Development of three-dimensional printing conductive concrete for electromagnetic pulse shielding. This project aims to develop innovative methods for the use of conductive concrete as a building material with an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) shielding property. Three dimensional printing of conductive concrete will present an innovative and promising technique in real-life construction practices when structures are needed for facilities and infrastructure employed for critical services such as mi ....Development of three-dimensional printing conductive concrete for electromagnetic pulse shielding. This project aims to develop innovative methods for the use of conductive concrete as a building material with an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) shielding property. Three dimensional printing of conductive concrete will present an innovative and promising technique in real-life construction practices when structures are needed for facilities and infrastructure employed for critical services such as military or financial infrastructures. The project will create new revenue streams for cement and concrete industry as well as empower the workforce with cutting-edge skills. The newly developed materials and technology will lead to protection of national facilities and infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Development of nano reinforced concrete using boron nitride nanosheets. This project seeks to develop high-performance concrete materials by exploiting emerging nanotechnology. It plans to adopt emerging nanotechnology involving hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets and advanced micro-computer tomography instrumentation to transform conventional concrete into one that is stronger and more durable in extreme environmental conditions. It also plans to use sophisticated modelling techniques including ....Development of nano reinforced concrete using boron nitride nanosheets. This project seeks to develop high-performance concrete materials by exploiting emerging nanotechnology. It plans to adopt emerging nanotechnology involving hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets and advanced micro-computer tomography instrumentation to transform conventional concrete into one that is stronger and more durable in extreme environmental conditions. It also plans to use sophisticated modelling techniques including molecular dynamics simulations as well as microplane models to analyse the effect of nanofillers. The findings may drive advances in cement hydration, nanotechnology, concrete technology and blast, impact and fire engineering.Read moreRead less
Determination of the Properties of Hyper-Elastic Materials by Deep Indentation. We seek to develop the scientific basis for the interpretation of the results of "deep" indentation testing of non-linear elastic (hyper-elastic) materials. Simple tests (such as indentation) produce complex strain fields. Interpretation of the resulting data in terms of stiffness, for example, requires a complex model of the deformation process that can be utilised to link the observed behaviour to the basic prope ....Determination of the Properties of Hyper-Elastic Materials by Deep Indentation. We seek to develop the scientific basis for the interpretation of the results of "deep" indentation testing of non-linear elastic (hyper-elastic) materials. Simple tests (such as indentation) produce complex strain fields. Interpretation of the resulting data in terms of stiffness, for example, requires a complex model of the deformation process that can be utilised to link the observed behaviour to the basic properties of interest. This project is dedicated to an understanding of the complex deformation associated with large strain indentation of hyper-elastic materials and structures, development of finite element based models for this deformation and creation of techniques for interpretation of the results of such indentation tests.Read moreRead less
A NEW CONCEPT IN DESIGN OF MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES BASED ON TOPOLOGICALLY INTERLOCKED ELEMENTS. The project aims to develop a new concept in materials design based on assemblies of interlocked elements. Interlocking is achieved topologically by special arrangements of blocks without connectors. Such assemblies can form structures possessing special mechanical properties and serve as load-bearing skeletons in composites with a binder phase providing desired functional properties. Various types o ....A NEW CONCEPT IN DESIGN OF MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES BASED ON TOPOLOGICALLY INTERLOCKED ELEMENTS. The project aims to develop a new concept in materials design based on assemblies of interlocked elements. Interlocking is achieved topologically by special arrangements of blocks without connectors. Such assemblies can form structures possessing special mechanical properties and serve as load-bearing skeletons in composites with a binder phase providing desired functional properties. Various types of interlocked assemblies will be modelled, produced and tested to determine their mechanical and acoustic properties. A range of experimental techniques tailored for these unusual assemblies will be employed. The expected outcome will be the implementation of the new design principle in multifunctional materials and structures.Read moreRead less
CO2 Utilisation for Energy Storage. This project aims to develop a novel technology that can convert carbon dioxide into useful products while storing intermittent renewable energy as green stable chemical energy. The project plans to focus on the development of a robust cathode for the conversion of carbon dioxide with optimum physical and chemical structure to achieve long-term stable performance. This technology would make a significant contribution to increasing the proportion of renewable e ....CO2 Utilisation for Energy Storage. This project aims to develop a novel technology that can convert carbon dioxide into useful products while storing intermittent renewable energy as green stable chemical energy. The project plans to focus on the development of a robust cathode for the conversion of carbon dioxide with optimum physical and chemical structure to achieve long-term stable performance. This technology would make a significant contribution to increasing the proportion of renewable energy in our energy supply and reducing our carbon dioxide emissions.Read moreRead less
