Modelling of sand wave migration and its interaction with pipelines. The movement of sand due to sand waves can interfere with marine structures such as pipelines and cables on the seabed. It may also cause free spans of pipelines, with potentially serious consequences. Most previous research has considered sand wave propagation and the stability of pipelines as separate problems. In this project, we propose a coupled analysis of sand wave migration and its interaction with pipelines through mat ....Modelling of sand wave migration and its interaction with pipelines. The movement of sand due to sand waves can interfere with marine structures such as pipelines and cables on the seabed. It may also cause free spans of pipelines, with potentially serious consequences. Most previous research has considered sand wave propagation and the stability of pipelines as separate problems. In this project, we propose a coupled analysis of sand wave migration and its interaction with pipelines through mathematical and numerical modelling. The theoretical work will be supported by laboratory experiments. The resulting research will provide a better understanding of sand wave migration, beach profiles and the stability of pipelines.Read moreRead less
Coupled models for waves, a porous seabed and breakwater interactions. Design of coastal structures such as breakwaters has demanded more accurate and reliable methods for the evaluation of the stability of structures and their foundations. Stability of the breakwater and its foundation is the first key issue for practical engineers. This project will establish the first fully coupled model for wave-seabed-structure interaction. The proposed study will not only enhance the understanding of the c ....Coupled models for waves, a porous seabed and breakwater interactions. Design of coastal structures such as breakwaters has demanded more accurate and reliable methods for the evaluation of the stability of structures and their foundations. Stability of the breakwater and its foundation is the first key issue for practical engineers. This project will establish the first fully coupled model for wave-seabed-structure interaction. The proposed study will not only enhance the understanding of the complex system, which is an area of vital interest for design of coastal structures, but also contribute to the national development and competitiveness in ocean exploration, reduce the risk of potential environmental damage caused by failure of breakwaters and produce high quality research students.Read moreRead less
Engineering solutions for the next generation of offshore oil and gas infrastructure. Offshore extraction of oil and gas reserves is a key industry for Australia, annually contributing A$21 billion to the economy, and underpinning much of our prosperity. With reserves close to shore being exhausted and A$1 trillion of gas reserves (four times that already developed) known to be 'stranded' in deep and remote locations, the outcomes of the proposed research programme will help scientifically under ....Engineering solutions for the next generation of offshore oil and gas infrastructure. Offshore extraction of oil and gas reserves is a key industry for Australia, annually contributing A$21 billion to the economy, and underpinning much of our prosperity. With reserves close to shore being exhausted and A$1 trillion of gas reserves (four times that already developed) known to be 'stranded' in deep and remote locations, the outcomes of the proposed research programme will help scientifically underpin the reliable design of the next generation of Australia's exploration and development infrastructure. It continues Australia's leadership in the field of offshore geotechnics and engineering, fostering tomorrow's engineering leaders and ensuring the future competitiveness of Australia's offshore oil and gas industry.Read moreRead less
Seabed engineering to unlock Australia's deepwater oil and gas resources. The development of offshore petroleum contributes $25 billion annually to the Australian economy. The majority of our $1 trillion of reserves are currently untapped, being in deep water, remote from shore. This Fellowship will generate a scientific understanding of the mechanics of seabed sediments when disturbed by infrastructure and ocean storms, and lead to procedures for designing the seabed pipelines and facilities ne ....Seabed engineering to unlock Australia's deepwater oil and gas resources. The development of offshore petroleum contributes $25 billion annually to the Australian economy. The majority of our $1 trillion of reserves are currently untapped, being in deep water, remote from shore. This Fellowship will generate a scientific understanding of the mechanics of seabed sediments when disturbed by infrastructure and ocean storms, and lead to procedures for designing the seabed pipelines and facilities needed to unlock Australia's isolated deep water petroleum reserves. These procedures will provide economic solutions for safely transmitting the hydrocarbons to shore. The resulting expertise will enhance Australia's global reputation in offshore geotechnics and engineering and raise the competitiveness of our petroleum industry.Read moreRead less
Environment modelling of Great Barrier Reef habitats using Autonomous Transect Surveying. This project has as its goal the development of algorithms and methods capable of modeling unstructured, reef environments using data collected by an autonomous robotic system capable of surveying the Great Barrier Reef. The Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR) currently has a small research Umanned Underwater Vehicle capable of undertaking such survey work. Under the proposed project, this vehicle ....Environment modelling of Great Barrier Reef habitats using Autonomous Transect Surveying. This project has as its goal the development of algorithms and methods capable of modeling unstructured, reef environments using data collected by an autonomous robotic system capable of surveying the Great Barrier Reef. The Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR) currently has a small research Umanned Underwater Vehicle capable of undertaking such survey work. Under the proposed project, this vehicle will be equipped with appropriate sensors (such as vision systems, sonar, depth and temperature sensors). The proposed grant will support an APA (I) whose aim will be the construction of comprehensive models of the state of the reef over which the vehicle will operate.Read moreRead less
Transitions in wave breaking from deep to shallow water . The predominant impact on coastal geomorphology, marine safety and coastal structures is from breaking waves, especially from storms. This project will provide the first unified formulation of breaking wave effects from deep to shallow water, which will increase wave forecast model accuracy and hence improve coastal zone design and safety outcomes.
