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
DETERMINATION OF SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ENVIRONMENTALLY-ASSISTED CRACKING OF SMALL AND MICROSTRUCTURALLY VARIED REGIONS WHILE MAINTAINING FRACTURE MECHANICS VALIDITY. The proposed work seeks to develop an improved tool for more accurate design data and improved materials selection criteria for critical equipment and infrastructure maintenance in major Australian industries, where environmentally-assisted cracking is a serious concern (viz., marine, polymer/chemical processing, aeronautical, alumina m ....DETERMINATION OF SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ENVIRONMENTALLY-ASSISTED CRACKING OF SMALL AND MICROSTRUCTURALLY VARIED REGIONS WHILE MAINTAINING FRACTURE MECHANICS VALIDITY. The proposed work seeks to develop an improved tool for more accurate design data and improved materials selection criteria for critical equipment and infrastructure maintenance in major Australian industries, where environmentally-assisted cracking is a serious concern (viz., marine, polymer/chemical processing, aeronautical, alumina mineral processing and pulp-and-paper). A successful validation of the novel testing approach (namely, Spiral Notch Torsion Test (SNTT)) for evaluating the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility of materials of practical interest that are difficult or impossible to adequately characterize by conventional tests, is as much a fundamental research challenge as its accomplishment will be industrially attractive.Read moreRead less
Failure Mechanisms of Roof Cladding under Fluctuating Wind Loads. Wind damage to low-rise buildings cause disruption to communities and result in economic losses. Improvements to the most vulnerable part (i.e. roof) will therefore have national benefits and associated economic benefits. Currently, roofing systems used in cyclonic areas are evaluated to DABM in the Northern Territory and to TR440 elsewhere, requiring the same product be tested under two different (and unsatisfactory) specificat ....Failure Mechanisms of Roof Cladding under Fluctuating Wind Loads. Wind damage to low-rise buildings cause disruption to communities and result in economic losses. Improvements to the most vulnerable part (i.e. roof) will therefore have national benefits and associated economic benefits. Currently, roofing systems used in cyclonic areas are evaluated to DABM in the Northern Territory and to TR440 elsewhere, requiring the same product be tested under two different (and unsatisfactory) specifications. This is due to the limited understanding of wind-induced fatigue of cladding. This project will provide the framework for understanding and minimizing cladding fatigue. A realistic single test will also reduce cost and result in better design systems.Read moreRead less
High Strength Steel Protection Bollards. Terrorist attacks cost Australians much human grief and millions of dollars. Prevention of an attack is paramount. Passive road bollards are commonly used to stop a vehicle approaching and/or entering security sensitive infrastructure. Thin-walled tubes are used to manufacture such bollards. However there is a lack of knowledge about their behaviour, and in particular high strength alloy steel bollards, when subjected to impact loads. The investigators wi ....High Strength Steel Protection Bollards. Terrorist attacks cost Australians much human grief and millions of dollars. Prevention of an attack is paramount. Passive road bollards are commonly used to stop a vehicle approaching and/or entering security sensitive infrastructure. Thin-walled tubes are used to manufacture such bollards. However there is a lack of knowledge about their behaviour, and in particular high strength alloy steel bollards, when subjected to impact loads. The investigators will apply their extensive knowledge in thin-walled tubular structures to establish the most economical means of designing high strength bollards. This knowledge will be transferred into design standards and Australia's limited defence resources.Read moreRead less
Development of Ultrafine Aluminium Matrix Composites for Automotive Applications. This project aims at developing aluminium matrix composites using flyash, a waste product from power stations, for automotive applications. It introduces innovative processing and a new generation of metal matrix composites (MMCs) containing ultrafine ceramic particles. These MMCs will be tailored for selected applications such as disc brake rotors and drums. It is expected that an integrated system for processi ....Development of Ultrafine Aluminium Matrix Composites for Automotive Applications. This project aims at developing aluminium matrix composites using flyash, a waste product from power stations, for automotive applications. It introduces innovative processing and a new generation of metal matrix composites (MMCs) containing ultrafine ceramic particles. These MMCs will be tailored for selected applications such as disc brake rotors and drums. It is expected that an integrated system for processing MMCs and forming components be developed and prototype automotive parts produced. The results will lead to further collaborations with automotive parts suppliers in Australia and overseas to develop commercial products and enhance the export capability of the industry.Read moreRead less
Laser Assisted Machining of Hard-to-wear Materials for Slurry Pump and Mineral Processing Equipment. The project aims to develop techniques for commercially applicable machining of very hard-to-wear materials using high power laser beams. Traditional techniques of machining such components using cubic boron nitride (CBN) based cutting tools are highly time consuming and expensive both in terms of labour costs and inserts costs. The laser assisted machining of these materials is expected to redu ....Laser Assisted Machining of Hard-to-wear Materials for Slurry Pump and Mineral Processing Equipment. The project aims to develop techniques for commercially applicable machining of very hard-to-wear materials using high power laser beams. Traditional techniques of machining such components using cubic boron nitride (CBN) based cutting tools are highly time consuming and expensive both in terms of labour costs and inserts costs. The laser assisted machining of these materials is expected to reduce the cost and lead time of manufacturing, provide improved tool wear life, and improved on time delivery of products. The technology will have application to the manufacture and use of slurry pumps associated with the mineral processing and mining industries.Read moreRead less
