Durability of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) strengthened steel structures against environment-assisted degradation. This research project will challenge conventional methods of repairing or strengthening steel structures by using carbon fibre reinforced polymer with advanced epoxy. The outcome of this research is to remove the biggest barrier to the full utilization of such advanced material in civil, offshore and mining industry.
Hybrid Construction using Seawater, Sea Sand and Fibre Reinforced Polymer. Conventional concrete is made using fresh water and river sand. This project aims to develop a novel hybrid construction system using seawater, sea sand and industrial waste, together with fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) and stainless steel (SS), for use in civil engineering infrastructure in marine environments. To date there has been little work to understand the degradation kinetics and mechanisms of FRP and SS in such ....Hybrid Construction using Seawater, Sea Sand and Fibre Reinforced Polymer. Conventional concrete is made using fresh water and river sand. This project aims to develop a novel hybrid construction system using seawater, sea sand and industrial waste, together with fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) and stainless steel (SS), for use in civil engineering infrastructure in marine environments. To date there has been little work to understand the degradation kinetics and mechanisms of FRP and SS in such complicated corrosive environments. The project plans to provide a design methodology to ensure confidence in the safety of critical infrastructure such as bridges, highways, dams, airports, offshore piles and artificial islands. The proposed system would save fresh water and reduce damage to river ecosystems, carbon dioxide emissions and construction costs.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453915
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$280,917.00
Summary
Furnace to Test Nano-Geopolymers under Extreme Fire Loading. The deleterious effects of extreme fire on structures (e.g. buildings) are significant, whereby structures are designed to ensure that they do not collapse during fire causing human loss. At high temperatures, materials like concrete lose strength and deteriorate. There is a need in Australia for a shared furnace facility between collaborating Institutions to test, share knowledge and expertise, and compare advanced geopolymer materia ....Furnace to Test Nano-Geopolymers under Extreme Fire Loading. The deleterious effects of extreme fire on structures (e.g. buildings) are significant, whereby structures are designed to ensure that they do not collapse during fire causing human loss. At high temperatures, materials like concrete lose strength and deteriorate. There is a need in Australia for a shared furnace facility between collaborating Institutions to test, share knowledge and expertise, and compare advanced geopolymer materials to different types of concrete when exposed to extreme fire and temperature (e.g. hydrocarbon fire). Geopolymers material offer fire resistance potential, but this needs to be quantified and linked to microstructure prior to commercial acceptance.Read moreRead less
CFRP (Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer) Strengthening of Steel Structures. The research will produce a breakthrough in understanding the bond characteristics between CFRP and steel. It will develop strengthening techniques for steel structures. The project will contribute to improved cost effectiveness and safety of steel structures thereby contributing to the socio-economic well-being of Australia including the road, offshore, building and mining industries. It will increase the international co ....CFRP (Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer) Strengthening of Steel Structures. The research will produce a breakthrough in understanding the bond characteristics between CFRP and steel. It will develop strengthening techniques for steel structures. The project will contribute to improved cost effectiveness and safety of steel structures thereby contributing to the socio-economic well-being of Australia including the road, offshore, building and mining industries. It will increase the international competitiveness of the Australian steel industry and Australia's infrastructure maintenance capability. Furthermore, Australia will be better positioned for potential technology transfer to Asian countries in this technical area.Read moreRead less
Optimising dissolved air flotation (DAF) for algae removal by bubble modification in drinking water and advanced wastewater systems. Algal blooms in potable water reservoirs and advanced wastewater treatment lagoons can impact the performance and economic viability of water treatment processes resulting in taste and odour episodes and the risk of algal toxins as well as causing further limitation to already stressed water resources in Australia. This project aims to develop an adaptation of the ....Optimising dissolved air flotation (DAF) for algae removal by bubble modification in drinking water and advanced wastewater systems. Algal blooms in potable water reservoirs and advanced wastewater treatment lagoons can impact the performance and economic viability of water treatment processes resulting in taste and odour episodes and the risk of algal toxins as well as causing further limitation to already stressed water resources in Australia. This project aims to develop an adaptation of the dissolved air flotation process that is already used for algae treatment that will provide a more robust, economic and sustainable barrier to algal cells in accordance with the Australian Drinking and Recycled Water Guidelines.Read moreRead less
Bridge performance assessment through advanced sensing and modelling. Bridge performance assessment through advanced sensing and modelling. This project aims to create cyber infrastructure to manage and maintain civil infrastructure, specifically bridges. Current sensor data interpretation approaches are not good at assessing the performance of civil infrastructure or evaluating the reserve capacity; in particular, they do not adequately account for high levels of systematic modelling uncertaint ....Bridge performance assessment through advanced sensing and modelling. Bridge performance assessment through advanced sensing and modelling. This project aims to create cyber infrastructure to manage and maintain civil infrastructure, specifically bridges. Current sensor data interpretation approaches are not good at assessing the performance of civil infrastructure or evaluating the reserve capacity; in particular, they do not adequately account for high levels of systematic modelling uncertainties. This project intends to ease the current scientific data interpretation bottleneck. Expected outcomes are better infrastructure management and maintenance planning, fewer redundant interventions, modified infrastructure and improved future design.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100023
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$500,000.00
Summary
Integrated command and control facility for large-scale critical infrastructure management. This is a test bed facility for achieving sustainable operation of Australia's critical infrastructure, particularly at airports. The facility will enable an integrated and coordinated strategy to increase operational resilience while not losing sight of the complex nature and dynamic requirements of critical infrastructure management.
Sustainability of water and wastewater treatment chemicals. In recent years, the environmental design and management of water and wastewater treatment facilities has broadened from consideration of water quality outcomes to include the environmental consequences of energy and material inputs. This has produced nationally agreed approaches to estimating greenhouse gas emissions from power consumption, but for important chemical additives analysts are forced to work with low-quality estimated dat ....Sustainability of water and wastewater treatment chemicals. In recent years, the environmental design and management of water and wastewater treatment facilities has broadened from consideration of water quality outcomes to include the environmental consequences of energy and material inputs. This has produced nationally agreed approaches to estimating greenhouse gas emissions from power consumption, but for important chemical additives analysts are forced to work with low-quality estimated data. In a time when society wants to account for the 'carbon-footprint' of decisions and more broadly consider the resources used and emissions produced by industry, this research will make this quantitatively possible for chemicals used in water and wastewater treatment.Read moreRead less
Improved Landfill Barrier Design for Changing Climates. The proposed research project will develop advanced methods and guidelines for practising engineers for improved engineering and design of waste containment barrier systems, leading to improved protection of groundwater resources and the environment and sustainable development of the country. The project will contribute to the priority area of building an environmentally sustainable Australia with a specific focus on water as a critical re ....Improved Landfill Barrier Design for Changing Climates. The proposed research project will develop advanced methods and guidelines for practising engineers for improved engineering and design of waste containment barrier systems, leading to improved protection of groundwater resources and the environment and sustainable development of the country. The project will contribute to the priority area of building an environmentally sustainable Australia with a specific focus on water as a critical resource.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE130100028
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$300,000.00
Summary
A national facility for in situ testing of soft soils. A mobile in situ testing laboratory will permit the investigation of devices for measuring geotechnical conditions on soft and swampy sites which are often being encountered on key infrastructure projects. The new facility will improve the modelling and testing of soft soils and ensure the safe and economic development of Australian infrastructure.