Rational lateral-bracing design for steel-framed domestic structures. For the 150,000 new Australian houses built annually to remain safe, despite expected increases in structural loading due to climate change, rational design approaches are desperately needed. This project will provide the industry with the necessary tools to develop optimised and innovative solutions to brace houses for extreme events and yet maintain affordability.
A new approach to structural design that incorporates the effect of non-structural components. The construction industry is a significant contributor to the Australian economy. Each year billions of dollars are spent erecting new high rise buildings. Further, Australian engineering firms bid on major construction projects throughout the world, particularly in Asia and the Middle East. The research described here promises to deliver economies to the Australian construction industry as well as e ....A new approach to structural design that incorporates the effect of non-structural components. The construction industry is a significant contributor to the Australian economy. Each year billions of dollars are spent erecting new high rise buildings. Further, Australian engineering firms bid on major construction projects throughout the world, particularly in Asia and the Middle East. The research described here promises to deliver economies to the Australian construction industry as well as equipping local firms involved in structural design to better compete for offshore work .
Community benefits will take the form of reduced construction costs and the capacity for a more complete and up to date knowledge of the structural performance and risk of aging assets, thereby increasing community confidence and safety.Read moreRead less
Braced batter micropile group: New design theory and performance framework. Braced batter micropile group: New design theory and performance framework. This project aims to research the design and performance of innovative biomimetic braced battered micropile group footings. This project will test Surefoot, the new concrete free footing, in the laboratory, in the field, and through numerical and analytical modelling. Surefoot’s mechanisms of action are poorly understood but clearly more complex ....Braced batter micropile group: New design theory and performance framework. Braced batter micropile group: New design theory and performance framework. This project aims to research the design and performance of innovative biomimetic braced battered micropile group footings. This project will test Surefoot, the new concrete free footing, in the laboratory, in the field, and through numerical and analytical modelling. Surefoot’s mechanisms of action are poorly understood but clearly more complex than current micropile theory; this project will research the mechanism of load transfer from micropiles to the soil and soil response.Read moreRead less
Development of efficient, robust and architecturally-flexible structural systems using innovative blind-bolted connections. The aim of the proposed project is to develop structural systems that have sufficient stiffness, strength, and ductility to withstand code-specified loads and that will be competitive in the marketplace. The development of demonstrable cost-effective structural systems is essential if these types of systems are to be widely adopted in practice, thus allowing Australian manu ....Development of efficient, robust and architecturally-flexible structural systems using innovative blind-bolted connections. The aim of the proposed project is to develop structural systems that have sufficient stiffness, strength, and ductility to withstand code-specified loads and that will be competitive in the marketplace. The development of demonstrable cost-effective structural systems is essential if these types of systems are to be widely adopted in practice, thus allowing Australian manufacturers of blind bolts and steel tubes to achieve a greater market share.Read moreRead less
Fire resistance of complex light gauge steel framed wall systems. This project aims to investigate the thermal and structural behaviour of high-strength Light gauge Steel Framed (LSF) wall systems when exposed to fire, and develop a generic model for predicting fire resistance levels of all LSF wall systems. Plasterboard-lined LSF walls are increasingly used as cost-effective load-bearing walls in low and mid-rise buildings worldwide. This has required new wall designs with complex steel stud wa ....Fire resistance of complex light gauge steel framed wall systems. This project aims to investigate the thermal and structural behaviour of high-strength Light gauge Steel Framed (LSF) wall systems when exposed to fire, and develop a generic model for predicting fire resistance levels of all LSF wall systems. Plasterboard-lined LSF walls are increasingly used as cost-effective load-bearing walls in low and mid-rise buildings worldwide. This has required new wall designs with complex steel stud wall configurations, but their fire resistance is not understood. This project will provide validated fire resistance data and fire design methods for a proposed national Fire Design Handbook and steel design codes, enabling more widespread, safer use of these walls. This will benefit the Australian steel industry, the construction industry and the community.
