Designing for Safe and Durable Structures. This project creates advanced concepts and tools for the analysis/design of new structures, and structural modifications with safety and durability constraints. It involves the marriage of the alternative finite element techniques, for assessing durability, recent developments in structural optimisations, and advances in parallel processing techniques. This project builds on the applicants recent pioneering work, one of which won the best paper award ....Designing for Safe and Durable Structures. This project creates advanced concepts and tools for the analysis/design of new structures, and structural modifications with safety and durability constraints. It involves the marriage of the alternative finite element techniques, for assessing durability, recent developments in structural optimisations, and advances in parallel processing techniques. This project builds on the applicants recent pioneering work, one of which won the best paper award at the 2nd Australasian Conference on Applied Mechanics. By marrying the skills associated with three internationally recognised key researchers this proposal represents a major advance in the basic understanding of structural optimisation and creates unique research linkages.Read moreRead less
Optimising train driver vigilance system: reactivation of a fatigued driver. Fatigue poses frequent problems in train drivers. The repetitive nature of the train-driving task is a precursor of fatigue. This application proposes a novel design concept for the current train driver vigilance system manufactured by our industry partner. The proposed new vigilance system will not only assure that the driver is awake by warning of fatigue states, but will also act as an important cue in the control of ....Optimising train driver vigilance system: reactivation of a fatigued driver. Fatigue poses frequent problems in train drivers. The repetitive nature of the train-driving task is a precursor of fatigue. This application proposes a novel design concept for the current train driver vigilance system manufactured by our industry partner. The proposed new vigilance system will not only assure that the driver is awake by warning of fatigue states, but will also act as an important cue in the control of the train. Incorporating fatigue detection in the vigilance monitor is of commercial value to our industry partner. Furthermore, this study will help improve the safety culture of the railway environment.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0453398
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$161,075.00
Summary
A Non Contact Facility For Measuring Irreversible Energy, Residual Stress, and Full Field Stresses for Critical Rail Infra-Structure Assessment. To meet the national rail objectives as enunciated in the 2002 Green Paper there is an urgent requirement for a capability for: i) advanced (rail) prototype assessment, ii) rapid assessment of rail infra-structure, iii) for increasing the capacity of existing (rail) infra-structure. To address this we propose a facility with both a dissipative energy m ....A Non Contact Facility For Measuring Irreversible Energy, Residual Stress, and Full Field Stresses for Critical Rail Infra-Structure Assessment. To meet the national rail objectives as enunciated in the 2002 Green Paper there is an urgent requirement for a capability for: i) advanced (rail) prototype assessment, ii) rapid assessment of rail infra-structure, iii) for increasing the capacity of existing (rail) infra-structure. To address this we propose a facility with both a dissipative energy measurement and a 'lock in' thermograpghy capability. Recent Australian developments in thermo-elasticity enables the researchers to extend this facility to measure residual stress in complex components. The ability to measure dissipated energy, residual stress, ultrasonic waves, and full field stress will create a unique research capability.Read moreRead less
Innovative Rubber Vibration Isolators Using a Variable Die Extrusion Process. Derby Rubber's innovative variable-die extrusion process opens new possibilities for vibration-isolation pads, such as those used to isolate industrial machinery and railway tracks. Conceivably, clever, simple inexpensive solutions can be tailored to each application to provide most of the benefits of complex, expensive systems. The market would be large, and the margins attractive. We aim to achieve this via wide-rang ....Innovative Rubber Vibration Isolators Using a Variable Die Extrusion Process. Derby Rubber's innovative variable-die extrusion process opens new possibilities for vibration-isolation pads, such as those used to isolate industrial machinery and railway tracks. Conceivably, clever, simple inexpensive solutions can be tailored to each application to provide most of the benefits of complex, expensive systems. The market would be large, and the margins attractive. We aim to achieve this via wide-ranging innovation based on creativity in conceptual design, ingenuity of production process, and reliability in testing, all underpinned by new analytical capabilities to enable pad designs to be assessed in the design stage and subsequently tailored to a specific application.Read moreRead less
Towards new generations of lubricants using nanoparticles. Engines are essential to the Australian manufacturing, transport, power generation, mining and construction industries. Our project will develop the basic science for high-performance lubricants and wear-resistant materials using nanoparticles. These lubricants and materials will have a significant impact in reducing system failure from the chronic wear and friction of moving parts and optimise the cost structures of system manufacturing ....Towards new generations of lubricants using nanoparticles. Engines are essential to the Australian manufacturing, transport, power generation, mining and construction industries. Our project will develop the basic science for high-performance lubricants and wear-resistant materials using nanoparticles. These lubricants and materials will have a significant impact in reducing system failure from the chronic wear and friction of moving parts and optimise the cost structures of system manufacturing.Read moreRead less
