Friction and contact in soil-structure-interaction. Frictional contact, which occurs at soil-structure interfaces, has a major influence on the behaviour of many civil engineering structures such as building foundations and soil anchor systems. To better understand this phenomenon, new theoretical models and solution algorithms are needed to simulate soil-structure interaction. This project aims to develop these models and algorithms. Its outcomes will lead to improved prediction methods and bet ....Friction and contact in soil-structure-interaction. Frictional contact, which occurs at soil-structure interfaces, has a major influence on the behaviour of many civil engineering structures such as building foundations and soil anchor systems. To better understand this phenomenon, new theoretical models and solution algorithms are needed to simulate soil-structure interaction. This project aims to develop these models and algorithms. Its outcomes will lead to improved prediction methods and better geotechnical design strategies.Read moreRead less
FRICTION AND CONTACT IN SOIL-STRUCTURE INTERACTION AT LARGE DEFORMATION. The proposed research addresses the fundamental mechanics of contact for a wide range of civil engineering structures such as piles, retaining walls, and soil anchors. Piles and anchors are essential parts of off-shore platforms which, in turn, are key elements of the Australian oil and gas industry. The numerical tool the project aims to develop is capable of analysing the entire process of installation and loading of a pi ....FRICTION AND CONTACT IN SOIL-STRUCTURE INTERACTION AT LARGE DEFORMATION. The proposed research addresses the fundamental mechanics of contact for a wide range of civil engineering structures such as piles, retaining walls, and soil anchors. Piles and anchors are essential parts of off-shore platforms which, in turn, are key elements of the Australian oil and gas industry. The numerical tool the project aims to develop is capable of analysing the entire process of installation and loading of a pile foundation. Such a tool does not currently exist and will result in safer and cheaper geotechnical design. The methods developed in this project can also be extended to study human joints and joint replacements.Read moreRead less
Micro-macro modelling of collapse problems in geomaterials by strain gradient plasticity. The proposed research aims to improve our fundamental understanding of the collapse of geomaterials, which is directly related to the failure of offshore structures, mining operations, tunnels, cuttings and foundations. The advanced mathematical model developed will be capable of accurately predicting the collapse of geomaterials and will be founded on measurable microscopic information. The fruits of the r ....Micro-macro modelling of collapse problems in geomaterials by strain gradient plasticity. The proposed research aims to improve our fundamental understanding of the collapse of geomaterials, which is directly related to the failure of offshore structures, mining operations, tunnels, cuttings and foundations. The advanced mathematical model developed will be capable of accurately predicting the collapse of geomaterials and will be founded on measurable microscopic information. The fruits of the research will be implemented in an advanced nonlinear finite element program, and will lead to safer and more cost-effective designs for a wide range of geostructures.Read moreRead less
Rigorous Three Dimensional Plasticity Solutions for Soil and Rock Slopes. Slope failures and landslides are a persistent cause of economic loss in Australia. Damages resulting from landslides include both property damage and loss of life. One such recent catastrophic slope failure is the landslide that occurred at Thredbo Village in New South Wales in 1997. This monumental landslide resulted in the deaths of 18 people and was considered by the coroner as the worst natural disaster in Australian ....Rigorous Three Dimensional Plasticity Solutions for Soil and Rock Slopes. Slope failures and landslides are a persistent cause of economic loss in Australia. Damages resulting from landslides include both property damage and loss of life. One such recent catastrophic slope failure is the landslide that occurred at Thredbo Village in New South Wales in 1997. This monumental landslide resulted in the deaths of 18 people and was considered by the coroner as the worst natural disaster in Australian history. The primary aim of this research project is to apply recently developed computational tools to better understand 3D slope behaviour and to develop rigorous stability solutions that can be used by design engineers. A better understanding of 3D slope failure will lead to more economic and safer slope designs.Read moreRead less
Variational Plasticity Models and Algorithms for Frictional Geomaterials. Although the proposed project makes use of a number of advanced concepts in mathematics, thermodynamics, and numerical analysis, and in this way could be labelled 'theoretical', its main ambition is to formulate models and methods that are much more practical than the ones currently in use. Ultimately, this will result in cheaper and safer designs of both standard and non-standard geotechnical structures. The project build ....Variational Plasticity Models and Algorithms for Frictional Geomaterials. Although the proposed project makes use of a number of advanced concepts in mathematics, thermodynamics, and numerical analysis, and in this way could be labelled 'theoretical', its main ambition is to formulate models and methods that are much more practical than the ones currently in use. Ultimately, this will result in cheaper and safer designs of both standard and non-standard geotechnical structures. The project builds on and extends the tradition which has been established in Australia over the past 15-20 years of applying mathematical programming methods to plasticity problems, many of these in the field of geotechnical engineering.Read moreRead less
