Multiscale modeling of flexible fibrous suspensions under flow. The outcome of this work will be a comprehensive theoretical framework by which microstructural information is distilled into an accurate multiscale model of fibre suspensions, readily applicable to industrial situations. This work will have a direct impact on the design capability and performance of a wide range of mechanisms and industrial processes involving fibres. The development of better models for industrially useful suspen ....Multiscale modeling of flexible fibrous suspensions under flow. The outcome of this work will be a comprehensive theoretical framework by which microstructural information is distilled into an accurate multiscale model of fibre suspensions, readily applicable to industrial situations. This work will have a direct impact on the design capability and performance of a wide range of mechanisms and industrial processes involving fibres. The development of better models for industrially useful suspensions offers a competitive advantage for a diverse range of Australian industries, from the paper manufacture sector, to the production of fibre-filled composite materials.Read moreRead less
Development of a Model Relating Aggregate Properties with Aggregation Conditions for Design and Control Purposes. The project aims to understand the role of shear and other important parameters in the aggregation of nano- and micron-sized particles through fundamental studies on different particulate systems and shear environments. The knowledge will be used to develop an engineering model relating the floc properties to system conditions, thus allowing the utilisation of experimental data to fu ....Development of a Model Relating Aggregate Properties with Aggregation Conditions for Design and Control Purposes. The project aims to understand the role of shear and other important parameters in the aggregation of nano- and micron-sized particles through fundamental studies on different particulate systems and shear environments. The knowledge will be used to develop an engineering model relating the floc properties to system conditions, thus allowing the utilisation of experimental data to full-scale operations without eschewing their relevance. Project outcomes include a comprehensive guideline to set optimum conditions required to generate flocs with desirable properties for control and design purposes, with applicability extending from solid-liquid separation to nano-material synthesis, and various processes involving particle aggregation.Read moreRead less
Constrained Receding Horizon Control of Nonlinear Systems. Most real world control problems involve the design of strategies that
achieve performance goals in the presence of constraints on the system variables. Receding horizon control is a strategy that addresses this problem by directly optimising performance under the appropriate constraints. This project will address theoretical and computational issues associated with this methodology. The expected outcomes include:
* New finitely p ....Constrained Receding Horizon Control of Nonlinear Systems. Most real world control problems involve the design of strategies that
achieve performance goals in the presence of constraints on the system variables. Receding horizon control is a strategy that addresses this problem by directly optimising performance under the appropriate constraints. This project will address theoretical and computational issues associated with this methodology. The expected outcomes include:
* New finitely parameterised solutions for nonlinear systems.
* Implementations of reduced computational complexity.
* New insights into analytical properties of the methodology.
These outcomes are expected to add to Australian scientific recognition and to bring significant economic benefit to Australian industry.
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An Intelligent/Smart Framework for Total Process Monitoring And Supervision. Operator failures have an adverse effect on product quality, process safety, occupational health and environmental impact. The management of abnormal operating conditions is a major responsibility and depends critically on information management. A recent report indicates that the total cost attributable to preventable losses in petrochemical companies in U.S. amounts to twenty billion dollars per year. The objective o ....An Intelligent/Smart Framework for Total Process Monitoring And Supervision. Operator failures have an adverse effect on product quality, process safety, occupational health and environmental impact. The management of abnormal operating conditions is a major responsibility and depends critically on information management. A recent report indicates that the total cost attributable to preventable losses in petrochemical companies in U.S. amounts to twenty billion dollars per year. The objective of this project is to develop the theoretical framework and implementation of an Advanced Integrated Support System (ISS) for process monitoring, data analysis and interpretation, event detection and diagnosis, and operations support in chemical and petrochemical processes manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Novel biomaterials from improved understanding of the structure of starch. The microstructure of starch, comprising two polymers of glucose: amylose (linear, except for a few long branches) and amylopectin (with a complex tree-like architecture), is described by a high-dimensional function. This project examines simplified measures of the full microstructure, such as the distribution of lengths if all links were cut, and also properties which depend on the full architecture, such as viscoelastic ....Novel biomaterials from improved understanding of the structure of starch. The microstructure of starch, comprising two polymers of glucose: amylose (linear, except for a few long branches) and amylopectin (with a complex tree-like architecture), is described by a high-dimensional function. This project examines simplified measures of the full microstructure, such as the distribution of lengths if all links were cut, and also properties which depend on the full architecture, such as viscoelastic response and adhesion. Theory, simulation and neural networks will be used to guide experiments to elucidate which partial structure measures control which property. Outcomes will include means of helping biotechnology create improved biomaterials, and plant breeders to improve food quality.Read moreRead less
Manufacture of precision optical components: ground-breaking through innovative constitutive modeling. It has been a worldwide challenge to make high precision optical elements using glass moulding though it is the most effective process. This project aims to develop a novel way to optimise precision glass moulding processes. The success of this research will significantly reduce the development cost and improve the quality of the moulding products.
