using sophisticated testing and instrumentation embedded in the soil, and use this data to develop a model based on artificial intel ....Modelling rolling dynamic compaction. Modelling rolling dynamic compaction. This project aims to measure the influence and efficacy of rolling dynamic compaction (RDC)—a new ground improvement technology used worldwide—in soil types using RDC modules of different shapes and weights in an experimental testing facility. It will examine authentic 1:13 scale RDC models using sophisticated testing and instrumentation embedded in the soil, and use this data to develop a model based on artificial intelligence techniques that reliably predicts ground improvement using RDC in different ground conditions. This research is expected to transform the Australian and global ground improvement sector, and save hundreds of millions of dollars in land development costs and infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Infrastructure on reactive soils: fundamental advances and validation. This project aims to advance fundamental knowledge on the complex behaviour of reactive soils in the context of resilient geotechnical infrastructure. This research falls within the research priority “Environmental Change”, as geotechnical infrastructure need to sustain the impact of ever more frequent and more intense climatic actions. Attention will focus on the effect of suction on volume change and shear strength of react ....Infrastructure on reactive soils: fundamental advances and validation. This project aims to advance fundamental knowledge on the complex behaviour of reactive soils in the context of resilient geotechnical infrastructure. This research falls within the research priority “Environmental Change”, as geotechnical infrastructure need to sustain the impact of ever more frequent and more intense climatic actions. Attention will focus on the effect of suction on volume change and shear strength of reactive soils, two poorly understood features, and will produce a swelling model and a soil-deformable structure interaction model. After validation by a case study, the models will have the potential to empower industry to produce geotechnical infrastructure that can better sustain climatic actions.Read moreRead less
Earthquake protection of masonry buildings using fibre reinforced polymer strengthening. The importance of this research is highlighted, both nationally and internationally, by the work of the insurance industry which reported that the economic risk posed by a moderate earthquake in any of the capital cities in Australia is of the order of billions of dollars (Blong, 1993). For example, a 'design magnitude' earthquake in Sydney is predicted to cause, just in domestic construction, over $10 bill ....Earthquake protection of masonry buildings using fibre reinforced polymer strengthening. The importance of this research is highlighted, both nationally and internationally, by the work of the insurance industry which reported that the economic risk posed by a moderate earthquake in any of the capital cities in Australia is of the order of billions of dollars (Blong, 1993). For example, a 'design magnitude' earthquake in Sydney is predicted to cause, just in domestic construction, over $10 billion damage and more than 5000 deaths. Most of this damage would be associated with unreinforced masonry construction such as low-rise apartment buildings. The damage bill for the entire built environment (with business interruption costs) could easily be an order of magnitude greater.Read moreRead less
Blast resistance of flexural ultra-high performance concrete members. Ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) has high material strengths, high material deformation and high toughness, making it an ideal material for resisting blast effects. Since there are great differences between the mechanical properties of UHPC and conventional concrete, traditional guidelines need to be significantly adapted to accommodate UHPC. This project will facilitate the development of design procedures for reinforce ....Blast resistance of flexural ultra-high performance concrete members. Ultra high performance concrete (UHPC) has high material strengths, high material deformation and high toughness, making it an ideal material for resisting blast effects. Since there are great differences between the mechanical properties of UHPC and conventional concrete, traditional guidelines need to be significantly adapted to accommodate UHPC. This project will facilitate the development of design procedures for reinforced UHPC members. It will enable design engineers to take advantage of the desirable properties of UHPC for anti-terrorism. The application of this project will lead to saving lives, reducing the extent of injury and minimizing social and economic disruption.Read moreRead less
Ductile FRP retrofit of concrete frames subject to static and earthquake loading. Australia needs to spend at least $500 million annually on the repair and upgrading of concrete structures alone just to maintain our existing civil infrastructure. Furthermore, it has been estimated that more than 500 deaths and $10 billion damage will be caused by a moderate earthquake in Sydney or Melbourne. Most of this damage will be due to the collapse of buildings. This research will develop a new form of ....Ductile FRP retrofit of concrete frames subject to static and earthquake loading. Australia needs to spend at least $500 million annually on the repair and upgrading of concrete structures alone just to maintain our existing civil infrastructure. Furthermore, it has been estimated that more than 500 deaths and $10 billion damage will be caused by a moderate earthquake in Sydney or Melbourne. Most of this damage will be due to the collapse of buildings. This research will develop a new form of ductile plating that will reduce the cost of retrofitting concrete bridges and buildings. This project will also help train two PhD students and one Research Associate and further enhance the existing collaboration between Australia and Italy.Read moreRead less
A unified reinforced concrete model for flexure and shear. The catastrophic Minnesota River Bridge collapse in the USA in 2007 highlighted the importance of accurately assessing, maintaining, upgrading and prolonging the design life of our aging infrastructure. The problem, which is just as severe in Australia, is further exacerbated by increasing man-made (terrorist) hazards and natural hazards such as earthquake, tsunami, flood and bushfire. Reinforced concrete and composite steel-concrete st ....A unified reinforced concrete model for flexure and shear. The catastrophic Minnesota River Bridge collapse in the USA in 2007 highlighted the importance of accurately assessing, maintaining, upgrading and prolonging the design life of our aging infrastructure. The problem, which is just as severe in Australia, is further exacerbated by increasing man-made (terrorist) hazards and natural hazards such as earthquake, tsunami, flood and bushfire. Reinforced concrete and composite steel-concrete structures comprise a very large part of Australia's bridge and building infrastructure. This project will provide a safe and more economical tool for engineers to both extend the working-life of existing infrastructure and design new infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Development of sophisticated structural design guidelines for the new building product known as Rapidwall. Rapidwall is an Australian made new composite building product made from formulated gypsum plaster and glass-fibre. This is a high-tech building product that has huge potential to be developed into a dominant building material in the future. It is economic, labor effective, eco-friendly, structural sound and fire, thermal resistant and has many advantages over the existing building material ....Development of sophisticated structural design guidelines for the new building product known as Rapidwall. Rapidwall is an Australian made new composite building product made from formulated gypsum plaster and glass-fibre. This is a high-tech building product that has huge potential to be developed into a dominant building material in the future. It is economic, labor effective, eco-friendly, structural sound and fire, thermal resistant and has many advantages over the existing building materials, such as concrete, steel and masonry. The lack of a technical design guidelines has fundamentally obstructed it from expanding its market share both in Australia and overseas. This proposal aims at developing a structural design manual for the new product.Read moreRead less