Viscous Effects in Free-Surface Flows. Australia has a proud record of achievement in the field of free-surface fluid mechanics. This project will build and extend these research achievements. It will provide new information about how fluid layers overturn and mix, which is an important process in oceanography. It will examine the sloshing behaviour of fluid in moving storage tanks, which is important in fuel transport and building design. The project will develop new mathematical methods fo ....Viscous Effects in Free-Surface Flows. Australia has a proud record of achievement in the field of free-surface fluid mechanics. This project will build and extend these research achievements. It will provide new information about how fluid layers overturn and mix, which is an important process in oceanography. It will examine the sloshing behaviour of fluid in moving storage tanks, which is important in fuel transport and building design. The project will develop new mathematical methods for solving these problems accurately, and will contribute to the next generation of research mathematicians in Australia. Read moreRead less
Structure and informatics of the genetic code. Recent advances in biotechnology have seen its emergence as a highly
quantitative, numerically-based discipline. To exploit the available
data to the full will require, alongside computing power, new
analytical techniques. This project aims to develop such techniques,
by handling the systematics of the genetic code with methods derived
from theoretical physics and chemistry. Expected outcomes include a
dynamical (quantum field theory) model ....Structure and informatics of the genetic code. Recent advances in biotechnology have seen its emergence as a highly
quantitative, numerically-based discipline. To exploit the available
data to the full will require, alongside computing power, new
analytical techniques. This project aims to develop such techniques,
by handling the systematics of the genetic code with methods derived
from theoretical physics and chemistry. Expected outcomes include a
dynamical (quantum field theory) model of phylogenetic branching,
analyses of nucleic acid structure and content (spin chain models of
RNA binding and of DNA open reading frames), and insights into the
origin of the code itself (via numerical codon similarity measures).
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Outflows, Jets and Plumes. This project studies how fluid flows out from a small concentrated object into a second surrounding fluid. New solution methods will be provided, and new results about how these fluid flows evolve will be obtained. These are important problems with significance in modelling underwater explosions. They are also important in astrophysics, and will help explain the shapes of outflows from some stars or galaxies. The outcomes of the project will be a deeper mathematical un ....Outflows, Jets and Plumes. This project studies how fluid flows out from a small concentrated object into a second surrounding fluid. New solution methods will be provided, and new results about how these fluid flows evolve will be obtained. These are important problems with significance in modelling underwater explosions. They are also important in astrophysics, and will help explain the shapes of outflows from some stars or galaxies. The outcomes of the project will be a deeper mathematical understanding of which outflow shapes are stable, and under what circumstances they might become unstable. This will provide valuable information about galaxy shapes, and a new suite of computational methods for solving such problems.Read moreRead less
Investigation into flow over complex topography and escarpments for wind turbine siting using experimental and computational methods. This project will improve national capability to optimise power production from wind turbine farms in complex terrain by improving the understanding of the flow regime. By better understanding separated regions and the turbulent structures within these regions power production can be optimised and fatigue risks associated with turbine positioning in complex sites ....Investigation into flow over complex topography and escarpments for wind turbine siting using experimental and computational methods. This project will improve national capability to optimise power production from wind turbine farms in complex terrain by improving the understanding of the flow regime. By better understanding separated regions and the turbulent structures within these regions power production can be optimised and fatigue risks associated with turbine positioning in complex sites can be reduced. This will improve confidence in wind farm site assessment techniques and consequently reduce economic risks associated with current wind farm viability assessments. By increasing national capacity to generate clean energy stationary energy emissions can be reduced. This project will also deliver high calibre graduates that will be potential future industry leaders.Read moreRead less
Tailoring composite propellers for reduced sound radiation. This project aims to explore the generation of noise by composite propellers and to use this understanding to tailor the composite properties to reduce underwater noise. Propellers are a harmful source of noise in the marine environment, disturbing animal behaviour, revealing the location of naval vessels and interfering with sonar operation. Adaptive composite propellers are potentially quieter than metal propellers, as well as offerin ....Tailoring composite propellers for reduced sound radiation. This project aims to explore the generation of noise by composite propellers and to use this understanding to tailor the composite properties to reduce underwater noise. Propellers are a harmful source of noise in the marine environment, disturbing animal behaviour, revealing the location of naval vessels and interfering with sonar operation. Adaptive composite propellers are potentially quieter than metal propellers, as well as offering improvements in efficiency and fuel consumption. The aims of this project are to understand the physical mechanisms associated with composite propeller noise generation. The outcomes are intended to provide advanced numerical capabilities that will support the development of quieter marine propeller designs to improve defence capability and the acoustic environment for marine mammals.Read moreRead less
Markov invariants and phylogenetic tree reconstruction. The project will assist Australia to progress as an innovator in the production phylogenetic tree reconstruction techniques.
