Development of Novel Metaconcrete to Resist Impulsive Loads. This project aims to develop innovative metaconcrete for structural protection by utilising the concept of phononic crystals and metamaterials which has been recently developed by physicists. Traditional construction materials are used in new structural forms to mitigate dynamic loading effects by exploiting the unique characteristics of the proposed metaconcrete. Theoretical, numerical and experimental methods will be used to derive t ....Development of Novel Metaconcrete to Resist Impulsive Loads. This project aims to develop innovative metaconcrete for structural protection by utilising the concept of phononic crystals and metamaterials which has been recently developed by physicists. Traditional construction materials are used in new structural forms to mitigate dynamic loading effects by exploiting the unique characteristics of the proposed metaconcrete. Theoretical, numerical and experimental methods will be used to derive the best performing metaconcrete and verify its static and dynamic load resistant capacities. The expected outcomes of the project will lead to innovative extreme-loading resistant designs and provide significant benefit to the Australian construction industry, general public and economy.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101741
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$389,220.00
Summary
Development of a Self-powered Wireless Sensor Network from Renewable Energy for Integrated Structural Health Monitoring and Diagnosis. This project aims to develop a green and sustainable self-powered wireless sensor network from renewable energy sources, such as wind, sea wave and operational vibrations, for integrated structural health monitoring and diagnosis to support infrastructure management. Vibration based energy harvesting techniques will be investigated to power the wireless sensor ne ....Development of a Self-powered Wireless Sensor Network from Renewable Energy for Integrated Structural Health Monitoring and Diagnosis. This project aims to develop a green and sustainable self-powered wireless sensor network from renewable energy sources, such as wind, sea wave and operational vibrations, for integrated structural health monitoring and diagnosis to support infrastructure management. Vibration based energy harvesting techniques will be investigated to power the wireless sensor networks and support the long term condition monitoring. Vibration data from the sensor network will be used for damage detection, performance assessment and safety evaluation of structures. The impact of the project output includes fundamental advances in vibration energy harvesting, wireless sensor network and intelligent structural health monitoring strategy for Australian infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Development of fuel storage tanks with frangible roofs to resist accidental explosion load. This project aims to study the effects of accidental explosions on industry storage tanks and develop safer and economic designs of tank structures to protect against explosion loads. The outcomes of the project will lead to better tank structures and minimise the damage and loss should an accidental explosion occur.
Geotechnical and soil-structure interaction properties of soils in Perth CBD. A new underground railway (City Project) will shortly begin construction in Perth CBD. This construction, and its associated high level of monitoring instrumentation, offers a unique opportunity for an extensive and thorough examination of the mechanical properties of Perths soils. The research results emanating from the proposed combination of field monitoring, laboratory investigation and numerical analysis, will gre ....Geotechnical and soil-structure interaction properties of soils in Perth CBD. A new underground railway (City Project) will shortly begin construction in Perth CBD. This construction, and its associated high level of monitoring instrumentation, offers a unique opportunity for an extensive and thorough examination of the mechanical properties of Perths soils. The research results emanating from the proposed combination of field monitoring, laboratory investigation and numerical analysis, will greatly improve the reliability (and hence cost) of future foundation and basement designs in Perth and elsewhere.Read moreRead less
Numerical prediction of train and vehicle induced ground vibrations and their effects on structures. This project will develop an innovative new method based on coupled finite element and scaled boundary finite-element analysis for predicting the ground vibrations induced by road traffic and underground or surface trains. The method will have immediate application in transportation engineering to predict traffic-induced ground vibrations, in geotechnical engineering to design isolation trenches ....Numerical prediction of train and vehicle induced ground vibrations and their effects on structures. This project will develop an innovative new method based on coupled finite element and scaled boundary finite-element analysis for predicting the ground vibrations induced by road traffic and underground or surface trains. The method will have immediate application in transportation engineering to predict traffic-induced ground vibrations, in geotechnical engineering to design isolation trenches and wave barriers to dissipate wave propagation, and in structural engineering to estimate in-structure vibration level and design isolators for sensitive equipment housed within. The technique will involve fundamental advances in the scaled boundary finite-element method, as calculations will be performed in a moving reference frame.Read moreRead less
