Shape adaptive structures with built-in compact smart material based actuators. Primary Australian aerospace manufacturers are sub-contractors and constantly compete in the global market. Their products are primarily control surfaces, e.g., Boeing 757 and 777 rudders, 737 Krueger flaps. In light of the development of the hingeless control surfaces (HCS) in the smart aircraft wing program in the USA, the economic benefits of this project are very high because (a) it will address the key technolo ....Shape adaptive structures with built-in compact smart material based actuators. Primary Australian aerospace manufacturers are sub-contractors and constantly compete in the global market. Their products are primarily control surfaces, e.g., Boeing 757 and 777 rudders, 737 Krueger flaps. In light of the development of the hingeless control surfaces (HCS) in the smart aircraft wing program in the USA, the economic benefits of this project are very high because (a) it will address the key technological issue identified in the HCS program; and (b) it will enhance Australian manufacturers¡¯ technological standing and input in the design and manufacturing of next generation HCS by providing highly trained people with world-leading niche technology.Read moreRead less
Active shape control of large thin-walled structures using ferroelectric single crystals. Ferroelectric single crystals were invented 5 years ago, and they possess many superior properties compared to conventional piezoelectric materials, particularly the induced strain up to 1.5%, an order higher than conventional materials. This project aims to poineer the application of these new and powerful smart materials as actuators and sensors to shape control of smart structures. The expected outcome ....Active shape control of large thin-walled structures using ferroelectric single crystals. Ferroelectric single crystals were invented 5 years ago, and they possess many superior properties compared to conventional piezoelectric materials, particularly the induced strain up to 1.5%, an order higher than conventional materials. This project aims to poineer the application of these new and powerful smart materials as actuators and sensors to shape control of smart structures. The expected outcomes are (a) a new constitutive theory for the non-linear behaviour of ferroelectric single crystals; (b) a novel definition and formulation for the shape control problem; and (c) an innovative theoretical framework for design optimization of shape control of smart structures using ferroelectric single crystals.Read moreRead less
Morphing flexible structures with lead lanthanum zirconium titanate (PLZT) based optical actuators. Lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) materials yield mechanical strains when exposed to near ultraviolet light as a result of combined photovoltaic and converse piezoelectric effects. They offer actuation strain on par with piezoelectric materials and other advantages, such as wireless light-to-mechanical energy transfer, immunity from electrical and magnetic disturbances and fast response wi ....Morphing flexible structures with lead lanthanum zirconium titanate (PLZT) based optical actuators. Lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) materials yield mechanical strains when exposed to near ultraviolet light as a result of combined photovoltaic and converse piezoelectric effects. They offer actuation strain on par with piezoelectric materials and other advantages, such as wireless light-to-mechanical energy transfer, immunity from electrical and magnetic disturbances and fast response with the transparent electrode design. This project aims to pioneer the application of PLZT optical actuators in morphing flexible structures leading to development of wireless smart structures technology and opt-electromechanical systems such as medical instruments.Read moreRead less
High Strength Steel Protection Bollards. Terrorist attacks cost Australians much human grief and millions of dollars. Prevention of an attack is paramount. Passive road bollards are commonly used to stop a vehicle approaching and/or entering security sensitive infrastructure. Thin-walled tubes are used to manufacture such bollards. However there is a lack of knowledge about their behaviour, and in particular high strength alloy steel bollards, when subjected to impact loads. The investigators wi ....High Strength Steel Protection Bollards. Terrorist attacks cost Australians much human grief and millions of dollars. Prevention of an attack is paramount. Passive road bollards are commonly used to stop a vehicle approaching and/or entering security sensitive infrastructure. Thin-walled tubes are used to manufacture such bollards. However there is a lack of knowledge about their behaviour, and in particular high strength alloy steel bollards, when subjected to impact loads. The investigators will apply their extensive knowledge in thin-walled tubular structures to establish the most economical means of designing high strength bollards. This knowledge will be transferred into design standards and Australia's limited defence resources.Read moreRead less
Controlled vibration of intelligent super-lightweight structure systems. This project aims to poineer research on dynamic shape control of intelligent structure systems, in which the rapid shape variation of a structure is controlled with fast varying electric energy. It bridges the gap between structural shape and vibration control. The expected outcomes are (a) novel concepts and formulation of dynamic shape control; (b) biologically inspired active stiffener system; and (c) an innovative th ....Controlled vibration of intelligent super-lightweight structure systems. This project aims to poineer research on dynamic shape control of intelligent structure systems, in which the rapid shape variation of a structure is controlled with fast varying electric energy. It bridges the gap between structural shape and vibration control. The expected outcomes are (a) novel concepts and formulation of dynamic shape control; (b) biologically inspired active stiffener system; and (c) an innovative theoretical framework for design optimization of dynamic shape control of intelligent structure systems.