High-performance green concrete containing lithium refinery residue . This project aims to investigate the potential use of lithium refinery residue as a partial replacement for cement in concrete. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of green concrete through fundamental investigation of its properties and to incorporate this residue as a new supplementary cementitious material in existing Australian standard. The expected outcomes of the project include characterisation ....High-performance green concrete containing lithium refinery residue . This project aims to investigate the potential use of lithium refinery residue as a partial replacement for cement in concrete. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of green concrete through fundamental investigation of its properties and to incorporate this residue as a new supplementary cementitious material in existing Australian standard. The expected outcomes of the project include characterisation and benchmarking of lithium residue as an alternative supplementary cementitious material in concrete. This will provide significant environmental benefits in both a reduction in lithium waste and reduction of CO2 emission of cement in high-performance green concrete. Read moreRead less
Synthesis of Novel Nanostructured Ternary Carbide Composites. This research will lead to (a) new advances and provide contribution of new knowledge to the Priority Research Areas of Advanced Materials; (b) a novel vacuum heat-treatment process for nanostructured materials design. This will offer the ceramics industry in Australia a new technology for producing wear- and heat-resistant components for advanced engineering applications. (c) design of new layer-graded materials with a unique combina ....Synthesis of Novel Nanostructured Ternary Carbide Composites. This research will lead to (a) new advances and provide contribution of new knowledge to the Priority Research Areas of Advanced Materials; (b) a novel vacuum heat-treatment process for nanostructured materials design. This will offer the ceramics industry in Australia a new technology for producing wear- and heat-resistant components for advanced engineering applications. (c) design of new layer-graded materials with a unique combination of hardness for wear resistance and toughness for damage tolerance. This will enable the ceramics industry in Australia to compete internationally in the business of advanced and high performance ceramic products.Read moreRead less
Development of ambient cured high performance geopolymer composite. The project intends to develop an ambient-cured high-performance, sustainable, fibre-reinforced geopolymer composite for construction. Compared to cement, which is currently used extensively in the construction industry, production of the geopolymer material not only recycles industry wastes which would otherwise end up in landfills, but also consumes less energy and emits significantly less greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. ....Development of ambient cured high performance geopolymer composite. The project intends to develop an ambient-cured high-performance, sustainable, fibre-reinforced geopolymer composite for construction. Compared to cement, which is currently used extensively in the construction industry, production of the geopolymer material not only recycles industry wastes which would otherwise end up in landfills, but also consumes less energy and emits significantly less greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The composite is also designed to have a higher strength and deformation ability than cementitious material. The project plans to perform intensive experimental tests to determine the optimal mix for the best performing material, and develop material and numerical models to predict the responses of structures made from the composite when subjected to static and dynamic loads.Read moreRead less
Atomistic mechanisms of the mechanical behaviour of nanostructured silicon carbide films. Advanced silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics are leading candidates for applications in high-power, high-speed machining and high-temperature structural components. Superhardness and high ductility (or high fracture toughness), which have been realized in some nanostructured (ns) SiC films and nanowires, respectively, are desirable properties for many applications. This project aims to understand the mechanisms ....Atomistic mechanisms of the mechanical behaviour of nanostructured silicon carbide films. Advanced silicon carbide (SiC) ceramics are leading candidates for applications in high-power, high-speed machining and high-temperature structural components. Superhardness and high ductility (or high fracture toughness), which have been realized in some nanostructured (ns) SiC films and nanowires, respectively, are desirable properties for many applications. This project aims to understand the mechanisms behind the exceptional properties in ns SiC and to explore the possibility of realizing the two properties in the same ns SiC. The results obtained from this research will be very important for guiding the structural design of SiC with exceptional mechanical properties which will have a wide range of structural applications.Read moreRead less
Hybrid materials with tunable mechanical response via topological interlocking and embedded kinematic agents. The project investigates a new approach to materials design targeting the inner architecture of materials. Such materials will be multifunctional and responsive to external fields. Applications include sound- and vibration-absorbing cladding, morphing aerospace and automotive materials, and protective civil engineering structures.