Portable three-dimensional ultra-low field MRI. This project aims to address low signal-to-noise ratio in ultra-low-field (ULF) MRI, using dynamic, mechanically-operated small permanent magnet arrays to generate magnetic fields needed for pre-polarisation and spatial encoding. Superconducting magnets make conventional MRI scanners too heavy and expensive for much of the world’s population. ULF MRI instruments offer image contrast mechanisms, are less costly and potentially portable, so can be us ....Portable three-dimensional ultra-low field MRI. This project aims to address low signal-to-noise ratio in ultra-low-field (ULF) MRI, using dynamic, mechanically-operated small permanent magnet arrays to generate magnetic fields needed for pre-polarisation and spatial encoding. Superconducting magnets make conventional MRI scanners too heavy and expensive for much of the world’s population. ULF MRI instruments offer image contrast mechanisms, are less costly and potentially portable, so can be used in unconventional situations. This project will design, construct and evaluate an instrument capable of three-dimensional 3D ULF-MRI. This technology is expected to be useable in field hospitals and emergency settings, and to benefit fields including magnetic refrigeration and remote sensing.Read moreRead less
Breathing and snoring sound analysis in sleep apnea. About 800,000 Australians suffer from the disease sleep Apnoea (OSA) which has snoring as its earliest symptom. We develop electronics and snore processing algorithms to classify snorers into OSA-positive and OSA-negative classes, based on advanced technology derived from speech recognition systems.
Spatio-temporal activation of genes in cells and mice. This project aims to develop novel genetic methods and instrumentation for the local, rapid and reversible activation of genes in cells and mice. This project expects to generate highly innovative light- and sound-based technologies that will permit to study living systems on the gene-level with unprecedented precision. Expected outcomes include new research and technology capacity to broadly address fundamental biological questions and to c ....Spatio-temporal activation of genes in cells and mice. This project aims to develop novel genetic methods and instrumentation for the local, rapid and reversible activation of genes in cells and mice. This project expects to generate highly innovative light- and sound-based technologies that will permit to study living systems on the gene-level with unprecedented precision. Expected outcomes include new research and technology capacity to broadly address fundamental biological questions and to create new applied processes. This project intends to provide significant benefits, such as enhanced knowledge generation, multidisciplinary training opportunities and patentable technologies.Read moreRead less
Understanding the fate and transport of selected biomarkers in sewers. This project aims to improve estimates of population drug use and chemical exposure by systematically studying the fate of drugs, organic pollutants (e.g. pesticides) and human biomarkers in sewers. The project aims to combine advanced experimental sewer research facilities with an analytical set-up and modelling expertise to address critical gaps in our knowledge of the fate of chemicals in sewers. The information could be u ....Understanding the fate and transport of selected biomarkers in sewers. This project aims to improve estimates of population drug use and chemical exposure by systematically studying the fate of drugs, organic pollutants (e.g. pesticides) and human biomarkers in sewers. The project aims to combine advanced experimental sewer research facilities with an analytical set-up and modelling expertise to address critical gaps in our knowledge of the fate of chemicals in sewers. The information could be used to provide accurate, cost-effective and near real-time estimates of chemicals entering the sewer system which could allow us to better estimate changes in population drug use, chemical exposure and health status.Read moreRead less
Final frontier in computational modelling of movement. This project aims to create the computational models and methods needed to advance current understanding of musculoskeletal function during movement. Humans must maintain their capacity to move in order to maintain quality-of-life. Predictive modelling is potentially the most powerful approach for understanding musculoskeletal function during movement. Current computational methods are too slow and unreliable to deliver predictive simulation ....Final frontier in computational modelling of movement. This project aims to create the computational models and methods needed to advance current understanding of musculoskeletal function during movement. Humans must maintain their capacity to move in order to maintain quality-of-life. Predictive modelling is potentially the most powerful approach for understanding musculoskeletal function during movement. Current computational methods are too slow and unreliable to deliver predictive simulations of movement using realistic models of muscle and joint anatomy. This project expects to create the next generation of methods and algorithms needed to enable predictive modelling of movement. Predictive simulations will provide new insights into how muscles stabilise and control movements of the spine, pelvis and lower limbs during daily activities such as walking.Read moreRead less