Prediction and control of fluid-structure interactions. Fluid-flows create a pressure that can deform the surface of a structure or cause it to vibrate; an extreme example is the fluttering of a flag. Flow-induced vibration of the external panels of vehicles causes damage, noise and can adversely affect performance. This project will develop a wholly new approach for the analysis of these interactions. The versatility and completeness of the approach permits a step-change in the design of panels ....Prediction and control of fluid-structure interactions. Fluid-flows create a pressure that can deform the surface of a structure or cause it to vibrate; an extreme example is the fluttering of a flag. Flow-induced vibration of the external panels of vehicles causes damage, noise and can adversely affect performance. This project will develop a wholly new approach for the analysis of these interactions. The versatility and completeness of the approach permits a step-change in the design of panels, reducing material and manufacturing costs without compromise to safety and performance - an immense benefit for the myriad engineered products or structures that feature flow over a deformable surface. Read moreRead less
Numerical simulation of the fish-like swimming of linked bodies. Although Zoologists have made detailed observations of swimming fish there are still many unanswered questions about how they swim. We do not know how the fins and undulating body work together to produce the high speed of the tuna, or the fast turns of a fish escaping danger. We see dolphins swim through the sea's surface but we don't know if they do that because it is much more efficient. This project is designed to simulate arb ....Numerical simulation of the fish-like swimming of linked bodies. Although Zoologists have made detailed observations of swimming fish there are still many unanswered questions about how they swim. We do not know how the fins and undulating body work together to produce the high speed of the tuna, or the fast turns of a fish escaping danger. We see dolphins swim through the sea's surface but we don't know if they do that because it is much more efficient. This project is designed to simulate arbitrary fish motion and give answers to these and other questions concerning swimming. It may also help humans to swim more efficiently and provide simulation tools for the design of robotic undersea vehicles.Read moreRead less
Taming turbulence: Hydrodynamic stability and flow-structure interaction using grid-free computation. Turbulence is characterized as seemingly disordered fluctuations that impede the progress of an object through a fluid by creating increased frictional or drag forces. Using a new type of fluid-flow simulation, this project will generate advanced understanding of turbulence in the flow over the surface of a vehicle, be it a ship, car, aircraft or within a pipe, with the technological objective o ....Taming turbulence: Hydrodynamic stability and flow-structure interaction using grid-free computation. Turbulence is characterized as seemingly disordered fluctuations that impede the progress of an object through a fluid by creating increased frictional or drag forces. Using a new type of fluid-flow simulation, this project will generate advanced understanding of turbulence in the flow over the surface of a vehicle, be it a ship, car, aircraft or within a pipe, with the technological objective of reducing drag by adhering a compliant skin to the surface. While the correct choice of compliance relies upon understanding very complex flow-structure dynamics, the resulting technology is simple, robust and has low capital and maintenance costs. Clearly, drag reduction reduces fuel costs and lower fuel consumption is environmentally beneficial. Read moreRead less
The application of inverse methods for resolving velocity, density and mixing fields in lakes and estuaries. The two techniques to be developed and tested here will allow the measurement of the 3D density and velocity fields in lakes and estuaries using only simple instruments and with minimum lake obstruction. Coupled with a Real Time Management System, these techniques can be used to validate numerical models and to simulate scenarios, such as future flood events, which have the potential fo ....The application of inverse methods for resolving velocity, density and mixing fields in lakes and estuaries. The two techniques to be developed and tested here will allow the measurement of the 3D density and velocity fields in lakes and estuaries using only simple instruments and with minimum lake obstruction. Coupled with a Real Time Management System, these techniques can be used to validate numerical models and to simulate scenarios, such as future flood events, which have the potential for contamination of water quality. The output from these simulations is then used, again in real time, to evaluate the new Index of Sustainable Functionality of the water body. When augmented with the results from this research we would have a tool that would help manage lakes and reservoirs to optimize the water quality, while maintaining the supply.Read moreRead less