Accurate Prediction of Safe Life of Buried Pipelines. Failures of buried pipes are disastrous, causing severe consequences and disruptions. They often reoccur because the fundamental cause-effect relation for pipe failures has not been fully understood and hence the safe life of pipelines cannot be reliably predicted. The aim of this research is to develop a new theory to predict pipe failures, based on a fundamental analysis of pipe behaviour and failure mechanisms and a reliability approach. T ....Accurate Prediction of Safe Life of Buried Pipelines. Failures of buried pipes are disastrous, causing severe consequences and disruptions. They often reoccur because the fundamental cause-effect relation for pipe failures has not been fully understood and hence the safe life of pipelines cannot be reliably predicted. The aim of this research is to develop a new theory to predict pipe failures, based on a fundamental analysis of pipe behaviour and failure mechanisms and a reliability approach. The outcomes will be a suite of models and solutions that will advance knowledge in deterioration science and failure theory. They will provide a sustainable solution to the intelligent management of buried pipelines throughout the world.Read moreRead less
preventing reoccurrence of catastrophic failures of stormwater pipelines. This project aims to develop a technique to accurately predict the remaining safe life of deteriorated buried stormwater pipelines, thereby preventing their catastrophic failure. The research also aims to advance knowledge in deterioration science of reinforced concrete and failure theory of buried pipes. The outcomes are anticipated to be a suite of rational, practical and validated models for pipe deterioration as measur ....preventing reoccurrence of catastrophic failures of stormwater pipelines. This project aims to develop a technique to accurately predict the remaining safe life of deteriorated buried stormwater pipelines, thereby preventing their catastrophic failure. The research also aims to advance knowledge in deterioration science of reinforced concrete and failure theory of buried pipes. The outcomes are anticipated to be a suite of rational, practical and validated models for pipe deterioration as measured by crack growth and residual strength which are integrated in a time-dependent reliability method and coded as a computer program ready for take-up by end-users. Preventing catastrophic failures of buried pipes should deliver economic, environmental and social benefits.Read moreRead less
Microbiological and abiotic marine corrosion of steel in particulate media. This project aims to study the complex interfacial physicochemical interaction between structural steel and inert particles in marine environments, including microbial growth influences. It will use field-testing and electrochemical laboratory experiments to understand the short- and long-term corrosion processes. It will develop mathematical models to predict likely corrosion loss and pitting, based on physicochemical c ....Microbiological and abiotic marine corrosion of steel in particulate media. This project aims to study the complex interfacial physicochemical interaction between structural steel and inert particles in marine environments, including microbial growth influences. It will use field-testing and electrochemical laboratory experiments to understand the short- and long-term corrosion processes. It will develop mathematical models to predict likely corrosion loss and pitting, based on physicochemical corrosion principles. Industry increasingly needs such models to manage major infrastructure not protected against corrosion, including offshore energy systems, coastal structures and buried pipelines. These outcomes are expected to benefit Australian engineering consultants in the offshore energy industry, with potential for large foreign exchange earnings.Read moreRead less
Braced batter micropile group: New design theory and performance framework. Braced batter micropile group: New design theory and performance framework. This project aims to research the design and performance of innovative biomimetic braced battered micropile group footings. This project will test Surefoot, the new concrete free footing, in the laboratory, in the field, and through numerical and analytical modelling. Surefoot’s mechanisms of action are poorly understood but clearly more complex ....Braced batter micropile group: New design theory and performance framework. Braced batter micropile group: New design theory and performance framework. This project aims to research the design and performance of innovative biomimetic braced battered micropile group footings. This project will test Surefoot, the new concrete free footing, in the laboratory, in the field, and through numerical and analytical modelling. Surefoot’s mechanisms of action are poorly understood but clearly more complex than current micropile theory; this project will research the mechanism of load transfer from micropiles to the soil and soil response.Read moreRead less
Use of rammed earth in Aboriginal communities of Australia. An exhaustive set of engineering and construction guidelines for rammed earth will be elaborated in order to produce affordable, safe and cost-effective houses in Aboriginal areas of Australia. The outcome of this project is the production of a 'Proposal Form for Standards Development' for rammed earth to be submitted to Standards Australia.
