A Mechanistic Approach to the Compression Properties of Z-Pinned Composites. The proposed research is a fundamental investigation of the compressive mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites reinforced with z-pins. These composites are a new material with strong potential applications in aerospace structures subject to high compressive loads, however their compressive properties are poorly understood. Using theoretical modelling, finite element an ....A Mechanistic Approach to the Compression Properties of Z-Pinned Composites. The proposed research is a fundamental investigation of the compressive mechanical properties and failure mechanisms of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites reinforced with z-pins. These composites are a new material with strong potential applications in aerospace structures subject to high compressive loads, however their compressive properties are poorly understood. Using theoretical modelling, finite element analysis and experimentation, the research program will greatly enhance the fundamental understanding of the strengthening and failure mechanisms of z-pinned composites. A key outcome of the research will be design guidelines for optimising the pinning of composites for maximum structural performance in aerospace applications.Read moreRead less
Design Strategy for Cold Roll Formed Products. Roll forming is a widely used metal forming technology in Australia. The demands for shorter lead times, more complex shapes, new high strength materials and more demanding markets such as the automotive industry, requires increased virtual engineering at the design stage. This project will develop the models and tools required to enable the industry to efficiently design robust roll configurations to meet current and future demands. The outcomes ....Design Strategy for Cold Roll Formed Products. Roll forming is a widely used metal forming technology in Australia. The demands for shorter lead times, more complex shapes, new high strength materials and more demanding markets such as the automotive industry, requires increased virtual engineering at the design stage. This project will develop the models and tools required to enable the industry to efficiently design robust roll configurations to meet current and future demands. The outcomes from this project will not only benefit the industry partners involved but the general Australian roll forming industry, opening up new markets and opportunities.Read moreRead less
Enhanced Mechanical Properties of Steel Sheet through Novel Approach in Asymmetric Rolling. Steel sheet production is one of the major industries in Australia, which impacts the automotive and construction industries. There is an ongoing requirement to increase the strength of steel sheet without compromising ductility, which improves the strength / weight ratio and the automobile fuel efficiency. The novel rolling process proposed has the potential to address these requirements. The industrial ....Enhanced Mechanical Properties of Steel Sheet through Novel Approach in Asymmetric Rolling. Steel sheet production is one of the major industries in Australia, which impacts the automotive and construction industries. There is an ongoing requirement to increase the strength of steel sheet without compromising ductility, which improves the strength / weight ratio and the automobile fuel efficiency. The novel rolling process proposed has the potential to address these requirements. The industrial partner Tata Steel is a global steelmaker who has strategic partnerships with Bluescope Steel in Australia. The technology to be developed will be exploited both overseas and within Australia and assist in bringing Australia to a leading position in this area of research.Read moreRead less
Dynamic Crushing of Cellular Solids: Deformation Modes and Energy Absorption. Energy absorption behaviour of structures and materials is essential in minimising damage and fatalities caused by accidental collisions. Cellular solids are excellent in this respect. This project aims to systematically investigate the dynamic crushing of two such materials: honeycombs and metal foams. Experimental techniques applicable to these materials will be developed and comprehensive tests will be conducted. St ....Dynamic Crushing of Cellular Solids: Deformation Modes and Energy Absorption. Energy absorption behaviour of structures and materials is essential in minimising damage and fatalities caused by accidental collisions. Cellular solids are excellent in this respect. This project aims to systematically investigate the dynamic crushing of two such materials: honeycombs and metal foams. Experimental techniques applicable to these materials will be developed and comprehensive tests will be conducted. Studies will be made into their dynamic deformation modes and the associated energy absorption behaviour. The findings will extend our conceptual understanding of a class of similar problems and will help to design structures with cellular solids for much improved crashworthiness performance.Read moreRead less
Fatigue Life Prediction of Nano-filler Modified Composites. The proposed project aims to study the behaviour and the failure mechanisms of polymer nanocomposites under cyclic loading. The outcomes of the project will make original contributions to our knowledge base on such materials. The mechanics modelling and statistical analysis of the prediction of fatigue life will provide a sound physical basis and a useful tool for any future improvement and optimisation of the composites to achieve bett ....Fatigue Life Prediction of Nano-filler Modified Composites. The proposed project aims to study the behaviour and the failure mechanisms of polymer nanocomposites under cyclic loading. The outcomes of the project will make original contributions to our knowledge base on such materials. The mechanics modelling and statistical analysis of the prediction of fatigue life will provide a sound physical basis and a useful tool for any future improvement and optimisation of the composites to achieve better reliability and integrity in their intended applications. This study will bring economic benefits to the end-users of advanced material technology including the Australian materials industries. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775656
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$490,000.00
Summary
