Development of a concentration process for thermally sensitive liquids by the integration of Osmotic Distillation with Freeze Concentration. There is a need for low temperature concentration of thermally sensitive fruit juices and biological liquids with preserved qualities and nutrients. Although Freeze Concentration has been successful up to about 40% solids, it then requires expensive freezing. This project aims to integrate Osmotic Distillation with Freeze Concentration to achieve up to ab ....Development of a concentration process for thermally sensitive liquids by the integration of Osmotic Distillation with Freeze Concentration. There is a need for low temperature concentration of thermally sensitive fruit juices and biological liquids with preserved qualities and nutrients. Although Freeze Concentration has been successful up to about 40% solids, it then requires expensive freezing. This project aims to integrate Osmotic Distillation with Freeze Concentration to achieve up to about 70% solids, for long-term storage under ambient or refrigerated conditions. If successful, the combined process would enable increased export of high quality agricultural products such as grape concentrate for wine making, as well as other liquid foods, beverages and biotechnological products.Read moreRead less
Interplay of Microbiological Corrosion and Alloy Microstructure in Failures of Advanced Stainless Steels and their Weldments in Marine Environments. The proposed research program investigates the role of microbiologically-induced corrosion (MIC) on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of weldments of advanced stainless steels (SS). Extensive premature SCC failures of SS weldments have lately become increasingly significant in Australian marine industry, following the inability of advanced SCC-resista ....Interplay of Microbiological Corrosion and Alloy Microstructure in Failures of Advanced Stainless Steels and their Weldments in Marine Environments. The proposed research program investigates the role of microbiologically-induced corrosion (MIC) on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of weldments of advanced stainless steels (SS). Extensive premature SCC failures of SS weldments have lately become increasingly significant in Australian marine industry, following the inability of advanced SCC-resistant SS to alleviate failures. Inconsistencies in SCC data call for an improved understanding of the role of MIC on SCC, particularly because recent failure analyses have indicated a profound role of microbiological activity on localised corrosion (viz., pitting) of stainless steels and their weldments, as well as because pitting is known to facilitate SCC initiation.Read moreRead less
Towards new generations of lubricants using nanoparticles. Engines are essential to the Australian manufacturing, transport, power generation, mining and construction industries. Our project will develop the basic science for high-performance lubricants and wear-resistant materials using nanoparticles. These lubricants and materials will have a significant impact in reducing system failure from the chronic wear and friction of moving parts and optimise the cost structures of system manufacturing ....Towards new generations of lubricants using nanoparticles. Engines are essential to the Australian manufacturing, transport, power generation, mining and construction industries. Our project will develop the basic science for high-performance lubricants and wear-resistant materials using nanoparticles. These lubricants and materials will have a significant impact in reducing system failure from the chronic wear and friction of moving parts and optimise the cost structures of system manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Life Extension of Equipment Suffering Environmentally-Assisted Cracking: An Innovative Approach to Mitigation by Engineering of Materials in Service. Environmentally-assisted cracking (EAC) represents a serious threat to infrastructure exposed to caustic and chloride environments in process, marine, energy and chemical industries in Australia. Despite extensive research, there is no consensus mechanism for EAC. This project will investigate a fresh approach to life extension of in-service equipm ....Life Extension of Equipment Suffering Environmentally-Assisted Cracking: An Innovative Approach to Mitigation by Engineering of Materials in Service. Environmentally-assisted cracking (EAC) represents a serious threat to infrastructure exposed to caustic and chloride environments in process, marine, energy and chemical industries in Australia. Despite extensive research, there is no consensus mechanism for EAC. This project will investigate a fresh approach to life extension of in-service equipment suffering EAC, by developing and testing a mitigation measure reasonably independent of the EAC mechanisms. The task includes development of a consolidated strategy based on: accurate determination of the fundamental parameters for crack propagation, and in-situ thermomechnical treatment for local manipulation of material at and ahead of crack-tip, in order to retard/stop crack propagation.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0346889
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$670,000.00
Summary
Optical fibre fabrication and characterisation facility for next-generation photonics research. Australia is a world leader in photonics, underpinning the future of information communications technologies. ICT research demands the next generation of optical fibres; requiring high precision, state-of-the-art fibre fabrication and characterization equipment for advanced research into new photonic materials and technologies. OFTC is the keystone supplier of application specific optical fibre to alm ....Optical fibre fabrication and characterisation facility for next-generation photonics research. Australia is a world leader in photonics, underpinning the future of information communications technologies. ICT research demands the next generation of optical fibres; requiring high precision, state-of-the-art fibre fabrication and characterization equipment for advanced research into new photonic materials and technologies. OFTC is the keystone supplier of application specific optical fibre to almost all photonics related research and developing industry in Australia. New equipment will enable OFTC to lead innovation and a high level of excellence in research in fundamental science, new technologies, new fibre including non-linear and photonic-bandgap, fibre devices, lasers and amplifiers, and support commercial development in Australia.Read moreRead less