Non-differentiable Energy Minimisation For Modelling Fractured Porous Media. This project is aimed at advancing theoretical, computational and experimental bases for the fracturing of geomaterials, and providing scientists and engineers with much needed predictive tools for quantitative assessment of the responses. By incorporating previously neglected aspects such as energy minimisation, advanced constitutive modelling, and non-planar interacting fracture growth, confidence in the design and pl ....Non-differentiable Energy Minimisation For Modelling Fractured Porous Media. This project is aimed at advancing theoretical, computational and experimental bases for the fracturing of geomaterials, and providing scientists and engineers with much needed predictive tools for quantitative assessment of the responses. By incorporating previously neglected aspects such as energy minimisation, advanced constitutive modelling, and non-planar interacting fracture growth, confidence in the design and planning of engineering processes in fractured porous media will be increased to the point that costly over/under designs are avoided. Through the use of the tools developed, it will be possible to detect weaknesses in the design, assess the impact and implement effective measures to improve performance.Read moreRead less
Experimental investigation and constitutive modelling of reactive soils. This project aims to develop the fundamental knowledge, a mechanical framework and practical engineering design tools needed to minimise the effects of reactive soils on infrastructure. Reactive soils undergo significant swelling and weakening upon wetting or intrusion by salt-rich groundwater and shrinkage upon drying. This can result in damage to buildings and infrastructure beyond a state of repair. This project will dev ....Experimental investigation and constitutive modelling of reactive soils. This project aims to develop the fundamental knowledge, a mechanical framework and practical engineering design tools needed to minimise the effects of reactive soils on infrastructure. Reactive soils undergo significant swelling and weakening upon wetting or intrusion by salt-rich groundwater and shrinkage upon drying. This can result in damage to buildings and infrastructure beyond a state of repair. This project will develop tools, models and theories to detect weaknesses in the design of infrastructure and its foundations built on problematic reactive soils, assess the impact and implement effective remedial measures to improve performance. The project is expected to increase efficiency through improved design and reduced damage, and save infrastructure owners, government and private, tens of millions of dollars each year.Read moreRead less
Dynamics analysis of unsaturated porous media subject to damage due to cracking. This project relates to rigorous analysis of dynamic response in unsaturated soils. It will lead to cost savings in many geotechnical engineering practices as it will provide a better understanding of the behaviour of unsaturated soils to dynamic loading and a greater confidence in the prediction of the performance of earth-structures.
Novel wave energy foundation solutions to survive extreme loads. This project aims to develop an economic and efficient anchoring system for taut-moored wave energy converters to enable us to exploit sustainable wave energy resources. Australia’s potential near-shore wave energy resource is four times larger than the current total capacity of our installed power generation. But the development of ocean wave energy is presently hampered by expensive, traditional anchoring systems. Using better es ....Novel wave energy foundation solutions to survive extreme loads. This project aims to develop an economic and efficient anchoring system for taut-moored wave energy converters to enable us to exploit sustainable wave energy resources. Australia’s potential near-shore wave energy resource is four times larger than the current total capacity of our installed power generation. But the development of ocean wave energy is presently hampered by expensive, traditional anchoring systems. Using better estimation of extreme loads, the project will use multidisciplinary approaches to investigate unique anchoring concepts with the aim of developing novel strategies to avoid the most extreme loads and enabling optimum anchor design. The outcomes of the project are intended to help to deliver economically viable wave energy projects.Read moreRead less
Modelling creep and time-dependency in unsaturated soils. This project aims to present the most complete and rigorous modelling framework for creep and time-dependent behaviour of unsaturated soils in infrastructure. The project will address previously neglected aspects of soil behaviour, such as gradual changes in physical properties with time and strain-rate dependency. The project is expected to enable better predictions of infrastructure performance, improve confidence in design, and avoid u ....Modelling creep and time-dependency in unsaturated soils. This project aims to present the most complete and rigorous modelling framework for creep and time-dependent behaviour of unsaturated soils in infrastructure. The project will address previously neglected aspects of soil behaviour, such as gradual changes in physical properties with time and strain-rate dependency. The project is expected to enable better predictions of infrastructure performance, improve confidence in design, and avoid unwarranted over-design and the considerable cost this imposes. The project will provide a fully validated predictive computational modelling tool for quantitative assessment of long-term performance and stability of infrastructure such as dams, embankments, tunnels, slopes, buildings and foundations.Read moreRead less