Identifying species is a difficult task with environmental, social and economic benefits to Australia. DNA evidence and phylogenetic methods clearly achieve this task. Conservation of rare species depends upon identification and hence robust phylogenetic analysis. Phylogenetically identifying fish species has econom ....Markov invariants and phylogenetic tree reconstruction. The project will assist Australia to progress as an innovator in the production phylogenetic tree reconstruction techniques.
Identifying species is a difficult task with environmental, social and economic benefits to Australia. DNA evidence and phylogenetic methods clearly achieve this task. Conservation of rare species depends upon identification and hence robust phylogenetic analysis. Phylogenetically identifying fish species has economic importance as different fish species are all managed separately, having different catch limits, catch areas and market values. Using effective phylogenetic methods, epidemiologists can track the spread of a disease through a population. Read moreRead less
An efficient approach to the computation of bacterial evolutionary distance. This project aims to apply advanced mathematical tools to improve our understanding of bacterial evolution. Bacteria account for as much total Earth biomass as all plant species put together, and have an unparalleled ability to evolve quickly and adapt to changing environments. Unfortunately, the existing mathematical models used to model bacterial evolution are generally computationally intractable. This project will r ....An efficient approach to the computation of bacterial evolutionary distance. This project aims to apply advanced mathematical tools to improve our understanding of bacterial evolution. Bacteria account for as much total Earth biomass as all plant species put together, and have an unparalleled ability to evolve quickly and adapt to changing environments. Unfortunately, the existing mathematical models used to model bacterial evolution are generally computationally intractable. This project will rectify this situation by using representation theory to transform combinatorial group theory into linear algebra, allowing for the application of advanced methods of numeric approximation. This will provide a better understanding of how bacteria evolve and improve our ability to manage their impact.Read moreRead less
Building Australia's next-generation ocean-sea ice model. Ocean and sea ice models are used for predicting future ocean and climate states, and for climate process research. This project aims to bring the next generation of ocean-sea ice models to Australia and configure the models for our local priorities. The ultimate goal is to create a new coupled ocean-sea ice model for Australia that includes surface waves and biogeochemistry. The model will be optimised and evaluated on Australian facilit ....Building Australia's next-generation ocean-sea ice model. Ocean and sea ice models are used for predicting future ocean and climate states, and for climate process research. This project aims to bring the next generation of ocean-sea ice models to Australia and configure the models for our local priorities. The ultimate goal is to create a new coupled ocean-sea ice model for Australia that includes surface waves and biogeochemistry. The model will be optimised and evaluated on Australian facilities, and released for community use. These developments underpin future ocean state forecasts, sea ice forecasts, wave forecasts, decadal climate prediction and climate process studies. The project will benefit search and rescue, Defence and shipping operations, and will enhance future climate projections.Read moreRead less
Switchable and stereocontrolled photoredox catalysis. This project aims to develop new catalytic synthetic reactions for the rapid and more direct functionalisation of organic compounds under mild conditions with the use of visible light. An integrated experimental and computational approach will be used to design potent visible-light photocatalysts that retain the advantages of standard photoredox catalysis but with the added ability to intercept and, thus control, reactive intermediates in sit ....Switchable and stereocontrolled photoredox catalysis. This project aims to develop new catalytic synthetic reactions for the rapid and more direct functionalisation of organic compounds under mild conditions with the use of visible light. An integrated experimental and computational approach will be used to design potent visible-light photocatalysts that retain the advantages of standard photoredox catalysis but with the added ability to intercept and, thus control, reactive intermediates in situ. This will enable the control of stereochemistry in photoredox reactions – not possible with standard catalysts - and establish other useful synthetic transformations. These strategies will make it easier to prepare valuable classes of organic molecules – efficiently, safely, and cost-effectively.
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Binuclear palladium motifs in synthetic transformations. Reactions involving palladium compounds with organic reagents are important for synthesis of new materials, pharmaceuticals, and molecules of value in medical research. This project will provide a better understanding of applications of palladium in these fields, and structural features of compounds containing chemical bonds linking metal atoms.