Biomechanics of Needle Insertion. Needle insertion is one of the most common neurosurgical procedures. However, the biomechanics of this process is poorly understood. The unknown factors include brain tissue deformation under load imposed by the needle and needle deflection when penetrating brain tissue. We will develop computational models of needle insertion. They will include non-linear material properties of the brain tissue, large deformations, and needle-tissue contact model including fric ....Biomechanics of Needle Insertion. Needle insertion is one of the most common neurosurgical procedures. However, the biomechanics of this process is poorly understood. The unknown factors include brain tissue deformation under load imposed by the needle and needle deflection when penetrating brain tissue. We will develop computational models of needle insertion. They will include non-linear material properties of the brain tissue, large deformations, and needle-tissue contact model including friction. The Japanese group will develop testing methods to validate mathematical models. Experimental set-up includes bi-axial x-ray to measure deformation within the tissue and needle deflection, and a sensor measuring reaction force on needle tip and friction force on needle sides.Read moreRead less
Computational biomechanics for image-guided neurosurgery. Our results will lead to significant improvements to the efficacy and efficiency of image-guided neurosurgery for brain tumours. Visualisation of the intra-operative configuration of the patient's brain, obtained by sparse intra-operative MRI, merged with high resolution pre-operative imaging data will become possible. In current practice, the neurosurgeon must mentally fuse the information from pre-operative fMRI and DTI by projecting it ....Computational biomechanics for image-guided neurosurgery. Our results will lead to significant improvements to the efficacy and efficiency of image-guided neurosurgery for brain tumours. Visualisation of the intra-operative configuration of the patient's brain, obtained by sparse intra-operative MRI, merged with high resolution pre-operative imaging data will become possible. In current practice, the neurosurgeon must mentally fuse the information from pre-operative fMRI and DTI by projecting it through the 3D spatial and temporal changes the patient's brain has undergone. We propose to replace this mental fusion with computations based on the biomechanical model that will allow visualisation of the transformed pre-operative data matched to the current shape of the patient's brain.Read moreRead less
Application of flow-round penetrometers for characterising soft sediments. Soft sediments present unique challenges in geotechnical engineering due to their sensitivity to disturbance during sampling. Strength measurement therefore relies on field tests, and novel penetrometers that force soil to flow around the probe have the potential for significantly improved accuracy compared with conventional cone penetrometers. The project aims to establish a definitive framework for interpreting result ....Application of flow-round penetrometers for characterising soft sediments. Soft sediments present unique challenges in geotechnical engineering due to their sensitivity to disturbance during sampling. Strength measurement therefore relies on field tests, and novel penetrometers that force soil to flow around the probe have the potential for significantly improved accuracy compared with conventional cone penetrometers. The project aims to establish a definitive framework for interpreting results of field tests using flow-round penetrometers, through careful comparison of laboratory and field strength measurements. Applications of the work range from characterising deepwater sediments for offshore developments, to monitoring the strength of pastes in the mining and materials handling industries.Read moreRead less
Physical modelling of on-bottom pipelines and offshore anchoring systems. The collaborative research programme will consist of physical modelling of suction caissons, piles and pipeline sections in order to advance the geotechnical design of deepwater facilities for offshore hydrocarbon production. The collaboration will underpin new technologies, such as steel catenary risers and suction caissons for deepwater anchoring, providing benchmark data for the validation of analysis tools. Benefits al ....Physical modelling of on-bottom pipelines and offshore anchoring systems. The collaborative research programme will consist of physical modelling of suction caissons, piles and pipeline sections in order to advance the geotechnical design of deepwater facilities for offshore hydrocarbon production. The collaboration will underpin new technologies, such as steel catenary risers and suction caissons for deepwater anchoring, providing benchmark data for the validation of analysis tools. Benefits also include the exchange of recent technical advances between geotechnical centrifuge facilities in Australia, France and the UK, all of whom are active in modelling offshore foundation systems, ensuring that Australian research remains at the forefront of world best-practice.Read moreRead less
Development of cyclic loading models for application in offshore geotechnics. The response of foundations for offshore structures to repetitive (cyclic) loads is a critical but still inadequately understood area of offshore geotechnics, with designs still usually based on simple modifications to monotonic loading conditions. In this project, a definitive framework for modelling cyclic behaviour will be established. Using this new approach, numerical models will be developed to address problems a ....Development of cyclic loading models for application in offshore geotechnics. The response of foundations for offshore structures to repetitive (cyclic) loads is a critical but still inadequately understood area of offshore geotechnics, with designs still usually based on simple modifications to monotonic loading conditions. In this project, a definitive framework for modelling cyclic behaviour will be established. Using this new approach, numerical models will be developed to address problems at all scales from fundamental constitutive behaviour of soils to macroscopic models for large foundation systems. Their application to offshore design problems (for renewable energy as well as traditional oil and gas applications) will be assessed. Recommendations to current international guidelines will also be made.Read moreRead less
