Seismic performance of precast concrete buildings for lower seismic regions. This project aims to develop a displacement-based method of assessing precast concrete buildings in regions of lower seismicity for risk of collapse and seismic performance. The project will investigate the system behaviour and vulnerability of buildings laterally supported by precast concrete geometric walls, which are currently poorly understood but dominate Australian construction. The modelling produced is expected ....Seismic performance of precast concrete buildings for lower seismic regions. This project aims to develop a displacement-based method of assessing precast concrete buildings in regions of lower seismicity for risk of collapse and seismic performance. The project will investigate the system behaviour and vulnerability of buildings laterally supported by precast concrete geometric walls, which are currently poorly understood but dominate Australian construction. The modelling produced is expected to allow such buildings to be simply checked for seismic compliance using displacement principles, rather than the more complex force based methods with direct benefits for building costs and community safety.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100165
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Stopping post-tensioned anchorage zone concrete failures. This project aims to design post-tensioning anchorage zones for early age concrete. Post-tensioning of concrete is a common construction method in Australia and worldwide. Despite careful material selection, many unexplained catastrophic failures happen at anchorage zones. Current empirical models in the standard design guidelines are outdated and inadequate, because they are based on the properties of hardened concrete. A more reliable d ....Stopping post-tensioned anchorage zone concrete failures. This project aims to design post-tensioning anchorage zones for early age concrete. Post-tensioning of concrete is a common construction method in Australia and worldwide. Despite careful material selection, many unexplained catastrophic failures happen at anchorage zones. Current empirical models in the standard design guidelines are outdated and inadequate, because they are based on the properties of hardened concrete. A more reliable design approach is expected to benefit the construction and consulting industries, encourage the adoption of high-performance and sustainable materials, improve community safety, and reduce the environmental effect.Read moreRead less
Fire engineering of prefabricated structural systems of modular buildings. With the speed and cost benefits, modular construction is considered a game-changing solution in response to pandemics and natural disasters, and tackling the affordable housing crisis on a large scale. However, its uptake has been hindered due to recent fire incidents of modular buildings. This project aims to develop novel fire experiments and advanced modelling techniques to evaluate the fire performance of modular bui ....Fire engineering of prefabricated structural systems of modular buildings. With the speed and cost benefits, modular construction is considered a game-changing solution in response to pandemics and natural disasters, and tackling the affordable housing crisis on a large scale. However, its uptake has been hindered due to recent fire incidents of modular buildings. This project aims to develop novel fire experiments and advanced modelling techniques to evaluate the fire performance of modular buildings. Computational tools and fire safety design guidelines will also be developed to enable modular buildings to be built safer and more economically. This project will promote the widespread adoption of modular buildings to benefit end-users and the wider society, especially the housing sector and low-income households.Read moreRead less
Structural Fuses for Safer and More Economical Bridge Construction. This project aims to develop a novel structural system leading to more economical concrete bridge construction by utilising a customised structural fuse. A significant margin of safety is required in structural design to account for accidental over-loading and to reduce the risk of structural collapse. Such a margin leads to more material usage. Incorporation of a fuse into the structure that is triggered upon over-loading will ....Structural Fuses for Safer and More Economical Bridge Construction. This project aims to develop a novel structural system leading to more economical concrete bridge construction by utilising a customised structural fuse. A significant margin of safety is required in structural design to account for accidental over-loading and to reduce the risk of structural collapse. Such a margin leads to more material usage. Incorporation of a fuse into the structure that is triggered upon over-loading will cause a safer failure mode and prohibit further increase of loading, both of which result in a reduced structure without undermining safety. The project is expected to advance structural theory, and also provide significant benefits to the construction industry via cost reduction and more eco-friendly constructions.Read moreRead less
Composite structures: a game changer for modular buildings. Modular construction can tackle Australia's housing affordability crisis on a large scale. This project aims to develop cutting-edge technologies for the next generation of modular buildings by embracing recent breakthroughs in construction materials, computational modelling methods and construction techniques. Expected outcomes include a novel composite modular unit, a smart joining technique, a robust computational framework and desig ....Composite structures: a game changer for modular buildings. Modular construction can tackle Australia's housing affordability crisis on a large scale. This project aims to develop cutting-edge technologies for the next generation of modular buildings by embracing recent breakthroughs in construction materials, computational modelling methods and construction techniques. Expected outcomes include a novel composite modular unit, a smart joining technique, a robust computational framework and design guidelines that enable modular buildings to be built taller, safer, faster and thus cheaper than current practices allow. This project will position Australia at the forefront of modular construction technology, and make the local construction industry more competitive globally.Read moreRead less
