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
Bidirectional Evolutionary Structural Optimization for Transient Problems. Aims: This proposal aims to expand the bidirectional evolutionary structural optimisation (BESO) method for transient mechanical, multiphysical and robotic problems.
Significance: The study will develop new BESO transient algorithms by integrating time-dependent analysis and stepwise design sensitivity in multicriteria and multidisciplinary optimisation.
Expected outcomes: The project will largely broaden the algorithmi ....Bidirectional Evolutionary Structural Optimization for Transient Problems. Aims: This proposal aims to expand the bidirectional evolutionary structural optimisation (BESO) method for transient mechanical, multiphysical and robotic problems.
Significance: The study will develop new BESO transient algorithms by integrating time-dependent analysis and stepwise design sensitivity in multicriteria and multidisciplinary optimisation.
Expected outcomes: The project will largely broaden the algorithmic scope of BESO and enables it to solve more extensive real-life problems with time-varying nature.
Benefits include a new BESO design framework and computer program, as well as a series of novel designs, potentially being implemented for aerospace, automotive, biomedical, mechanical, civil and mechatronic applications.Read moreRead less
Optimisation of Buildable Structures for 3D Concrete Printing. This project aims to establish a systematic approach to seamlessly integrate optimisation, characterisation, and 3D concrete printing (3DCP) manufacturing for the construction and building industry. New optimisation algorithms will first overcome the manufacturing limitations of 3DCP by considering the print path and early-age concrete properties, and directly create high-performance and innovative designs of buildable structures. Th ....Optimisation of Buildable Structures for 3D Concrete Printing. This project aims to establish a systematic approach to seamlessly integrate optimisation, characterisation, and 3D concrete printing (3DCP) manufacturing for the construction and building industry. New optimisation algorithms will first overcome the manufacturing limitations of 3DCP by considering the print path and early-age concrete properties, and directly create high-performance and innovative designs of buildable structures. The outcomes of this project include a powerful design tool that enables architects and engineers to optimally design and construct the next generation of cost-saving and aesthetically pleasing buildings and infrastructures through the adoption of modern 3DCP technology.Read moreRead less
Crashworthiness topology optimisation for light-weight battery compartments. This project uses computational modelling and optimisation methods to the design of battery compartments for electric vehicles. As the use of electric vehicles becomes more extensive, awareness of the consequences of catastrophic failure of high energy battery in a crash has increased. This project will develop novel design methodologies, using multi-disciplinary techniques for battery compartment structure. The methodo ....Crashworthiness topology optimisation for light-weight battery compartments. This project uses computational modelling and optimisation methods to the design of battery compartments for electric vehicles. As the use of electric vehicles becomes more extensive, awareness of the consequences of catastrophic failure of high energy battery in a crash has increased. This project will develop novel design methodologies, using multi-disciplinary techniques for battery compartment structure. The methodology will expand conventional crashworthiness design to the coupled mechanical-electrochemical-thermal problems. The proposed crashworthiness optimisation of battery compartment structure will enhance safety and reliability of electric vehicles, potentially benefiting consumers and manufacturers.Read moreRead less
Next generation nondestructive inspection using guided-wave mixing. This project aims to develop a novel approach for early damage detection. It relies on a systematic experimental investigation of nonlinear ultrasonic interaction between different input wave modes in the presence of damage, so as to identify optimal mode selections and operating parameters that will maximise the sensitivity to particular forms of structural damage. The effects of in-service loading on wave-mixing response, and ....Next generation nondestructive inspection using guided-wave mixing. This project aims to develop a novel approach for early damage detection. It relies on a systematic experimental investigation of nonlinear ultrasonic interaction between different input wave modes in the presence of damage, so as to identify optimal mode selections and operating parameters that will maximise the sensitivity to particular forms of structural damage. The effects of in-service loading on wave-mixing response, and non-contact detection suitable for hard-to-inspect surface conditions, will also be investigated. The new developments will help transform existing schedule-based maintenance practice to a condition-based maintenance paradigm, to achieve significant cost savings in maintenance.Read moreRead less