High Rate Testing System for Materials and Structures. Human or natural disasters such as terrorist attack or tsunami take place and they have catastrophic consequences, in terms of fatalities and psyche of fear among the population, as well as enormous financial loss. Vehicle accident is another example. In Australia, 1636 people were killed in 1481 road crashes, in 2005 alone. There is a great demand for research into devising novel materials and structures for optimum performance under such c ....High Rate Testing System for Materials and Structures. Human or natural disasters such as terrorist attack or tsunami take place and they have catastrophic consequences, in terms of fatalities and psyche of fear among the population, as well as enormous financial loss. Vehicle accident is another example. In Australia, 1636 people were killed in 1481 road crashes, in 2005 alone. There is a great demand for research into devising novel materials and structures for optimum performance under such circumstances. The proposed new high rate testing system will significantly advance research in this area. The facility will directly support a range of research projects in material and structural design in military and civil vehicles, aerospace industry and defence.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE170100079
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$267,000.00
Summary
Advanced digital image correlation facility. This project aims to establish a facility that analyses three-dimensional and transient events for nearly any type of application, material and size scale. Digital Image correlation technologies are widely used to measure displacements and strains due to their accuracy, robustness, versatility and overall ease of use. This project will characterise materials from quasi-static to ballistic range of loading, crucial to develop and validate advanced anal ....Advanced digital image correlation facility. This project aims to establish a facility that analyses three-dimensional and transient events for nearly any type of application, material and size scale. Digital Image correlation technologies are widely used to measure displacements and strains due to their accuracy, robustness, versatility and overall ease of use. This project will characterise materials from quasi-static to ballistic range of loading, crucial to develop and validate advanced analytical and numerical models. The proposed infrastructure is expected to enhance experimental capabilities, and foster collaborative research across mechanical, civil, mining, sports, aerospace, automotive, marine and materials engineering.Read moreRead less
A Microstructure Based Approach to Steel Design for Improved Crash Performance. There is a continual need for the automotive industry to develop vehicles with increased fuel efficiency and safety. This research will establish how different types of new advanced steels can contribute to improved crash worthiness, while also helping to increase fuel efficiency through lighter weight. This will lead to the development of new steels that offer even better crash performance while also providing more ....A Microstructure Based Approach to Steel Design for Improved Crash Performance. There is a continual need for the automotive industry to develop vehicles with increased fuel efficiency and safety. This research will establish how different types of new advanced steels can contribute to improved crash worthiness, while also helping to increase fuel efficiency through lighter weight. This will lead to the development of new steels that offer even better crash performance while also providing more realistic computer models for car designers.Read moreRead less
Life Extension of Equipment Suffering Environmentally-Assisted Cracking: An Innovative Approach to Mitigation by Engineering of Materials in Service. Environmentally-assisted cracking (EAC) represents a serious threat to infrastructure exposed to caustic and chloride environments in process, marine, energy and chemical industries in Australia. Despite extensive research, there is no consensus mechanism for EAC. This project will investigate a fresh approach to life extension of in-service equipm ....Life Extension of Equipment Suffering Environmentally-Assisted Cracking: An Innovative Approach to Mitigation by Engineering of Materials in Service. Environmentally-assisted cracking (EAC) represents a serious threat to infrastructure exposed to caustic and chloride environments in process, marine, energy and chemical industries in Australia. Despite extensive research, there is no consensus mechanism for EAC. This project will investigate a fresh approach to life extension of in-service equipment suffering EAC, by developing and testing a mitigation measure reasonably independent of the EAC mechanisms. The task includes development of a consolidated strategy based on: accurate determination of the fundamental parameters for crack propagation, and in-situ thermomechnical treatment for local manipulation of material at and ahead of crack-tip, in order to retard/stop crack propagation.Read moreRead less
Baseline-free Methods for Early Damage Diagnosis using Nonlinear Ultrasound. To address the significant limitation of existing non-destructive evaluation techniques in detecting and characterising early damage, this project aims to discover the physical nature of self-generated nonlinear waves by structural damage and to explore its potential for an entirely new class of non-destructive evaluation and structural health monitoring techniques. Major applications are expected to include a baseline- ....Baseline-free Methods for Early Damage Diagnosis using Nonlinear Ultrasound. To address the significant limitation of existing non-destructive evaluation techniques in detecting and characterising early damage, this project aims to discover the physical nature of self-generated nonlinear waves by structural damage and to explore its potential for an entirely new class of non-destructive evaluation and structural health monitoring techniques. Major applications are expected to include a baseline-free structural health monitoring technique capable of detecting and quantifying barely-visible impact damage in advanced composite materials, non-destructive evaluation of structures made by additive manufacturing, and detection of hard-to-inspect locations in unitised structures.Read moreRead less