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.
Next generation bioplastics: Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics from organic waste. Production of next generation bioplastics by using waste as a resource supports an environmentally sustainable Australia and provides wide-ranging commercial opportunities for Australian businesses. Fundamental research in this field will provide a platform for creation of an Australian Centre of Excellence in PHA bioplastics, which will play an integral role in progressing research on sustainab ....Next generation bioplastics: Production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) bioplastics from organic waste. Production of next generation bioplastics by using waste as a resource supports an environmentally sustainable Australia and provides wide-ranging commercial opportunities for Australian businesses. Fundamental research in this field will provide a platform for creation of an Australian Centre of Excellence in PHA bioplastics, which will play an integral role in progressing research on sustainable materials development. The project will provide training and PhD education in environmental biotechnology, and direct commercial benefits to Australia by the development of significant Intellectual Property and linkage between an Australian University and leading players in environment technology commercialisation.Read moreRead less
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
Development of design guidelines for recycled plastic material and structural components. It is estimated that by 2010 over 1.2 million tonnes of plastic will be used annually by Australians of which only 3% is currently recycled. Preliminary testing of recycled plastic products has demonstrated their potential usefulness in structural engineering applications. However, the lack of guidelines suitable for advanced applications of recycled plastic is limiting the growth of this technology. This p ....Development of design guidelines for recycled plastic material and structural components. It is estimated that by 2010 over 1.2 million tonnes of plastic will be used annually by Australians of which only 3% is currently recycled. Preliminary testing of recycled plastic products has demonstrated their potential usefulness in structural engineering applications. However, the lack of guidelines suitable for advanced applications of recycled plastic is limiting the growth of this technology. This project aims to develop a set of rational guidelines for the testing, analysis and design of recycled plastic material and structural components that will enable the continued expansion of this technology, significantly reducing waste plastic.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
Development of structural-functional integrated concrete. This project seeks to create a structural concrete to control indoor temperature using thermal energy storage aggregates (TESA). Such concrete would improve indoor comfort without human intervention and significantly reduce the energy consumed in heating and cooling. TESA concrete is made of porous lightweight aggregate impregnated with phase-change materials. The aim of this project is to investigate and optimise the structural and funct ....Development of structural-functional integrated concrete. This project seeks to create a structural concrete to control indoor temperature using thermal energy storage aggregates (TESA). Such concrete would improve indoor comfort without human intervention and significantly reduce the energy consumed in heating and cooling. TESA concrete is made of porous lightweight aggregate impregnated with phase-change materials. The aim of this project is to investigate and optimise the structural and functional performance of TESA concrete. In particular, it aims to reveal the microstructure, mechanical, thermal, durability properties of TESA concrete and ways to optimise its overall performance. This knowledge would provide a solid foundation for the numerical simulation of TESA concrete and its use in engineering applications.Read moreRead less
Optimising Decentralised Membrane Bioreactors for Water Reuse. Water is a critical resource in Australia and as pressures on water resources increase, water recycling has emerged as an important component of water management practises throughout Australia. Decentralised wastewater treatment systems (or package plants) offer opportunities for water recycling in regional communities; however this application is limited by our understanding on the removal of contaminants of concern through these tr ....Optimising Decentralised Membrane Bioreactors for Water Reuse. Water is a critical resource in Australia and as pressures on water resources increase, water recycling has emerged as an important component of water management practises throughout Australia. Decentralised wastewater treatment systems (or package plants) offer opportunities for water recycling in regional communities; however this application is limited by our understanding on the removal of contaminants of concern through these treatment systems. This project will assess the suitability and efficiency of decentralised membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for the removal of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) and pathogens in accordance with the 2006 National Guidelines for Water Recycling.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0883080
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$490,000.00
Summary
Detection of Trace Concentrations of Chemical Contaminants in Urban Water Systems. Water is a critical resource in Australia and as pressures on water resources increase, water recycling is becoming more prevalent. The presence of chemical contaminants such as low concentrations (ng/L) of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs), endocrine disrupters (EDCs) and other organic micropollutants in the aquatic environment has received much attention around the world including Australia due to their ....Detection of Trace Concentrations of Chemical Contaminants in Urban Water Systems. Water is a critical resource in Australia and as pressures on water resources increase, water recycling is becoming more prevalent. The presence of chemical contaminants such as low concentrations (ng/L) of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs), endocrine disrupters (EDCs) and other organic micropollutants in the aquatic environment has received much attention around the world including Australia due to their potential biological impact in urban water systems. The proposed equipment aims to establish analytical techniques and instrumental capacity for the selective analysis of chemical contaminants in order to improve our understanding of the fate of these compounds through different urban water systems.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