Structural and multidisciplinary optimization. Structural and multidisciplinary design optimization is an important subject in aeronautical, aerospace, automobile, offshore platforms and many other structures. This project aims to address design optimization of coupled structures, with a focus on electro-mechanical coupled structures. It is expected to coordinate an integrated effort to develop efficient and effective algorithms for optimum design of electro-mechanical coupled structures.
Shape adaptive structures with built-in compact smart material based actuators. Primary Australian aerospace manufacturers are sub-contractors and constantly compete in the global market. Their products are primarily control surfaces, e.g., Boeing 757 and 777 rudders, 737 Krueger flaps. In light of the development of the hingeless control surfaces (HCS) in the smart aircraft wing program in the USA, the economic benefits of this project are very high because (a) it will address the key technolo ....Shape adaptive structures with built-in compact smart material based actuators. Primary Australian aerospace manufacturers are sub-contractors and constantly compete in the global market. Their products are primarily control surfaces, e.g., Boeing 757 and 777 rudders, 737 Krueger flaps. In light of the development of the hingeless control surfaces (HCS) in the smart aircraft wing program in the USA, the economic benefits of this project are very high because (a) it will address the key technological issue identified in the HCS program; and (b) it will enhance Australian manufacturers¡¯ technological standing and input in the design and manufacturing of next generation HCS by providing highly trained people with world-leading niche technology.Read moreRead less
Active shape control of large thin-walled structures using ferroelectric single crystals. Ferroelectric single crystals were invented 5 years ago, and they possess many superior properties compared to conventional piezoelectric materials, particularly the induced strain up to 1.5%, an order higher than conventional materials. This project aims to poineer the application of these new and powerful smart materials as actuators and sensors to shape control of smart structures. The expected outcome ....Active shape control of large thin-walled structures using ferroelectric single crystals. Ferroelectric single crystals were invented 5 years ago, and they possess many superior properties compared to conventional piezoelectric materials, particularly the induced strain up to 1.5%, an order higher than conventional materials. This project aims to poineer the application of these new and powerful smart materials as actuators and sensors to shape control of smart structures. The expected outcomes are (a) a new constitutive theory for the non-linear behaviour of ferroelectric single crystals; (b) a novel definition and formulation for the shape control problem; and (c) an innovative theoretical framework for design optimization of shape control of smart structures using ferroelectric single crystals.Read moreRead less
Morphing flexible structures with lead lanthanum zirconium titanate (PLZT) based optical actuators. Lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) materials yield mechanical strains when exposed to near ultraviolet light as a result of combined photovoltaic and converse piezoelectric effects. They offer actuation strain on par with piezoelectric materials and other advantages, such as wireless light-to-mechanical energy transfer, immunity from electrical and magnetic disturbances and fast response wi ....Morphing flexible structures with lead lanthanum zirconium titanate (PLZT) based optical actuators. Lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) materials yield mechanical strains when exposed to near ultraviolet light as a result of combined photovoltaic and converse piezoelectric effects. They offer actuation strain on par with piezoelectric materials and other advantages, such as wireless light-to-mechanical energy transfer, immunity from electrical and magnetic disturbances and fast response with the transparent electrode design. This project aims to pioneer the application of PLZT optical actuators in morphing flexible structures leading to development of wireless smart structures technology and opt-electromechanical systems such as medical instruments.Read moreRead less
Development of a Local Spectral Method for the Computations of Thin-Walled Structures. This project will benefit Aust. society by providing a powerful tool for improving the safe and cost effective design of structures under extreme conditions (high frequency vibration, complicating supporting conditions). The method has the potential to be further developed to provide solutions to unsolved problems in acoustic wave transport, short electromagnetic wave propagation etc. The research training of ....Development of a Local Spectral Method for the Computations of Thin-Walled Structures. This project will benefit Aust. society by providing a powerful tool for improving the safe and cost effective design of structures under extreme conditions (high frequency vibration, complicating supporting conditions). The method has the potential to be further developed to provide solutions to unsolved problems in acoustic wave transport, short electromagnetic wave propagation etc. The research training of the project will help to keep Australia to be at the forefront in this research field and the published research findings will promote the reputation of Australian researchers in the field of computational engineering. The international collaboration will be strengthened between the Investigator's team and his colleagues in US. Read moreRead less
Controlled vibration of intelligent super-lightweight structure systems. This project aims to poineer research on dynamic shape control of intelligent structure systems, in which the rapid shape variation of a structure is controlled with fast varying electric energy. It bridges the gap between structural shape and vibration control. The expected outcomes are (a) novel concepts and formulation of dynamic shape control; (b) biologically inspired active stiffener system; and (c) an innovative th ....Controlled vibration of intelligent super-lightweight structure systems. This project aims to poineer research on dynamic shape control of intelligent structure systems, in which the rapid shape variation of a structure is controlled with fast varying electric energy. It bridges the gap between structural shape and vibration control. The expected outcomes are (a) novel concepts and formulation of dynamic shape control; (b) biologically inspired active stiffener system; and (c) an innovative theoretical framework for design optimization of dynamic shape control of intelligent structure systems.
