High-Grade CO2 Concrete for Low Life-Cycle Costing and Emissions. This proposal solves Australia’s concrete-waste-storage problems, and lowers the life-cycle costs and greenhouse-gas emissions by creating CO2 Concrete as a world-first material for high-grade applications. Using an automation system with high-tech software, innovative mixing techniques are proposed to maximise bonding at interfacial transition zones, strengthening CO2 Concrete's quality. The new material CO2 Concrete is created, ....High-Grade CO2 Concrete for Low Life-Cycle Costing and Emissions. This proposal solves Australia’s concrete-waste-storage problems, and lowers the life-cycle costs and greenhouse-gas emissions by creating CO2 Concrete as a world-first material for high-grade applications. Using an automation system with high-tech software, innovative mixing techniques are proposed to maximise bonding at interfacial transition zones, strengthening CO2 Concrete's quality. The new material CO2 Concrete is created, whose strength and durability are comparable to virgin concrete's, leading to new CO2-Concrete specifications for trials in the construction industry. This diversifies the construction industry, reduces landfill area, greening up Australia on a global scale.Read moreRead less
Evaluating potential static liquefaction of tailings to prevent failures. This project aims to reduce risk in the mining industry from failing mine tailings by producing a methodology for predicting the susceptibility of these tailings to static liquefaction. The impact of a mine tailing failure is catastrophic to the downstream community. The project brings together a number of industry partners committed to assisting with verification and adoption of characterisation and designed tools develop ....Evaluating potential static liquefaction of tailings to prevent failures. This project aims to reduce risk in the mining industry from failing mine tailings by producing a methodology for predicting the susceptibility of these tailings to static liquefaction. The impact of a mine tailing failure is catastrophic to the downstream community. The project brings together a number of industry partners committed to assisting with verification and adoption of characterisation and designed tools development in this project. This proposal will integrate results from laboratory element, centrifuge and calibration chamber tests with numerical modelling and in-situ tests to produce a methodology for predicting the susceptibility to static liquefaction.Read moreRead less
Preventing mining disasters: reducing the risk of tailings dam failure. This project aims to improve safety of tailings storage facilities (TSFs). Mineral processing produces waste called tailings, being mixtures of water and soil-sized particles. Tailings are stored on sites contained by embankments made from soil or a coarse component of tailings. Sections of the TSFs are partially saturated, have high concentrations of fine particles and physically change with age. Their resistance to earthqu ....Preventing mining disasters: reducing the risk of tailings dam failure. This project aims to improve safety of tailings storage facilities (TSFs). Mineral processing produces waste called tailings, being mixtures of water and soil-sized particles. Tailings are stored on sites contained by embankments made from soil or a coarse component of tailings. Sections of the TSFs are partially saturated, have high concentrations of fine particles and physically change with age. Their resistance to earthquake loading and liquefaction, and strength post-earthquake, arising from these properties are poorly understood and can not be quantified reliably so will be addressed here. Anticipated outcomes will be updated industry guidelines for the design and management of TSFs. Mines will benefit and failures will be prevented.Read moreRead less
Development of Novel Concrete Noise Walls Incorporating Recycled Materials. This project will develop high-performance, lightweight, concrete noise walls and acoustic barriers that use recycled tyre and glass products to improve sound absorption, and address environmental problems associated with the mining of river sands, and stockpiling of waste tyre and glass products. Innovation in noise wall technology consists in developing low-carbon concrete mixes (using less cement) with a maximum amoun ....Development of Novel Concrete Noise Walls Incorporating Recycled Materials. This project will develop high-performance, lightweight, concrete noise walls and acoustic barriers that use recycled tyre and glass products to improve sound absorption, and address environmental problems associated with the mining of river sands, and stockpiling of waste tyre and glass products. Innovation in noise wall technology consists in developing low-carbon concrete mixes (using less cement) with a maximum amount of recycled product, together with reducing wall thickness, while maintaining the necessary engineering properties such as acoustics, strength, and durability. In addition to higher acoustic insulation, the novel low-carbon, lightweight, panels will improve material handling and affordability of noise barriers.Read moreRead less
Novel multiple-constraint model for green buildings and life-cycle analyses. This project aims to develop a multiple-constraint automation model to perform life-cycle analyses for projects in the Australian construction industry. The model will optimise construction methods for green-building implementation and offer a realistic approach to Green-star status achievement. The Life-cycle model analyses for cost, greenhouse-gas emissions and energy consumption allowing the construction methods to b ....Novel multiple-constraint model for green buildings and life-cycle analyses. This project aims to develop a multiple-constraint automation model to perform life-cycle analyses for projects in the Australian construction industry. The model will optimise construction methods for green-building implementation and offer a realistic approach to Green-star status achievement. The Life-cycle model analyses for cost, greenhouse-gas emissions and energy consumption allowing the construction methods to be optimised for minimum environmental impact. Utilisation of the model should significantly shape an organisations’ strategic planning, while a recognised high Green-star status from Green Building Council of Australia will improve their reputation and bring benefits to the construction industry.Read moreRead less