Formation of organic pollutants in fires of treated and contaminated wood. This project quantifies the emission of dioxins and biphenyls in burning of treated and contaminated wood to provide data on whether combustion of such materials should be regulated in Australia and whether an educational campaign needs to be mounted to make public aware of this problem. For example, our preliminary results indicate that, timber treated with copper boron azole, a non-arsenic replacement for CCA preservat ....Formation of organic pollutants in fires of treated and contaminated wood. This project quantifies the emission of dioxins and biphenyls in burning of treated and contaminated wood to provide data on whether combustion of such materials should be regulated in Australia and whether an educational campaign needs to be mounted to make public aware of this problem. For example, our preliminary results indicate that, timber treated with copper boron azole, a non-arsenic replacement for CCA preservative, produces extremely high levels of dioxins, both in flames and in the ash. If the preliminary results are confirmed, this agent must be disallowed as a wood preservative in Australia, as it poses unacceptable risks to the Australian population and environment. Read moreRead less
The online future of Science and Engineering education: The essential elements of laboratory-based learning for remote-access implementation. Laboratory classes are a critical part of science and engineering degree programs, but there has been little research into what actually takes place within them. Remote laboratories, in which students control equipment via the internet, are one potential solution for accommodating rising numbers of students, but the interfaces must be developed to effectiv ....The online future of Science and Engineering education: The essential elements of laboratory-based learning for remote-access implementation. Laboratory classes are a critical part of science and engineering degree programs, but there has been little research into what actually takes place within them. Remote laboratories, in which students control equipment via the internet, are one potential solution for accommodating rising numbers of students, but the interfaces must be developed to effectively support student learning. This project will investigate how students interact with equipment, each other, and with laboratory demonstrators in order to determine the crucial components of effective laboratory learning experiences. It will identify and characterise the interactions of students in laboratory classes, and develop mechanisms to support these interactions remotely.Read moreRead less
Out-of-field Teaching: Sustaining Quality Practices Across Subjects. Teaching out-of-field (teaching a subject without qualifications) is a rising concern internationally, and is linked to attrition, stress, and reduced student learning outcomes. With a comparatively high percentage of out-of-field teachers, Australia is exposed to significant social, economic and educational costs. Through the development of longitudinal case studies, this project investigates the changing landscape of teacher ....Out-of-field Teaching: Sustaining Quality Practices Across Subjects. Teaching out-of-field (teaching a subject without qualifications) is a rising concern internationally, and is linked to attrition, stress, and reduced student learning outcomes. With a comparatively high percentage of out-of-field teachers, Australia is exposed to significant social, economic and educational costs. Through the development of longitudinal case studies, this project investigates the changing landscape of teacher perceptions and practices over three years, within school institutional cultures relating to teacher assignment, support, and out-of-field mathematics and science teaching. Outcomes of the project will aim to inform the development of system and school policy and practice, in dealing with this internationally pervasive issue.Read moreRead less
Enhancing the quality of science learning through a representation-intensive pedagogy. This project will investigate the quality of science learning occurring through an approach to teaching that involves students generating, negotiating and evaluating representations of scientific concepts. Students will generate multi-modal representations using digital technologies, linking to the new Australian science curriculum.