Innovative coupled composite steel-concrete shear wall and frame systems. This project aims to develop an innovative coupled composite steel-concrete shear wall and frame system that revolutionises and improves the economical design and construction of multi-storey buildings. The proposed system uses novel cost-effective composite structural components that can be prefabricated and easily assembled on-site using innovative blind bolting techniques to speed up construction. The project will offer ....Innovative coupled composite steel-concrete shear wall and frame systems. This project aims to develop an innovative coupled composite steel-concrete shear wall and frame system that revolutionises and improves the economical design and construction of multi-storey buildings. The proposed system uses novel cost-effective composite structural components that can be prefabricated and easily assembled on-site using innovative blind bolting techniques to speed up construction. The project will offer a promising opportunity to promote prefabricated and modular construction which is believed will have a major benefit in shaping the future construction industry. This will provide significant benefits to Australian structural engineers and the construction industry in advancing their knowledge in composite construction.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Research Hubs - Grant ID: IH150100006
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$5,000,000.00
Summary
ARC Research Hub for Nanoscience-based Construction Material Manufacturing. ARC Research Hub for Nanoscience-based Construction Material Manufacturing. This research hub aims to develop novel construction materials including binders, cement additives, high-performance concrete materials, concrete structural systems, polymer composites, and pavement materials. The multi-disciplinary hub provides a centralised platform to transform the construction materials industry into an advanced manufacturing ....ARC Research Hub for Nanoscience-based Construction Material Manufacturing. ARC Research Hub for Nanoscience-based Construction Material Manufacturing. This research hub aims to develop novel construction materials including binders, cement additives, high-performance concrete materials, concrete structural systems, polymer composites, and pavement materials. The multi-disciplinary hub provides a centralised platform to transform the construction materials industry into an advanced manufacturing sector delivering sustainable and resilient infrastructure assets. The hub intends to develop nanotechnology, cement chemistry, concrete technology and extreme engineering solutions; and to train the next generation of skilled workers, re-positioning Australian industry competitiveness and global market leadership to capture international infrastructure development opportunities.Read moreRead less
Performance of safety critical anchors in early age concrete with SCM. This project aims to examine the performance of anchors in a range of cements, to contribute to new safety and building guidelines. Demands for faster construction cycles and increased productivity require anchors for lifting and joining concrete elements to be installed and loaded in early age concrete. Yet, best practice for evaluation of anchors is based on mature concrete. There is also increasing use of supplementary cem ....Performance of safety critical anchors in early age concrete with SCM. This project aims to examine the performance of anchors in a range of cements, to contribute to new safety and building guidelines. Demands for faster construction cycles and increased productivity require anchors for lifting and joining concrete elements to be installed and loaded in early age concrete. Yet, best practice for evaluation of anchors is based on mature concrete. There is also increasing use of supplementary cementitious materials with unknown effects on anchors. This project aims to address this construction industry challenge. The project plans to study experimentally and analytically the effect of early age creep on anchor installation and the factors affecting the slip behaviour and ultimate performance of cast-in and post-installed mechanical anchors in concretes. It is intended that these studies will then inform new design guidelines.Read moreRead less
Hybrid Construction using Seawater, Sea Sand and Fibre Reinforced Polymer. Conventional concrete is made using fresh water and river sand. This project aims to develop a novel hybrid construction system using seawater, sea sand and industrial waste, together with fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) and stainless steel (SS), for use in civil engineering infrastructure in marine environments. To date there has been little work to understand the degradation kinetics and mechanisms of FRP and SS in such ....Hybrid Construction using Seawater, Sea Sand and Fibre Reinforced Polymer. Conventional concrete is made using fresh water and river sand. This project aims to develop a novel hybrid construction system using seawater, sea sand and industrial waste, together with fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) and stainless steel (SS), for use in civil engineering infrastructure in marine environments. To date there has been little work to understand the degradation kinetics and mechanisms of FRP and SS in such complicated corrosive environments. The project plans to provide a design methodology to ensure confidence in the safety of critical infrastructure such as bridges, highways, dams, airports, offshore piles and artificial islands. The proposed system would save fresh water and reduce damage to river ecosystems, carbon dioxide emissions and construction costs.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100052
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$870,000.00
Summary
Hybrid testing facility for structures under extreme loads. This unique testing facility will provide a regional and national focus for large three dimensional static and dynamic testing of components, systems and infrastructure used in civil engineering, mining and railways as well as in the aerospace and automotive industries.