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Topology Optimisation of Periodic Structures for Stent Design. Stenting therapy offers new therapeutical strategies to improve the quality of healthcare for numerous cardiovascular disease patients. This project will address the critical issues in stent design involving the delivery, dilatation and ongoing interaction with blood vessel and fluid. The novel topological configurations are expected to bring significant improvement to stent ensuring long-term success. The numerical techniques to be ....Topology Optimisation of Periodic Structures for Stent Design. Stenting therapy offers new therapeutical strategies to improve the quality of healthcare for numerous cardiovascular disease patients. This project will address the critical issues in stent design involving the delivery, dilatation and ongoing interaction with blood vessel and fluid. The novel topological configurations are expected to bring significant improvement to stent ensuring long-term success. The numerical techniques to be developed for optimising topology will provide new tools for design of periodic structures, making a broader impact on an important class of engineering structures and thus benefiting many relevant fields.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100082
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
An Australasian facility for the automated fabrication of high performance bespoke components. A facility for the automated fabrication of high performance bespoke components: The project will create a new coordinated facility for composites research including modern automated infrastructure. The facility will bring Australia in line with leading international research centres and promote fundamental and applied research into a range of fields including underwater renewable energy systems, space ....An Australasian facility for the automated fabrication of high performance bespoke components. A facility for the automated fabrication of high performance bespoke components: The project will create a new coordinated facility for composites research including modern automated infrastructure. The facility will bring Australia in line with leading international research centres and promote fundamental and applied research into a range of fields including underwater renewable energy systems, space vehicle structures, multifunctional and smart materials and infrastructure capacity extension. The facility will position Australian research for significant international collaboration through endorsement of next-generation manufacturing technology and enable leading outcomes for Australasian science and engineering in aerospace, marine, civil, automotive, renewable energy and primary resources.Read moreRead less
Aggressive corrosion of steel infrastructure in marine environments. Marine corrosion is known to be aggressive, but how aggressive it can be under long term exposures is the critical question for the safety and economics of much industrial infrastructure, including harbour, coastal and offshore oil industry facilities. Bacterial and microbiological activity is known to contribute. However, recent findings have observed very aggressive corrosion also under sterile and apparently benign condition ....Aggressive corrosion of steel infrastructure in marine environments. Marine corrosion is known to be aggressive, but how aggressive it can be under long term exposures is the critical question for the safety and economics of much industrial infrastructure, including harbour, coastal and offshore oil industry facilities. Bacterial and microbiological activity is known to contribute. However, recent findings have observed very aggressive corrosion also under sterile and apparently benign conditions. No theory to explain these observations currently exists. A new hypothesis is proposed that in certain circumstances second-phase constituents of steels will facilitate autocatalytic corrosion under anoxic conditions. This project investigates the problem and explores mechanisms and conditions. Read moreRead less
Long-term corrosion of offshore steel structures in near-stagnant seawater. This project investigates the seawater corrosion of structural steels under near-stagnant and possibly polluted conditions. Better understanding of long-term corrosion of structural steels in near-stagnant seawaters is needed to predict the safety of steel offshore structures such as the pods supporting wind and wave energy generators. Also, the expensive maintenance of protective coatings and systems could be obviated o ....Long-term corrosion of offshore steel structures in near-stagnant seawater. This project investigates the seawater corrosion of structural steels under near-stagnant and possibly polluted conditions. Better understanding of long-term corrosion of structural steels in near-stagnant seawaters is needed to predict the safety of steel offshore structures such as the pods supporting wind and wave energy generators. Also, the expensive maintenance of protective coatings and systems could be obviated or reduced if corrosion remains acceptable. This project plans to investigate experimentally the temporal development and stochastic nature of general corrosion and pitting for steels under actual near-stagnant seawater conditions. It also plans to build mathematical-probabilistic models for corrosion prediction, calibrated to field data. These models will include allowance for microbiological corrosion effects, important under anthropological pollution.Read moreRead less