Read moreRead less
The design and construction of quality, sustainable and affordable pre-made housing in Australia - optimisation and integration. Historically, industrialised construction has resulted in an industrialisation of the parts, rather than an industrialisation of the ensemble. In contrast, this project will integrate architecture and engineering, as well as construction and development to optimise the ensemble, and deliver architectural quality in industrially produced affordable housing.
Fire Risk Evaluation of Commercial Buildings. An integrated systems risk-based model for fire safety has been developed for apartment buildings. A risk-based model must also be developed for commercial high-rise buildings taking into account the sub-models most relevant for these buildings. This requires a new approach and the development and integration of new submodels. Such a model does not currently exist but its development will allow for the cost-effective design of commercial buildings wh ....Fire Risk Evaluation of Commercial Buildings. An integrated systems risk-based model for fire safety has been developed for apartment buildings. A risk-based model must also be developed for commercial high-rise buildings taking into account the sub-models most relevant for these buildings. This requires a new approach and the development and integration of new submodels. Such a model does not currently exist but its development will allow for the cost-effective design of commercial buildings whilst still maintaining appropriate levels of fire safety.Read moreRead less
Innovative and human-centred design in underground coalmining: a new concept vehicle for safe personnel transport. Australian coalminers commute daily on a system of underground roads to the ‘longwall’, the site where their work can begin, in vehicles that are primitive by aboveground standards. These current vehicles contribute to short- and long-term injuries amongst mining personnel. This project will develop benchmark standards for an innovative underground personnel carrier that promotes a ....Innovative and human-centred design in underground coalmining: a new concept vehicle for safe personnel transport. Australian coalminers commute daily on a system of underground roads to the ‘longwall’, the site where their work can begin, in vehicles that are primitive by aboveground standards. These current vehicles contribute to short- and long-term injuries amongst mining personnel. This project will develop benchmark standards for an innovative underground personnel carrier that promotes a safer and healthier working environment by contributing to reduced injury rates and ensuring the comfort of workers. This project contributes to the health and welfare of coalminers in regional Australia and in the international mining sector through innovative and ’human-centred’ design.Read moreRead less
Developing auxetic composite system for protective engineering applications. This project intends to explore the possibilities of extending the latest developments in auxetic technologies to the protective design of engineering structures. Auxetic materials become thicker perpendicular to the applied force when stretched. Specifically, the project plans to develop a novel auxetic composite system with a focus on protecting civil and defence infrastructure from extreme loads. It is expected that ....Developing auxetic composite system for protective engineering applications. This project intends to explore the possibilities of extending the latest developments in auxetic technologies to the protective design of engineering structures. Auxetic materials become thicker perpendicular to the applied force when stretched. Specifically, the project plans to develop a novel auxetic composite system with a focus on protecting civil and defence infrastructure from extreme loads. It is expected that the system’s superior energy dissipating capability will broaden its application beyond civil infrastructure, such as armoured vehicles, protective sports gear and body armour. The project also plans to develop a multiscale numerical modelling and topological optimisation framework to accelerate the adoption of this advanced composite system.Read moreRead less
An Integrated Systems Analysis: Fire Growth and Severity in Enclosures. An integrated systems risk-based model for fire safety has been developed and has been internationally acclaimed. A new fire severity submodel urgently needs to be developed before ramifications of the World Trade Centre catastrophe impact on fire safety regulations. Current submodels seriously misrepresent the real fires. They were developed from 1970's experiments on 2-3 metre cube-like enclosures and predict that fires ....An Integrated Systems Analysis: Fire Growth and Severity in Enclosures. An integrated systems risk-based model for fire safety has been developed and has been internationally acclaimed. A new fire severity submodel urgently needs to be developed before ramifications of the World Trade Centre catastrophe impact on fire safety regulations. Current submodels seriously misrepresent the real fires. They were developed from 1970's experiments on 2-3 metre cube-like enclosures and predict that fires engulf enclosures. Recent preliminary experiments have revealed that real fires burn locally at windows and only appear to be all engulfing. The research will lead international collaboration involving extensive experiments and some modelling to be completed in twelve months.Read moreRead less