Predicting strength of porous materials. This project aims to develop a predictive theory of strength for unflawed, low-ductile porous materials – an unsolved problem in computational solid mechanics. Three-dimensional printing of lightweight, porous materials is used in industry, medicine and science. The project will develop the theory and conduct experiments on porous metallic and polymeric samples made using additive manufacturing, which require understanding and optimisation of the building ....Predicting strength of porous materials. This project aims to develop a predictive theory of strength for unflawed, low-ductile porous materials – an unsolved problem in computational solid mechanics. Three-dimensional printing of lightweight, porous materials is used in industry, medicine and science. The project will develop the theory and conduct experiments on porous metallic and polymeric samples made using additive manufacturing, which require understanding and optimisation of the building of fine scale features. Understanding strength should improve design of stronger materials, by using and extending the capabilities of three-dimensional printing. These advances will further provide a much-needed basis for a fundamental understanding of fracture in other porous materials important to society such as concrete, rocks, porous ceramics and bone implants.Read moreRead less
Computational modelling of nanofluids for industrial applications. The use of nanoparticles in heat transfer fluids, then known as nanofluids, increases their specific heat and thermal conductivity. Recent experimental works highlight that anomalous transport phenomena are evident in nanofluids that cannot be adequately described by classical conservation laws. We will extend these conservation laws to incorporate fractional operators to capture the fluid memory effects and the impact of particl ....Computational modelling of nanofluids for industrial applications. The use of nanoparticles in heat transfer fluids, then known as nanofluids, increases their specific heat and thermal conductivity. Recent experimental works highlight that anomalous transport phenomena are evident in nanofluids that cannot be adequately described by classical conservation laws. We will extend these conservation laws to incorporate fractional operators to capture the fluid memory effects and the impact of particle clustering. Computational modelling and experimental investigations will be undertaken to identify the heat transfer mechanisms of various nanofluids. The outcomes of the work will increase knowledge on nanofluids and offer a significant opportunity to improve the efficiency of many thermal engineering systems.Read moreRead less
Light steel roof and wall systems under combined wind and bushfire actions. The project aims to investigate the complex behaviour of light cold-formed-steel roof and wall systems involving localized failures under the combined action of wind and bushfire using wind suction tests at elevated temperatures combined with advanced numerical modelling. It will generate new knowledge of the behaviour and strength of cold-formed-steel roof and wall systems under bushfire conditions. Expected outcomes in ....Light steel roof and wall systems under combined wind and bushfire actions. The project aims to investigate the complex behaviour of light cold-formed-steel roof and wall systems involving localized failures under the combined action of wind and bushfire using wind suction tests at elevated temperatures combined with advanced numerical modelling. It will generate new knowledge of the behaviour and strength of cold-formed-steel roof and wall systems under bushfire conditions. Expected outcomes include new design models for wind, bushfire and cold-formed-steel Standards. This will significantly improve the bushfire safety of buildings, since non-combustible steel roof and wall systems are used as building envelopes in bushfire prone areas, but are not designed to withstand recently discovered bushfire-enhanced winds.Read moreRead less
Synthesis, Biological Interactions and Toxicity Studies of Precisely Engineered Nanoparticles. The proposed benefits of nanotechnology for industries from material sciences, to bioengineering, energy and the environment are currently driving unprecedented growth in this technology world-wide. Some of these benefits are borne out of the unique properties that different nanoparticles exhibit. However, if nanomaterials pose a threat to the health and well-being of the community, then their risks ....Synthesis, Biological Interactions and Toxicity Studies of Precisely Engineered Nanoparticles. The proposed benefits of nanotechnology for industries from material sciences, to bioengineering, energy and the environment are currently driving unprecedented growth in this technology world-wide. Some of these benefits are borne out of the unique properties that different nanoparticles exhibit. However, if nanomaterials pose a threat to the health and well-being of the community, then their risks may outweigh their benefits. This project will identify those characteristics of nanoparticles that can lead to adverse effects and therefore pose a danger to the general community. By defining these characteristics, appropriate changes in nanomaterial production can be considered by industry to minimise these dangers.Read moreRead less
Numerical Modelling of Strain Localization in Reinforced Concrete and Its Application to Prediction of Crack Spacing and Crack Width. Cracking of concrete has a major influence on structural performance. Prediction of crack spacing and crack widths is essential for serviceability considerations of reinforced concrete. The available formulas to evaluate crack widths are approximate and give a wide scatter of predicted values. The project aims to provide a new numerical methodology that will (fina ....Numerical Modelling of Strain Localization in Reinforced Concrete and Its Application to Prediction of Crack Spacing and Crack Width. Cracking of concrete has a major influence on structural performance. Prediction of crack spacing and crack widths is essential for serviceability considerations of reinforced concrete. The available formulas to evaluate crack widths are approximate and give a wide scatter of predicted values. The project aims to provide a new numerical methodology that will (finally) predict crack spacing correctly. The expected outcomes include a numerical analysis model and a set of algorithms to predict crack widths. This will markedly improve the understanding of the mechanism of crack spacing and provide a better prediction of crack spacing and crack widths.Read moreRead less