Connections for hybrid steel-timber-concrete structures. Connections play a vital role in overall performance, reliability, and adaptability of civil structures. This project aims to develop innovative, easy to fabricate and efficient connections for hybrid structural systems that fully exploit advantages of steel, concrete and engineered timber to reduce the self-weight, cost and negative environmental impact and enhance opportunities for deconstruction, reusing and upgrading of the structures. ....Connections for hybrid steel-timber-concrete structures. Connections play a vital role in overall performance, reliability, and adaptability of civil structures. This project aims to develop innovative, easy to fabricate and efficient connections for hybrid structural systems that fully exploit advantages of steel, concrete and engineered timber to reduce the self-weight, cost and negative environmental impact and enhance opportunities for deconstruction, reusing and upgrading of the structures. Structural performance of the connections will be assessed by laboratory testing and advanced numerical modelling. Comprehensive knowledge on stiffness, strength, and ductility and world-first provisions for safe and cost-effective design of the hybrid steel-timber-concrete structures are generated.Read moreRead less
Fatigue life and biodegradation of biomass waste composites in roads. This project aims to develop a new low-carbon pavement stabilisation technology by utilising biomass waste composites in road subgrades and bases. This research expects to generate new knowledge on the performance of biomass composites in roads, when subjected to high traffic loads using experimental, numerical approaches and field trials. Expected project outcomes include evaluating the long-term performance of this new road ....Fatigue life and biodegradation of biomass waste composites in roads. This project aims to develop a new low-carbon pavement stabilisation technology by utilising biomass waste composites in road subgrades and bases. This research expects to generate new knowledge on the performance of biomass composites in roads, when subjected to high traffic loads using experimental, numerical approaches and field trials. Expected project outcomes include evaluating the long-term performance of this new road construction material, developing predictive models and building enduring collaborations with industry. Benefits include: diversion of wastes from landfills, reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and the potential for commercial applications of biomass waste composites in future roads.Read moreRead less
Torsion in innovative timber composite floors. Application of lightweight sustainably sourced timber panels combined with steel beams or reinforced concrete slabs in composite floors has the potential to significantly improve the speed and efficiency and reduce the carbon and energy footprint of the construction industry. This project aims to produce world first benchmark experimental data and advanced numerical and simple analytical models required for efficient, yet safe and reliable analysis ....Torsion in innovative timber composite floors. Application of lightweight sustainably sourced timber panels combined with steel beams or reinforced concrete slabs in composite floors has the potential to significantly improve the speed and efficiency and reduce the carbon and energy footprint of the construction industry. This project aims to produce world first benchmark experimental data and advanced numerical and simple analytical models required for efficient, yet safe and reliable analysis and design of timber-concrete and steel-timber composite floors subjected to complex 3-dimensional loading scenarios that involve combinations of torsion, bending and shear. The outcomes of this project are expected to promote innovation and advance knowledge in the field of structural mechanics.Read moreRead less
Biocementation of recycled sand and demolition wastes for pavements. This project aims to develop biocements with recycled sand and demolition wastes as road construction materials. The usage of these low-carbon waste materials in pavement projects can significantly reduce carbon emissions and costs. This research expects to generate new knowledge on the performance of recycled wastes in roads, when subjected to high traffic loads using experimental, numerical approaches and field trials. Expect ....Biocementation of recycled sand and demolition wastes for pavements. This project aims to develop biocements with recycled sand and demolition wastes as road construction materials. The usage of these low-carbon waste materials in pavement projects can significantly reduce carbon emissions and costs. This research expects to generate new knowledge on the performance of recycled wastes in roads, when subjected to high traffic loads using experimental, numerical approaches and field trials. Expected outcomes include evaluating and modelling the performance of biocements and demolition materials in roads, and building enduring collaborations with industry. Benefits include: diversion of wastes from landfills, reduction in carbon emissions and the potential commercialisation of recycled wastes for road projects.Read moreRead less
The Role of Energy Absorbing Rubber Grid on Ballast Track Performance. Breakage and excessive displacement of ballast lead to instability and regular maintenance of railways. The project aims to study the fundamental mechanics of ballast aggregates interacting with the apertures of recycled-Rubber Energy Absorbing Grids (REAG). The role of REAG on enhanced track performance by damping the cyclic wheel loading and impact will be quantified via rigorous mathematical methods complementing a compute ....The Role of Energy Absorbing Rubber Grid on Ballast Track Performance. Breakage and excessive displacement of ballast lead to instability and regular maintenance of railways. The project aims to study the fundamental mechanics of ballast aggregates interacting with the apertures of recycled-Rubber Energy Absorbing Grids (REAG). The role of REAG on enhanced track performance by damping the cyclic wheel loading and impact will be quantified via rigorous mathematical methods complementing a computer-based numerical model and validated by laboratory & field data. When placed within the rail substructure REAG will enable reduced ballast movement and breakage while attenuating noise/vibration. The research outputs will facilitate improved rail track design enabling enhanced longevity and reduced cost of maintenance.Read moreRead less