Mechanics of partially saturated soils and Its applications. The project aims to study the fundamental behaviour of Australian natural soils under varying water contents and loading conditions. Some immediate applications include the design of foundations on reactive soils and the analysis of rainfall-induced landslides. In both cases, the aim is to improve the design method and hence reduce the damage cost.
Internal erosion of soils: microstructural modelling. This project aims to make discoveries for modelling initiation, rate of progression and consequences of seepage induced internal erosion through soils which make up critical water retaining infrastructure like dams. It aims to achieve an understanding of how fundamental microstructural (particle and pore) properties governing erosion have the potential to destroy infrastructure. Major expected outcomes include experimental evidence of governi ....Internal erosion of soils: microstructural modelling. This project aims to make discoveries for modelling initiation, rate of progression and consequences of seepage induced internal erosion through soils which make up critical water retaining infrastructure like dams. It aims to achieve an understanding of how fundamental microstructural (particle and pore) properties governing erosion have the potential to destroy infrastructure. Major expected outcomes include experimental evidence of governing mechanics, theories which couple microstructure with erosion and models to describe the altered soil strength and stiffness. It aims to lead to increased safety and economic efficiencies in Australia where many tens of millions of dollars are spent each year to reduce risks associated with internal erosion.Read moreRead less
Mechanics of Hard Soils and Soft Rocks. Hard soils and soft rocks are transitional materials that have properties evolving from soft rock to soft soil. They are widespread in Australia and typical examples include mudstone, claystones, shales and tuffs. These materials are very difficult to handle, mainly due to the fact that their strength, stiffness and volume can change substantially in response to environmental actions such as cyclic wetting and drying. Proper prediction of the transitional ....Mechanics of Hard Soils and Soft Rocks. Hard soils and soft rocks are transitional materials that have properties evolving from soft rock to soft soil. They are widespread in Australia and typical examples include mudstone, claystones, shales and tuffs. These materials are very difficult to handle, mainly due to the fact that their strength, stiffness and volume can change substantially in response to environmental actions such as cyclic wetting and drying. Proper prediction of the transitional behaviour of these materials is crucially important for analysing the stability and serviceability of civil structures founded on them. This project aims to develop a theoretical and practical framework for characterising the transitional behaviour of hard soils and soft rocks.Read moreRead less
Experimental investigation and constitutive modelling of weak rocks subject to mechanical and moisture degradation. The aim of this project is to advance experimental, theoretical and computational bases for the mechanics of weak rocks, and provide scientists and engineers with much-needed predictive tools for quantitative evaluation and assessment of their behaviour in geological settings. Based on the theoretical results of the research, numerical algorithms will be developed that will assist ....Experimental investigation and constitutive modelling of weak rocks subject to mechanical and moisture degradation. The aim of this project is to advance experimental, theoretical and computational bases for the mechanics of weak rocks, and provide scientists and engineers with much-needed predictive tools for quantitative evaluation and assessment of their behaviour in geological settings. Based on the theoretical results of the research, numerical algorithms will be developed that will assist engineers to apply the findings of the project to geotechnical engineering problems. By incorporating previously neglected aspects in the behaviour of weak rocks such as mechanical, environmental as well as cyclic loading degradation, confidence in the design methods will be increased to the point that costly over designs can be avoided.Read moreRead less
Mechanics of unsaturated soils and its applications. The project aims to study the fundamental behaviour of Australian natural soils under varying water contents and loading conditions. Some immediate applications include the design of foundations on reactive soils and the analysis of rainfall-induced landslides. In both cases, the aim is to improve the design method and hence reduce the damage cost.
Dynamic soil structure interaction. The aim of this project is to undertake a study of an important class of geotechnical problems in which systems composed of soil, structure and pore water are subjected to dynamic or impact loading. The outcomes will include safer and more efficient methods for designing geotechnical structures subjected to dynamic loading.
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
Improved analysis and design of structures to resist blast and impact. This project aims to develop an improved single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) model which can be easily used in design analysis by engineers and yield accurate structural response predictions in analysis of structures subjected to blast and impact loads. Current practice uses SDOF models in analysis of structures subjected to blast and impact loads, however many experimental tests and high fidelity numerical simulations have revea ....Improved analysis and design of structures to resist blast and impact. This project aims to develop an improved single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) model which can be easily used in design analysis by engineers and yield accurate structural response predictions in analysis of structures subjected to blast and impact loads. Current practice uses SDOF models in analysis of structures subjected to blast and impact loads, however many experimental tests and high fidelity numerical simulations have revealed the SDOF analysis does not always lead to accurate structural response predictions. This project will develop an improved SDOF model, which can be easily used in design analysis by engineers and yield accurate structural response predictions. These will lead to more economical designs and robust structures that resist blast and impact loads.Read moreRead less
Design of barriers for impact. This project aims to quantify the resistant capacity of rigid reinforced concrete barriers. These barriers can protect lives and property on hill slopes, but construction of the foundation is costly to protect against boulder impacts. Free-standing reinforced concrete barriers without a foundation could be cheaper and effective in countering impact, but need research to accurately quantify their impact resistant capacity. The expected outcome is a new technology to ....Design of barriers for impact. This project aims to quantify the resistant capacity of rigid reinforced concrete barriers. These barriers can protect lives and property on hill slopes, but construction of the foundation is costly to protect against boulder impacts. Free-standing reinforced concrete barriers without a foundation could be cheaper and effective in countering impact, but need research to accurately quantify their impact resistant capacity. The expected outcome is a new technology to make the built environment safer and more sustainable and affordable.Read moreRead less
Development of Precast Concrete Segmental Columns to Resist Dynamic Loads. Using precast segmental concrete columns in structures improves the construction efficiency and site safety, leads to better construction quality control, and reduces the construction cost, site disruption and environmental impacts. The performance of segmental columns to resist earthquake and blast loads is not well studied yet. As a structure might be subject to such loads during its service life, understanding its resi ....Development of Precast Concrete Segmental Columns to Resist Dynamic Loads. Using precast segmental concrete columns in structures improves the construction efficiency and site safety, leads to better construction quality control, and reduces the construction cost, site disruption and environmental impacts. The performance of segmental columns to resist earthquake and blast loads is not well studied yet. As a structure might be subject to such loads during its service life, understanding its resistance capacities is essential for structural safety. This project aims to perform experimental and numerical investigations to study the performance of precast segmental concrete columns under earthquake and blast loads, and develop analytical and design methods for applications of such columns in building and bridge structures.Read moreRead less