Mass transport in high entropy alloys. This project aims to understand mass transport in high entropy alloys. Alloys of 5 to 13 components have technologically attractive mechanical properties. A knowledge of mass transport could control their stabilities and optimise their properties. This project will develop an atomistic theory and a phenomenological method for rapidly performing experiments, and experiment on two key high entropy alloys. The outcome of this research will be an in-depth under ....Mass transport in high entropy alloys. This project aims to understand mass transport in high entropy alloys. Alloys of 5 to 13 components have technologically attractive mechanical properties. A knowledge of mass transport could control their stabilities and optimise their properties. This project will develop an atomistic theory and a phenomenological method for rapidly performing experiments, and experiment on two key high entropy alloys. The outcome of this research will be an in-depth understanding of mass transport that is expected to fast-track these alloys to commercial uptake.Read moreRead less
Integrity analysis of advanced composites after lightning strike. Lightning strike presents a great threat to various engineered structures made of fibre-reinforced polymer composites. This project aims to develop fundamentals for a framework of integrity analysis for such composites after lightning strike. This involves mechanistic models for coupled electrical-thermal-mechanical analysis and experimental characterisation, addressing intensive resistant-heat generation, pyrolysis of matrices an ....Integrity analysis of advanced composites after lightning strike. Lightning strike presents a great threat to various engineered structures made of fibre-reinforced polymer composites. This project aims to develop fundamentals for a framework of integrity analysis for such composites after lightning strike. This involves mechanistic models for coupled electrical-thermal-mechanical analysis and experimental characterisation, addressing intensive resistant-heat generation, pyrolysis of matrices and ablation of fibres, pore gas explosion, shock stresses and prediction of residual strength. The expected outcomes of the project are critical for the development of procedures for enhanced structural integrity assessment, driving down maintenance costs and extending the life-span of engineered composite structures.Read moreRead less
Microstructural-Functional Effect of Silver Diammine Fluoride on Apatites. This project aims to develop a fundamental understanding at the nanostructural level of the factors that contribute to the enhanced mineralisation and mechanical properties of dentine and enamel following the treatment with silver diammine fluoride (SDF). A variety of advanced nanomechanical, tomographic and microscopic techniques will be used to characterise sound, carious and SDF treated tissue. The new biomechanical ev ....Microstructural-Functional Effect of Silver Diammine Fluoride on Apatites. This project aims to develop a fundamental understanding at the nanostructural level of the factors that contribute to the enhanced mineralisation and mechanical properties of dentine and enamel following the treatment with silver diammine fluoride (SDF). A variety of advanced nanomechanical, tomographic and microscopic techniques will be used to characterise sound, carious and SDF treated tissue. The new biomechanical evidence on the underlying mechanisms, alternative protocols, delivery systems enable to optimise the treatment. The scientific insights into arresting/repairing damage processes will provide critical data for developing minimal intervention protocols for pediatric and geriatric populations.Read moreRead less
Improving the ductility of amorphous alloys via severe plastic deformation. Amorphous alloys are the strongest metallic materials. However, the brittle nature of the materials has significantly limited their applicability in reliability-critical structural applications. Despite significant worldwide efforts, improvement of the ductility has been limited to amorphous alloys with only a few specific compositions. This project aims to develop a universal approach to substantially enhancing the duct ....Improving the ductility of amorphous alloys via severe plastic deformation. Amorphous alloys are the strongest metallic materials. However, the brittle nature of the materials has significantly limited their applicability in reliability-critical structural applications. Despite significant worldwide efforts, improvement of the ductility has been limited to amorphous alloys with only a few specific compositions. This project aims to develop a universal approach to substantially enhancing the ductility of amorphous alloys through the application of severe plastic deformation, to explore the effect of severe plastic deformation on structure, and to reveal the fundamental mechanisms of the mechanical behaviour of amorphous alloys. The results are expected to enable structural design of amorphous alloys with excellent ductility.Read moreRead less