Origin of the New England contorted mountain belt: implications for plate tectonics, magmatism and mineralisation. The southern New England mountain chain in eastern Australia is characterised by a tight curved geometry. This research will reconstruct the formation of these, hitherto unexplained, mountain curves, unravelling their driving mechanisms and tectonic processes. Results will provide a plate tectonic model for the formation of economic resources, thus facilitating future discoveries of ....Origin of the New England contorted mountain belt: implications for plate tectonics, magmatism and mineralisation. The southern New England mountain chain in eastern Australia is characterised by a tight curved geometry. This research will reconstruct the formation of these, hitherto unexplained, mountain curves, unravelling their driving mechanisms and tectonic processes. Results will provide a plate tectonic model for the formation of economic resources, thus facilitating future discoveries of ore deposits in the New England belt, or energy resources in the associated sedimentary basins. The project will foster a pool of highly trained professionals and researchers in the fields of structural geology and tectonics, and will enhance Australia's scientific reputation, maintaining its leading international standing in plate tectonic research.Read moreRead less
Stochastic modelling of spatiotemporal nonlinear diffusion processes with multifractal characteristics. This research is relevant to solute transport and plume evolution in heterogeneous media. Detailed modelling of these processes is computer-intensive, while the diffusion models of this project offer a more economical alternative. Our study will also benefit the research on the salinity problem. Excessive demand for irrigation water to support agricultural production has stretched freshwater a ....Stochastic modelling of spatiotemporal nonlinear diffusion processes with multifractal characteristics. This research is relevant to solute transport and plume evolution in heterogeneous media. Detailed modelling of these processes is computer-intensive, while the diffusion models of this project offer a more economical alternative. Our study will also benefit the research on the salinity problem. Excessive demand for irrigation water to support agricultural production has stretched freshwater aquifers beyond their long-term yield. Large areas of land have been lost to saltwater intrusion. This proposal will provide suitable tools to predict the level and movement of saltwater in the aquifers. Application to the development of management strategies would bring direct benefit to coastal areas where salinity is a sustainability issue.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the structural complexity of ancient Australian arthropod venoms. Animal venoms contain a complex mix of molecules that have evolved over millions of years to target various biological processes. Their exquisite specificity and potent activity has made them an attractive source for development as therapeutic drugs with fewer side effects or as environmentally friendly insecticides. This project aims to for the first time explore the three-dimensional structure of all known classes of ....Unravelling the structural complexity of ancient Australian arthropod venoms. Animal venoms contain a complex mix of molecules that have evolved over millions of years to target various biological processes. Their exquisite specificity and potent activity has made them an attractive source for development as therapeutic drugs with fewer side effects or as environmentally friendly insecticides. This project aims to for the first time explore the three-dimensional structure of all known classes of toxins in the venom of two ancient Australian arthropods (spiders and centipedes). This will provide a comprehensive overview of these venoms and provide opportunities in engineering new classes of venom based drugs and insecticides. Read moreRead less
Mitigating Vehicular Crashes into Masonry Buildings . Around 2000 vehicles crash annually into school, home and shop buildings located at close proximity to heavily trafficked roads in Australia and cause significant distress to occupants of building and vehicle. The impacted walls mostly of masonry, suffer severe damage often with vehicle intrusion into the building. Despite this, the intrusion mechanism is not understood and no effective mitigation strategies exist at present. This project wi ....Mitigating Vehicular Crashes into Masonry Buildings . Around 2000 vehicles crash annually into school, home and shop buildings located at close proximity to heavily trafficked roads in Australia and cause significant distress to occupants of building and vehicle. The impacted walls mostly of masonry, suffer severe damage often with vehicle intrusion into the building. Despite this, the intrusion mechanism is not understood and no effective mitigation strategies exist at present. This project will uncover the mechanics of vehicle intrusions through masonry walls and develop novel mitigation strategies using high energy absorbing auxetic composite render and innovative vibration isolation at wall edges. These innovations will lead to new theories that can save lives in the building and vehicle.Read moreRead less
The photons take charge: Elucidating the structure and stability of distonic radical anions by mass spectrometry and photoelectron spectroscopy. Recent work has discovered that certain radical anions have electronic configurations that defy chemical convention and exhibit exceptional radical stability. Exploitation of this breakthrough first requires experimental elucidation of the intrinsic electronic structure of these compounds and how it relates to their remarkable properties. This project w ....The photons take charge: Elucidating the structure and stability of distonic radical anions by mass spectrometry and photoelectron spectroscopy. Recent work has discovered that certain radical anions have electronic configurations that defy chemical convention and exhibit exceptional radical stability. Exploitation of this breakthrough first requires experimental elucidation of the intrinsic electronic structure of these compounds and how it relates to their remarkable properties. This project will probe the fundamental structure and energetics of radical anions by modifying instrumentation to enable multi-step gas-phase ion synthesis to be efficiently coupled with anion photoelectron spectroscopy. These investigations are essential to revealing the scope of this phenomenon in free radical chemistry and biology and could inform future development of new catalysts for polymerisation.Read moreRead less