Analysis and design of interlocking brick system against earthquake loading. This project aims to develop optimised interlocking bricks to resist static and earthquake loads. Using conventional bricks in masonry construction requires skilled labour to connect bricks with mortar. Development of interlocking bricks for mortarless connection has been attracting great interest because the easy alignment improves construction efficiency and quality. Interlocking also leads to better mechanical perfor ....Analysis and design of interlocking brick system against earthquake loading. This project aims to develop optimised interlocking bricks to resist static and earthquake loads. Using conventional bricks in masonry construction requires skilled labour to connect bricks with mortar. Development of interlocking bricks for mortarless connection has been attracting great interest because the easy alignment improves construction efficiency and quality. Interlocking also leads to better mechanical performance of the resulting structures. This project will have significant impact on construction technology and the Australian masonry industry, and greatly improve the competitiveness of the Australian construction industry in the international market.Read moreRead less
Numerical and experimental study of pounding damage of adjacent bridge structures to spatially varying earthquake ground motions. Bridge damage in an earthquake prevents rescue personnel and equipment from quick access to the affected area. Repairing or replacing a damaged bridge and the increased commuting time after the earthquake may have a significant impact on the economy and life of the general public. This project will develop techniques for earthquake-resistant bridge design.
Rapid structural condition assessment using adaptive model updating. The proposed project has potential to significantly enhance the accuracy with which the condition (and hence load bearing capacity) of existing infrastructure can be determined. By providing a technique of model updating that can be applied effectively in real time, location of damage will be able to be determined accurately. Economic benefits will be reaped, both through saving infrastructure from demolition where the conditio ....Rapid structural condition assessment using adaptive model updating. The proposed project has potential to significantly enhance the accuracy with which the condition (and hence load bearing capacity) of existing infrastructure can be determined. By providing a technique of model updating that can be applied effectively in real time, location of damage will be able to be determined accurately. Economic benefits will be reaped, both through saving infrastructure from demolition where the condition is found to be adequate, and by replacing or repairing inadequate structures before costly failure occurs. This is particularly important as much of Australia's infrastructure is aging, and unnecessary periodic replacement of infrastructure is not sustainable.Read moreRead less
Efficient reinforced concrete design using linear elastic finite element analysis. It is expected that this project will bring about changes in the design practice for reinforced concrete structures, particularly those of complex geometry, which will enhance the competitiveness of the Australian design community. Through reduction of the overuse of concrete often present in current conservative design procedures for such structures, the project will lead to a reduction in the impact of reinforce ....Efficient reinforced concrete design using linear elastic finite element analysis. It is expected that this project will bring about changes in the design practice for reinforced concrete structures, particularly those of complex geometry, which will enhance the competitiveness of the Australian design community. Through reduction of the overuse of concrete often present in current conservative design procedures for such structures, the project will lead to a reduction in the impact of reinforced concrete construction on the environment and contribute to sustainable engineering practise.Read moreRead less
Blast Damage and Fragmentation Prediction for Occupants and Structure Protection. Protecting infrastructures against blast loads from terrorist bombing or accidental explosion is a challenge. Researchers have been working on developing a numerical model, but the progress is slow owing to difficulties in modelling nonlinear and high strain rate damage process. Most blast effect assessment is based on empirical relations from blast tests. These have been demonstrated not necessarily yielding accur ....Blast Damage and Fragmentation Prediction for Occupants and Structure Protection. Protecting infrastructures against blast loads from terrorist bombing or accidental explosion is a challenge. Researchers have been working on developing a numerical model, but the progress is slow owing to difficulties in modelling nonlinear and high strain rate damage process. Most blast effect assessment is based on empirical relations from blast tests. These have been demonstrated not necessarily yielding accurate prediction owing to variations of structural properties from the test model. A reliable numerical model is therefore important. It will result in big savings from blast tests, and better prediction of blast effects for structure and occupant protection. It will have applications in civil, mining and defence engineering. Read moreRead less