Novel multiscale fibre composites for cryogenic space technologies. This project aims to develop new composite materials technologies for cryogenic space applications. Multifunctional nanomaterials with negative thermal expansion properties will be developed to simultaneously reduce thermal stress and improve fracture toughness, suppressing microcracking of fibre composites observed in current materials at cryogenic temperatures. New interleaves will be developed to act as gas barriers and provi ....Novel multiscale fibre composites for cryogenic space technologies. This project aims to develop new composite materials technologies for cryogenic space applications. Multifunctional nanomaterials with negative thermal expansion properties will be developed to simultaneously reduce thermal stress and improve fracture toughness, suppressing microcracking of fibre composites observed in current materials at cryogenic temperatures. New interleaves will be developed to act as gas barriers and provide strength. The composites will provide a new lightweight solution for storing cryogenic propellants such as liquid hydrogen and oxygen, for the next generation re-usable spacecraft. The outcomes of this project will enable Australian companies to produce and export specialised, high-performance composite products.Read moreRead less
Design Optimisation and Advanced Manufacturing of Structural Connections. This project aims to establish a new approach to designing and fabricating complex connections in spatial structures by taking advantage of latest technologies in topological optimisation and additive manufacturing. The project intends to develop new optimisation algorithms considering special constraints of additive manufacturing and to determine a cost-effective process for fabricating large metal connections. Expected o ....Design Optimisation and Advanced Manufacturing of Structural Connections. This project aims to establish a new approach to designing and fabricating complex connections in spatial structures by taking advantage of latest technologies in topological optimisation and additive manufacturing. The project intends to develop new optimisation algorithms considering special constraints of additive manufacturing and to determine a cost-effective process for fabricating large metal connections. Expected outcomes of the project include a new methodology and an advanced digital design tool, validated by experiments, for designing and fabricating efficient structural components. This should provide significant benefits to the construction industry in terms of performance enhancement, weight reduction and waste minimisation.Read moreRead less
Topological Design of Mechanical Meta-Structures. This project aims to establish a new computational design methodology to address current challenges facing creation of ultralight structures with ultra-high-performance characteristics. The latest technologies in structural topology optimization and its correlated numerical simulation and structural analysis methods will be unified towards an integrated design framework. Expected outcomes include an advanced generative design platform for discove ....Topological Design of Mechanical Meta-Structures. This project aims to establish a new computational design methodology to address current challenges facing creation of ultralight structures with ultra-high-performance characteristics. The latest technologies in structural topology optimization and its correlated numerical simulation and structural analysis methods will be unified towards an integrated design framework. Expected outcomes include an advanced generative design platform for discovering novel geometries to underpin new meta-structure architectures, validated by appropriate fabrication techniques considering their geometric complexity. Such capabilities will benefit defence, civil, aerospace, energy and transport industries that pursue competitive advantage through innovation.Read moreRead less
Using 3D printing technology to develop architecturally-controlled synthetic bone substitutes. With the ageing population, there is increasing demand for synthetic materials that can regenerate bone. However, purely synthetic bone-substitute biomaterials cannot regenerate large bone defects in weight-bearing conditions due to their fragility. This project aims to develop a customisable, biodegradable, biocompatible and mechanically strong and tough scaffold that overcomes this long-standing prob ....Using 3D printing technology to develop architecturally-controlled synthetic bone substitutes. With the ageing population, there is increasing demand for synthetic materials that can regenerate bone. However, purely synthetic bone-substitute biomaterials cannot regenerate large bone defects in weight-bearing conditions due to their fragility. This project aims to develop a customisable, biodegradable, biocompatible and mechanically strong and tough scaffold that overcomes this long-standing problem. The project aims to achieve this by applying an innovative combination of cutting-edge 3D printing technology, advanced computational modelling and design techniques to produce a next-generation bioceramic scaffold with optimised architecture. This approach aims also to enable the possibility of producing custom-made implants for individual requirements.Read moreRead less
Novel quantitative sizing of inaccessible and hard-to-inspect defects to address the challenges posed by innovations in airframe design. Modern unitised aircraft structures cannot be reliably inspected using traditional techniques. This project will develop new techniques to quantify defects required for this innovation in aircraft component design. This research will improve the through-life support of future metallic and composite aircraft structures and improve air safety.