Computational fracture analysis of structures and materials. This project aims to develop a computer simulation technique to address the safety of engineering structures. A novel numerical framework based on the scaled boundary finite element method will be developed to model the fracture process critical to assessing structural integrity. The expected outcomes of this project include an innovative technology for numerical simulation and improved capabilities to generate high-fidelity predictio ....Computational fracture analysis of structures and materials. This project aims to develop a computer simulation technique to address the safety of engineering structures. A novel numerical framework based on the scaled boundary finite element method will be developed to model the fracture process critical to assessing structural integrity. The expected outcomes of this project include an innovative technology for numerical simulation and improved capabilities to generate high-fidelity predictions of structural safety at minimum human efforts. The fully automatic and robust numerical tool developed in this project will help engineers and government authorities to perform safe and cost-effective design and management of engineering structures that are vital to modern economies.Read moreRead less
Progressive collapse resistance of concrete flat plate structures. This project aims to systematically and thoroughly investigate the progressive collapse mechanisms and resistance capacity of concrete flat plate structures. They represent one of the most common construction systems used worldwide in modern days, yet their progressive collapse mechanisms require attention and limited collapse prevention design guidelines are available. The outcomes are expected to broaden and deepen the existing ....Progressive collapse resistance of concrete flat plate structures. This project aims to systematically and thoroughly investigate the progressive collapse mechanisms and resistance capacity of concrete flat plate structures. They represent one of the most common construction systems used worldwide in modern days, yet their progressive collapse mechanisms require attention and limited collapse prevention design guidelines are available. The outcomes are expected to broaden and deepen the existing theoretical framework and knowledge base, prevent injury and loss of life in both new and existing buildings. This is expected ultimately to contribute to the establishment of a set of collapse-resistant design guidelines for further development of relevant Australian and international standards.Read moreRead less
Unified nondeterministic dynamic safety assessment of softening structures. This project aims to develop a high-performance tool for the dynamic safety assessment of softening structures. The assessment of structures that exhibit softening, either at constitutive level or structural level, is essential for design and rehabilitation purposes, especially when the inevitable uncertainties in the system parameters need to be accounted for. This project aims to develop an advanced and unified framewo ....Unified nondeterministic dynamic safety assessment of softening structures. This project aims to develop a high-performance tool for the dynamic safety assessment of softening structures. The assessment of structures that exhibit softening, either at constitutive level or structural level, is essential for design and rehabilitation purposes, especially when the inevitable uncertainties in the system parameters need to be accounted for. This project aims to develop an advanced and unified framework that can model both stochastic and nonstochastic processes for these purposes. An advanced mixed finite element model underpins this framework, and both formulation and solution algorithms are based on mathematical programming formalism. The developed computational tool would be able to perform pure stochastic, pure nonstochastic, hybrid uncertain analyses and dynamic reliability assessment of structures.Read moreRead less
Three-dimensional contact and fracture analysis for safety assessment of structures. This project aims to address the safety assessment of engineering structures considering interfaces and cracks, which are nearly always the weakest parts of a structure system. Novel numerical approaches to model the contact of interfaces and crack faces and to simulate crack propagation under variable loads will be established based on the scaled boundary polytope elements and mathematical programming. It is an ....Three-dimensional contact and fracture analysis for safety assessment of structures. This project aims to address the safety assessment of engineering structures considering interfaces and cracks, which are nearly always the weakest parts of a structure system. Novel numerical approaches to model the contact of interfaces and crack faces and to simulate crack propagation under variable loads will be established based on the scaled boundary polytope elements and mathematical programming. It is anticipated that the developed numerical simulation tool will be robust and fully automatic. The intended outcome of this project is an innovative technology for numerical simulation and a rational predictive tool useful for cost-effective and timely planning, design and management of engineering structures.Read moreRead less
Stochastic geometrically nonlinear elasto-plastic buckling and behaviour of curved grid-like structures. It is vital to assess the safety of large spatially curved-complex structures for design and rehabilitation purposes when the inevitable uncertainties in structural parameters and loads are addressed. This project aims to develop an advanced stochastic framework for three-dimensional nonlinear elasto-plastic behaviour and buckling analysis of curved grid-like structures. A rational and powerf ....Stochastic geometrically nonlinear elasto-plastic buckling and behaviour of curved grid-like structures. It is vital to assess the safety of large spatially curved-complex structures for design and rehabilitation purposes when the inevitable uncertainties in structural parameters and loads are addressed. This project aims to develop an advanced stochastic framework for three-dimensional nonlinear elasto-plastic behaviour and buckling analysis of curved grid-like structures. A rational and powerful stochastic nonlinear elasto-plastic finite element model will be proposed to account for the random high-order geometric nonlinearity and material elasto-plasticity. Novel formulations and effective algorithms will also be devised for stochastic nonlinear analytical analysis. An efficient tool will be developed for reliability assessment of the class of structures.Read moreRead less