Hydro Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) - the way to industrial processing. Australia has rich resources in aluminium, titanium and magnesium. It is of strategic national importance to Australia to change from being an exporter of metals to becoming a purveyor of technology and high-end manufactured products. To compete in the global market, Australia needs to be in a leading position in production of light alloy components for automotive, aerospace, electronic, and bio-medical applications. ....Hydro Equal Channel Angular Pressing (ECAP) - the way to industrial processing. Australia has rich resources in aluminium, titanium and magnesium. It is of strategic national importance to Australia to change from being an exporter of metals to becoming a purveyor of technology and high-end manufactured products. To compete in the global market, Australia needs to be in a leading position in production of light alloy components for automotive, aerospace, electronic, and bio-medical applications. The establishment of industrially viable Hydro-ECAP technology for production of bulk ultrafine grained light alloys with superior mechanical properties will lead to a major breakthrough in the use of such materials and will help transforming Australia's metal forming companies to future-oriented manufacturing industries.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882221
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$580,000.00
Summary
A National Facility for Light Metal Powder Processing. Light metals research is a designated national priority and under the national Light Metals Action Agenda, Australia recognizes a strategic interest in the growth of global markets for light metals and light metal technology in key sectors such as vehicles for road, rail and marine transport; and in the production, processing and applications of the light metals. The proposed Facility will provide the critical level of investment and the str ....A National Facility for Light Metal Powder Processing. Light metals research is a designated national priority and under the national Light Metals Action Agenda, Australia recognizes a strategic interest in the growth of global markets for light metals and light metal technology in key sectors such as vehicles for road, rail and marine transport; and in the production, processing and applications of the light metals. The proposed Facility will provide the critical level of investment and the strategic national focus necessary to achieve competitive advantage in powder metallurgy processing. It will underpin substantial developments in the light metals industry nationally and globally. It will also support high profile Australian research groups.Read moreRead less
Development of corrosion resistant aluminium alloys for potable water systems. Maintaining Australia's operational advantage through superior capabilities is fundamental to national benefit. This project fosters breakthrough science to underpin technological innovation (new materials with enhanced functionality). In a global market, any promotion of aluminium usage provides direct benefit nationally, Australia being the key primary, secondary and tertiary producer. Aluminium exports are critical ....Development of corrosion resistant aluminium alloys for potable water systems. Maintaining Australia's operational advantage through superior capabilities is fundamental to national benefit. This project fosters breakthrough science to underpin technological innovation (new materials with enhanced functionality). In a global market, any promotion of aluminium usage provides direct benefit nationally, Australia being the key primary, secondary and tertiary producer. Aluminium exports are critical to the ongoing success of the Australian economy. This project provides excellent research training with unique industry focus for young researchers, fostering the international competitiveness of local research. Such work also benefits Australia via development of international capability in an interdisciplinary field.Read moreRead less
Simulation and Modelling of Interactions between Dislocations and Precipitates in High Strength Light Alloys. Most light alloys are strengthened by highly dispersed nanoscale precipitates. The mechanical behaviour of these alloys is determined by the intimate coupling between precipitate microstructure (size, shape and spatial distribution) and dislocation activities (by-pass, shearing and adsorption at interfaces). By integrating state-of-the-art experimental characterization and computer simul ....Simulation and Modelling of Interactions between Dislocations and Precipitates in High Strength Light Alloys. Most light alloys are strengthened by highly dispersed nanoscale precipitates. The mechanical behaviour of these alloys is determined by the intimate coupling between precipitate microstructure (size, shape and spatial distribution) and dislocation activities (by-pass, shearing and adsorption at interfaces). By integrating state-of-the-art experimental characterization and computer simulation techniques, this project aims to reveal detailed and accurate deformation mechanisms in these alloys. The knowledge gained and models developed are expected to provide guidelines to the optimization of existing alloys and design of new alloys, which is expected to create substantial wealth for Australia.Read moreRead less