A Novel Multilevel Modelling Framework to Design Diamond Nanothread Bundles. This project aims to develop a novel, computationally-based framework to optimally and efficiently design new fibre materials based on the diamond nanothreads synthesized by the PI in 2014. The CIs (and others) have demonstrated the tremendous promise these materials hold to replace common carbon fibres. The proposed framework will combine advanced computer modelling, statistical learning, genetic algorithm-based optima ....A Novel Multilevel Modelling Framework to Design Diamond Nanothread Bundles. This project aims to develop a novel, computationally-based framework to optimally and efficiently design new fibre materials based on the diamond nanothreads synthesized by the PI in 2014. The CIs (and others) have demonstrated the tremendous promise these materials hold to replace common carbon fibres. The proposed framework will combine advanced computer modelling, statistical learning, genetic algorithm-based optimal design and experimental validations. It will accelerate the design of these new carbon-based fibres as game-changing materials in a wide range of areas. Ultimately this project has the potential to deliver significant economic benefits and will place Australia at the forefront of the industrial revolution of the future.Read moreRead less
Dynamic Properties of Mechanical Metamaterials: Optimization and Experiment. The aim of this project is to develop novel mechanical metamaterials through topology optimization for manipulating the propagation of elastic and acoustic waves. Mechanical metamaterials achieve exotic dynamic properties, which have many applications ranging from noise management and vibration control to defence. The computational tool and optimization algorithms to be developed will seamlessly integrate with additive ....Dynamic Properties of Mechanical Metamaterials: Optimization and Experiment. The aim of this project is to develop novel mechanical metamaterials through topology optimization for manipulating the propagation of elastic and acoustic waves. Mechanical metamaterials achieve exotic dynamic properties, which have many applications ranging from noise management and vibration control to defence. The computational tool and optimization algorithms to be developed will seamlessly integrate with additive manufacturing to enable the end-users to characterize, design and fabricate the next generation of mechanical metamaterials in an effective way. The outcomes of this project offer significant benefits for the long-term and sustainable development of knowledge-based economy in Australia.Read moreRead less
Theory and methods for evaluation of microstructural fatigue damage. The microstructural damage accumulation stage often consumes a significant portion of the total fatigue life of structures. However, its progressive evaluation is beyond the reach of safety inspection techniques which are currently employed to maintain structural integrity and prevent fatigue failures. This project aims to fill this gap by developing innovative methods for the measurement of material properties related to fatig ....Theory and methods for evaluation of microstructural fatigue damage. The microstructural damage accumulation stage often consumes a significant portion of the total fatigue life of structures. However, its progressive evaluation is beyond the reach of safety inspection techniques which are currently employed to maintain structural integrity and prevent fatigue failures. This project aims to fill this gap by developing innovative methods for the measurement of material properties related to fatigue damage and establishing a new theory which links these properties to the remaining life of the structure. The project outcomes will facilitate the global trend towards predictive maintenance strategies, thereby generating substantial cost benefits, specifically, for high-value assets and ageing infrastructure.Read moreRead less
A Novel Surrogate Framework for evaluating THM Properties of Bentonite. Compacted bentonite as favoured engineered barrier material is widely used in environmental geotechnics and its failure can incur huge societal, economic and environmental loss. The project aims to develop a novel surrogate model to identify the optimal controllable factors' value to increase barrier's integrity and reliability. It expects to advance the fundamental knowledge of bentonite thermo-hydro-mechanical properties t ....A Novel Surrogate Framework for evaluating THM Properties of Bentonite. Compacted bentonite as favoured engineered barrier material is widely used in environmental geotechnics and its failure can incur huge societal, economic and environmental loss. The project aims to develop a novel surrogate model to identify the optimal controllable factors' value to increase barrier's integrity and reliability. It expects to advance the fundamental knowledge of bentonite thermo-hydro-mechanical properties through advanced molecular dynamics modelling, statistic learning and machine learning. It will deliver revolution design approach for bentonite used in engineered barriers in Australia and internationally. In the long-time it will bring huge economic, societal and environmental benefits to our community.Read moreRead less
Magnetorheological Elastomer Based Tuned Mass Damper. This project aims to protect buildings utilising an advanced tuned mass damper (TMD) which has characteristics of adaptability, is energy and sensor free and has negative stiffness via the integration of magnetorheological elastomers, a self-sensing self-powered element and negative stiffness technologies. This project expects to theoretically and experimentally study the performance of the TMD on structural protection from wind loads and ear ....Magnetorheological Elastomer Based Tuned Mass Damper. This project aims to protect buildings utilising an advanced tuned mass damper (TMD) which has characteristics of adaptability, is energy and sensor free and has negative stiffness via the integration of magnetorheological elastomers, a self-sensing self-powered element and negative stiffness technologies. This project expects to theoretically and experimentally study the performance of the TMD on structural protection from wind loads and earthquakes. The expected outcomes of this project will advance TMD practice and structural protection technology, and benefit the building protection industry, both domestically and globally. This will provide significant benefits to the working efficiency and safety of building occupants.Read moreRead less