Feedback Architectures with Parallel Communication Channels. Feedback control is an enabling, though often hidden, technology. For example, without control loops, cars, mining and manufacturing plants cannot operate in an efficient and safe manner. To reduce costs, there has been a trend to use general purpose communication systems, such as WiFi, for feedback control. These communication systems have only limited capacity and reliability. This can lead to performance degradation and system failu ....Feedback Architectures with Parallel Communication Channels. Feedback control is an enabling, though often hidden, technology. For example, without control loops, cars, mining and manufacturing plants cannot operate in an efficient and safe manner. To reduce costs, there has been a trend to use general purpose communication systems, such as WiFi, for feedback control. These communication systems have only limited capacity and reliability. This can lead to performance degradation and system failure. The current project aims at proposing novel robust networked control system architectures. Our results will be useful to allow industries to use standard communications technology for control, thus, alleviating costs associated with developing dedicated application specific communication infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Development of a Mathematical Model for Chatter Prediction in Multi-Stand Cold Flat Rolling Mills. On the one hand, this project will make a significant contribution to the field of study on dynamics of complex mechanical systems and on the other hand, directly assist the Australian steel industry in further improving quality and productivity and thereby maintaining its competitive edge in the international marketplace. The project will benefit the nation and community in:
(i) advanced steel ....Development of a Mathematical Model for Chatter Prediction in Multi-Stand Cold Flat Rolling Mills. On the one hand, this project will make a significant contribution to the field of study on dynamics of complex mechanical systems and on the other hand, directly assist the Australian steel industry in further improving quality and productivity and thereby maintaining its competitive edge in the international marketplace. The project will benefit the nation and community in:
(i) advanced steel manufacturing technology enabling higher rolling speed, production in more advanced thin gauge rolling, and prevention of production breakdowns caused by mill chatter;
(ii) strengthened competitiveness of the local steel industry resulting in increased exports and employment;
(iii) enhanced regional economy resulting from improved technologies.Read moreRead less
Non-linear dynamics of magnetic bearing systems. The aim of this project is to gain a much deeper insight into the effects of non-linearities on the dynamic behavior and on the performance of active magnetic bearings(AMBs). This project will focus attention on stability analysis, bifurcation control, malfunction analysis, and nonlinear dynamic behavior. The expected outcomes are better understanding and prediction of nonlinear behavior and control of AMBs and improved guidelines for designing sa ....Non-linear dynamics of magnetic bearing systems. The aim of this project is to gain a much deeper insight into the effects of non-linearities on the dynamic behavior and on the performance of active magnetic bearings(AMBs). This project will focus attention on stability analysis, bifurcation control, malfunction analysis, and nonlinear dynamic behavior. The expected outcomes are better understanding and prediction of nonlinear behavior and control of AMBs and improved guidelines for designing safer and more effective AMBs.Read moreRead less
Development of New Superabrasives Cutting Tool Technology. This project aims to develop a new cutting tool technology for an effective high-speed machining of difficult-to-cut materials. The research will establish an innovative technique, by making full use of the current production wastes, for the precision shaping of the Australian made superabrasive composites. Based on this, the optimum machining conditions of the composite tool will be explored in terms of the tool life and the surface int ....Development of New Superabrasives Cutting Tool Technology. This project aims to develop a new cutting tool technology for an effective high-speed machining of difficult-to-cut materials. The research will establish an innovative technique, by making full use of the current production wastes, for the precision shaping of the Australian made superabrasive composites. Based on this, the optimum machining conditions of the composite tool will be explored in terms of the tool life and the surface integrity of the machined components. The success of the research will greatly enhance the competitive edge of the Australian machining industry based on its own advanced technology.Read moreRead less
Developing a new technology: advanced surface hardening and grinding in a single operation. Our advances will give Australian manufacturing industry first access to a significant technological advance in precision grinding, a critical machining process. This will improve our international competitiveness, through major cost reductions by simplifying the manufacturing procedure and by eliminating the use of toxic coolants. The technology will provide significant opportunities for further Australi ....Developing a new technology: advanced surface hardening and grinding in a single operation. Our advances will give Australian manufacturing industry first access to a significant technological advance in precision grinding, a critical machining process. This will improve our international competitiveness, through major cost reductions by simplifying the manufacturing procedure and by eliminating the use of toxic coolants. The technology will provide significant opportunities for further Australian research in precision machining by creating a foundation for extending the technology to more complex manufacturing processes.Read moreRead less