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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0228900
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$603,000.00
Summary
Testing facility for heavily loaded bridge and barrier systems. Government and industry are increasing truck masses from current single articulated 42.5 tonne trucks to 160 tonne multi-bogie trucks. This will provide Australia with over $1 billion of potential benefits and an efficient and competitive transport industry. To capture these benefits and further progress Australia's economy, considerable collaborative research on a number of fronts must be carried out investigating how bridges and b ....Testing facility for heavily loaded bridge and barrier systems. Government and industry are increasing truck masses from current single articulated 42.5 tonne trucks to 160 tonne multi-bogie trucks. This will provide Australia with over $1 billion of potential benefits and an efficient and competitive transport industry. To capture these benefits and further progress Australia's economy, considerable collaborative research on a number of fronts must be carried out investigating how bridges and barriers can perform safely when subjected to very heavy traffic and impact loads under laboratory and typical service conditions. This application seeks funds for establishing a unique hi-tech testing facility in Australia vital for advancing such infrastructure technology.Read moreRead less
Probabilistic terrorism risk assessment and risk acceptability for infrastructure protection. The risk-based decision-making framework will enable security risks to be quantified and compared in a rational and consistent manner, for a range of terrorist threats to infrastructure and transport systems. This will allow risk mitigation to be maximised leading to optimal security expenditure.
Risk-Based Decision-Making for Terrorism and Infrastructure Security. The project intends to develop stochastic models to predict the likelihood and extent of damages, casualties and other losses from terrorist and military threats. Terrorism, security and defence policy-makers need robust probabilistic risk assessments to prioritise or optimise the protection of buildings and aviation infrastructure, as well as iconic structures and mass gatherings. A key focus of the project is malevolent and ....Risk-Based Decision-Making for Terrorism and Infrastructure Security. The project intends to develop stochastic models to predict the likelihood and extent of damages, casualties and other losses from terrorist and military threats. Terrorism, security and defence policy-makers need robust probabilistic risk assessments to prioritise or optimise the protection of buildings and aviation infrastructure, as well as iconic structures and mass gatherings. A key focus of the project is malevolent and accidental explosive blast loadings on civilian and hardened infrastructure. A quantitative assessment of security risks and risk acceptance criteria would allow the effectiveness of security measures to be assessed to provide cost-effective levels of protection that is acceptable to society.Read moreRead less
Understanding multi-scale reinforcement of carbon fibre composites. Addition of nano scale entities, such as nanotubes, on the surface of a carbon fibre forms a bottle-brush like architecture and strengthens fibre-matrix interface. This project will pioneer development of a systematic approach for analysis and design of such multi-scale reinforced composite materials for use in aerospace and civil industries.
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354894
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Innovative risk analysis, assessment, rehabilitation and strengthening of aging critical civil infrastructure. Much essential civil engineering infrastructure such as bridges, buildings, dams, pipelines and pavements was commissioned many decades ago, and sustaining the integrity of this infrastructure in developed nations as it ages is now considered to be a major challenge to the engineering and scientific community. Australia is not spared by the ramifications of its aging civil assets, and ....Innovative risk analysis, assessment, rehabilitation and strengthening of aging critical civil infrastructure. Much essential civil engineering infrastructure such as bridges, buildings, dams, pipelines and pavements was commissioned many decades ago, and sustaining the integrity of this infrastructure in developed nations as it ages is now considered to be a major challenge to the engineering and scientific community. Australia is not spared by the ramifications of its aging civil assets, and identification and rectification procedures that are often ad-hoc now represent a sizeable proportion of the GDP. This Research Network draws together the leading Australian research groups in engineering and applied mechanics in a coordinated program to address this most important cost to the community.Read moreRead less