Testing, modelling and engineering applications of topologically interlocking structures. The CI and his international collaborator have recently proposed a new principle of design of materials and structures based on topological interlocking of constituent elements. Elements of simple shape, such as tetrahedra, are assembled in structures that keep their integrity without any binder or connectors. Unusual properties, such as high fracture toughness and damage tolerance were found. The project a ....Testing, modelling and engineering applications of topologically interlocking structures. The CI and his international collaborator have recently proposed a new principle of design of materials and structures based on topological interlocking of constituent elements. Elements of simple shape, such as tetrahedra, are assembled in structures that keep their integrity without any binder or connectors. Unusual properties, such as high fracture toughness and damage tolerance were found. The project aims at investigating the mechanical and acoustic properties of the newly discovered interlockable geometries (cubes, octahedra, dodecahedra and icosahedra) and identifying the areas of application. The project will promote the international leading role of the collaborating institutions in this novel field.Read moreRead less
Techniques for probing biological media with holographic angular scattering spectroscopy. Huge effort in the biological and medical sciences is spent in using simple software to laboriously mark, count and measure cells and structures in microscope images of samples. We could replace this incredibly inefficient process in many instances with single-shot size-map images of unstained samples. If depth selectivity can be added, we could perform non-invasive measurements on animals, making a huge re ....Techniques for probing biological media with holographic angular scattering spectroscopy. Huge effort in the biological and medical sciences is spent in using simple software to laboriously mark, count and measure cells and structures in microscope images of samples. We could replace this incredibly inefficient process in many instances with single-shot size-map images of unstained samples. If depth selectivity can be added, we could perform non-invasive measurements on animals, making a huge reduction in their usage. We could assess thick tissues enabling early noninvasive diagnosis of malignancy in tumours in situ or muscle characterization for meat quality or muscular dystrophy. These benefits impact on research, animal ethics, and on health, and have commercial potential in life and medical sciences, and the meat industry.Read moreRead less
A comprehensive approach to development and understanding of III-nitride-based high performance electronic devices. This project forms part of a long-term, international research program into the development of high-power, high-frequency electronics for high performance radar and communications systems. The advanced fabrication technologies and designs being investigated in this project fall well within the designated priority goal of Frontier Technologies. III-nitride (GaN, AlN, InN and alloys) ....A comprehensive approach to development and understanding of III-nitride-based high performance electronic devices. This project forms part of a long-term, international research program into the development of high-power, high-frequency electronics for high performance radar and communications systems. The advanced fabrication technologies and designs being investigated in this project fall well within the designated priority goal of Frontier Technologies. III-nitride (GaN, AlN, InN and alloys) technology is also of high interest to defence organisations, as radar and satellite-communications links, which operate at frequencies ranging from hundreds of MHz to tens of GHz, often have high power-amplification requirements. The project therefore also falls within the priority goal of Transformational Defence Technologies.Read moreRead less
Microwave characterisation of new magnetic and dielectric structures and materials. The main goal of the project is to characterize electromagnetic properties of single crystal dielectric and polycrystalline ferrite materials at microwave frequencies, from room temperature down to liquid helium temperature. Also cylindrical and spherical resonant Bragg structures will be investigated using some of these materials. The dielectric rod resonator technique will be used for all materials and the whis ....Microwave characterisation of new magnetic and dielectric structures and materials. The main goal of the project is to characterize electromagnetic properties of single crystal dielectric and polycrystalline ferrite materials at microwave frequencies, from room temperature down to liquid helium temperature. Also cylindrical and spherical resonant Bragg structures will be investigated using some of these materials. The dielectric rod resonator technique will be used for all materials and the whispering gallery mode technique will be used to measure the lowest loss materials. Very accurately measured microwave parameters of electric and magnetic materials will be made available to designers of new components and systems (especially useful for operation at cryogenic temperatures).Read moreRead less
Investigations and characterization of new materials for wireless communications. The main goal of the project is to characterize electromagnetic properties of single crystal dielectric materials available from different sources at microwave frequencies, in a wide range of temperatures from room down to liquid helium temperatures. Two measurement techniques are proposed to be used for this purpose: the dielectric rod resonator technique for all materials and the whispering gallery mode technique ....Investigations and characterization of new materials for wireless communications. The main goal of the project is to characterize electromagnetic properties of single crystal dielectric materials available from different sources at microwave frequencies, in a wide range of temperatures from room down to liquid helium temperatures. Two measurement techniques are proposed to be used for this purpose: the dielectric rod resonator technique for all materials and the whispering gallery mode technique to measure the lowest loss materials. A principal benefit to wireless communication is that very accurately measured microwave parameters of electronic materials will be made available to designers of new components and systems (especially useful for operation at cryogenic temperatures).Read moreRead less