WAVE TRAPPING BARRIERS. Traditional noise barriers have poor performance when installed as parallel barriers in front of noise sources with large reflection surfaces. This is because that the reflected noise from the far side barrier or from the source surfaces contributes significantly to the noise level at the receiver location. This project involves the investigation of a novel barrier, the wave trapping barrier (WTB), which is capable of retaining the noise between the source and the barrier ....WAVE TRAPPING BARRIERS. Traditional noise barriers have poor performance when installed as parallel barriers in front of noise sources with large reflection surfaces. This is because that the reflected noise from the far side barrier or from the source surfaces contributes significantly to the noise level at the receiver location. This project involves the investigation of a novel barrier, the wave trapping barrier (WTB), which is capable of retaining the noise between the source and the barrier and to provide maximum sound absorption at the frequencies of concern, and thus to minimize the contribution due to the reflection. The aim is to develop a theoretical and experimental model for the physical understanding and optimal design of the WTB. Outcomes include a new generation of noise barriers that are potentially light-weighted, fiberless and with higher insertion loss.Read moreRead less
Advanced IC engine diagnostics. The techniques to be developed will greatly improve the reliability of diesel engines, many of which are used in the mining and transport industries, extremely important to Australia's economy, and often remotely located. Not only will unforeseen costly breakdowns be minimized, but also the cost of excessive maintenance operations. This Australian developed technology will gain prestige from association with the internationally recognised company LMS International ....Advanced IC engine diagnostics. The techniques to be developed will greatly improve the reliability of diesel engines, many of which are used in the mining and transport industries, extremely important to Australia's economy, and often remotely located. Not only will unforeseen costly breakdowns be minimized, but also the cost of excessive maintenance operations. This Australian developed technology will gain prestige from association with the internationally recognised company LMS International, who supply test and simulation systems to most of the world's leading manufacturers of vehicles, aircraft etc.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC170100006
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,937,625.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Advanced Technologies in Rail Track Infrastructure. The ARC Training Centre for Advanced Technologies in Rail Track Infrastructure aims to transform Australia’s rail construction and maintenance technologies through specialist training of industry-focused researchers. Generation of new knowledge and close collaboration with companies within the rail supply chain will result in enhanced rail capacity and supply chain efficiency across the rail network. This will include in ....ARC Training Centre for Advanced Technologies in Rail Track Infrastructure. The ARC Training Centre for Advanced Technologies in Rail Track Infrastructure aims to transform Australia’s rail construction and maintenance technologies through specialist training of industry-focused researchers. Generation of new knowledge and close collaboration with companies within the rail supply chain will result in enhanced rail capacity and supply chain efficiency across the rail network. This will include increased axle loads and higher speeds, greater safety margins, reduced construction and maintenance costs, and a body of competent railway professionals in the nation’s work force.Read moreRead less
Evaluation of train driver work culture and environment for improving railway safety. This innovative research intersects the fields of neurosciences, computer science and engineering, leading to application of new knowledge for developing intelligent train driver systems for improving transport safety. Such research will place Australia at the forefront of this area. Reducing train related accidents will positively impact on the socio economic fabric of society by reducing the emotional and fin ....Evaluation of train driver work culture and environment for improving railway safety. This innovative research intersects the fields of neurosciences, computer science and engineering, leading to application of new knowledge for developing intelligent train driver systems for improving transport safety. Such research will place Australia at the forefront of this area. Reducing train related accidents will positively impact on the socio economic fabric of society by reducing the emotional and financial burden to the community. The research has the potential to lead to substantial revenue generation in Australia in the future. The data obtained will provide new knowledge and information to transport and Government authorities.Read moreRead less
ROBUST SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY FOR SMALL-SCALE APPLICATIONS. The project aims to develop nano-materials for the next generation planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) that will operate at temperatures between 600 and 800°C. The goal is to identify and demonstrate materials that meet the robust requirements for small scale power generators at the 3-5kW scale. It is expected that these will be used in stationary power generation applications, in remote area power supplies, and for providing ....ROBUST SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY FOR SMALL-SCALE APPLICATIONS. The project aims to develop nano-materials for the next generation planar Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) that will operate at temperatures between 600 and 800°C. The goal is to identify and demonstrate materials that meet the robust requirements for small scale power generators at the 3-5kW scale. It is expected that these will be used in stationary power generation applications, in remote area power supplies, and for providing auxiliary power in vehicles. The work builds on the world-leading position that Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd. has in planar SOFC technology, utilising micro-analysis and fuel cell expertise at the University of Queensland.Read moreRead less