STATIC AND DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF SATURATED AND UNSATURATED SOILS. Engineering structures such as buildings, highways, tunnels, dams, slopes and offshore oil platforms are all constructed on or in soils. The ability to predict the response of these materials under static and dynamic loading is therefore of major importance in civil engineering design, but is complicated by the fact they are typically unsaturated with nonlinear, inhomogeneous, and anisotropic properties. This project aims to formula ....STATIC AND DYNAMIC ANALYSIS OF SATURATED AND UNSATURATED SOILS. Engineering structures such as buildings, highways, tunnels, dams, slopes and offshore oil platforms are all constructed on or in soils. The ability to predict the response of these materials under static and dynamic loading is therefore of major importance in civil engineering design, but is complicated by the fact they are typically unsaturated with nonlinear, inhomogeneous, and anisotropic properties. This project aims to formulate and implement new computational tools for predicting the load-deformation behaviour of unsaturated soils, and will also involve experimental work and simulations of field data. The long term objective is to develop advanced methods that can be used by practising engineers, thereby leading to improved engineering design and reduced construction costs.Read moreRead less
Upper Bound Shakedown Analysis for Geotechnical Applications. To design many geotechnical structures, engineers need to estimate the maximum load that can be sustained under cyclic conditions without causing large permanent deformations (incremental collapse). This quantity is used to deduce the allowable design load and is therefore crucial in maximising safety and minimising costs. The chief aim of this project is to develop a new method for predicting the maximum load that a structure can s ....Upper Bound Shakedown Analysis for Geotechnical Applications. To design many geotechnical structures, engineers need to estimate the maximum load that can be sustained under cyclic conditions without causing large permanent deformations (incremental collapse). This quantity is used to deduce the allowable design load and is therefore crucial in maximising safety and minimising costs. The chief aim of this project is to develop a new method for predicting the maximum load that a structure can sustain under cyclic conditions without undergoing incremental collapse. It will be applicable to a wide range of geotechnical engineering problems including pavements, offshore foundations, compacted soils, and cyclically loaded foundations.Read moreRead less
Unsaturated soil mechanics and risk assessment for mine waste management. Acid mine drainage from mine wastes has caused detrimental environmental impacts in Australia and is recognised as one of the largest environmental liabilities facing the mining industry. Mining companies have to lodge hundreds of million dollars in bonds for perpetual treatment of potential environmental impacts. Federal and state regulations require mine wastes being managed in accordance with the 'current best practica ....Unsaturated soil mechanics and risk assessment for mine waste management. Acid mine drainage from mine wastes has caused detrimental environmental impacts in Australia and is recognised as one of the largest environmental liabilities facing the mining industry. Mining companies have to lodge hundreds of million dollars in bonds for perpetual treatment of potential environmental impacts. Federal and state regulations require mine wastes being managed in accordance with the 'current best practicable technology', which generally requires the placement of a soil cover over a waste deposit. The outcome of this project can assist the design of cost-effective site rehabilitation plans, which are crucial for sustainable development of the Australian mining industry.Read moreRead less
Microstructure-Based Computational Homogenization of Geomaterials. This project seeks to establish a basis for virtual testing of materials. This type of non-destructive testing has numerous applications of obvious benefit to society and will contribute to the continued growth and development of a large number of industries in Australia and worldwide. The methods developed will allow for cheaper, faster, and more accurate testing of materials. The outcomes of the project can find direct applicat ....Microstructure-Based Computational Homogenization of Geomaterials. This project seeks to establish a basis for virtual testing of materials. This type of non-destructive testing has numerous applications of obvious benefit to society and will contribute to the continued growth and development of a large number of industries in Australia and worldwide. The methods developed will allow for cheaper, faster, and more accurate testing of materials. The outcomes of the project can find direct application in civil engineering as well as in environmental, mining and petroleum engineering which together make up a significant portion of the nation's industry.Read moreRead less
Limit and shakedown analyses allowing for limited ductility. The integrity assessment of structures by direct methods, founded on limit and shakedown concepts, provides vital information about their failure loads. This project aims at overcoming a severe shortcoming of such approaches by incorporating the effects of limited ductility into the analyses. Novel formulations and efficient algorithms will be developed. These tools will be used to provide a better understanding of the implications of ....Limit and shakedown analyses allowing for limited ductility. The integrity assessment of structures by direct methods, founded on limit and shakedown concepts, provides vital information about their failure loads. This project aims at overcoming a severe shortcoming of such approaches by incorporating the effects of limited ductility into the analyses. Novel formulations and efficient algorithms will be developed. These tools will be used to provide a better understanding of the implications of limited ductility, vital to a proper safety assessment of limited ductility structures under complex loadings. Such a capability is important in infrastructure design as well as in such strategic areas as the aeronautical technologies.Read moreRead less