Real-time bridge performance evaluation based on crowdsourcing and learning. This project aims to develop a novel strategy utilizing the real-time measurements from moving vehicles and bridges for evaluating the safety and operational performance of bridges based on transfer learning and vehicle-bridge interaction model. This is the first essential study on integrating the bridge-moving load models with transfer learning to extract common knowledge from simulation experiments to support the asse ....Real-time bridge performance evaluation based on crowdsourcing and learning. This project aims to develop a novel strategy utilizing the real-time measurements from moving vehicles and bridges for evaluating the safety and operational performance of bridges based on transfer learning and vehicle-bridge interaction model. This is the first essential study on integrating the bridge-moving load models with transfer learning to extract common knowledge from simulation experiments to support the assessment of damaged status in practice. The project will provide an engineer-friendly low cost monitoring system for its deployment, management and maintenance of existing transport infrastructure. The innovative techniques developed enable the safe operation and reliable evaluation and maintenance of transport infrastructure.Read moreRead less
The forgotten role of the ground state in atmospheric photochemistry. This project aims to provide novel solutions to two deficiencies in current atmospheric chemistry models. That is, molecular hydrogen (H2) is underestimated by up to a factor of two, and in polluted areas, HO2 concentrations are underestimated by up to a factor of ten. The project will investigate these solutions and assess their local and global atmospheric impact. By better characterising the atmospheric H2 budget, and the r ....The forgotten role of the ground state in atmospheric photochemistry. This project aims to provide novel solutions to two deficiencies in current atmospheric chemistry models. That is, molecular hydrogen (H2) is underestimated by up to a factor of two, and in polluted areas, HO2 concentrations are underestimated by up to a factor of ten. The project will investigate these solutions and assess their local and global atmospheric impact. By better characterising the atmospheric H2 budget, and the role of ground state reactions in general, the predictive ability of atmospheric models will be improved. This will allow, for example, the outcomes of any change in atmospheric H2 concentration, potentially as part of any future hydrogen economy, to be predicted before they occur. The benefits of this project are global: they allow us to better predict the impact of changes to atmospheric composition – before they occur, and local: Australia’s strengths in physical, theoretical and atmospheric chemistry are reinforced.Read moreRead less
Reactive Intermediates in Atmospheric and Combustion Chemistry. Reactive intermediates are the key species that determine outcomes of the chemical reaction networks in atmospheric and combustion chemistry. However, most reactive intermediates remain undiscovered. The project aims to discover these intermediates using laser spectroscopy. Current models of atmospheric chemistry cannot account for the carbon balance over forests, nor the formation of secondary organic aerosols. Combustion models st ....Reactive Intermediates in Atmospheric and Combustion Chemistry. Reactive intermediates are the key species that determine outcomes of the chemical reaction networks in atmospheric and combustion chemistry. However, most reactive intermediates remain undiscovered. The project aims to discover these intermediates using laser spectroscopy. Current models of atmospheric chemistry cannot account for the carbon balance over forests, nor the formation of secondary organic aerosols. Combustion models struggle to predict how next-generation fuels burn in modern engines. The successful discovery of these intermediates would allow models to be more accurate and predictive. This will allow scientists, engineers and policy makers to make more informed decisions about atmospheric processes and design more efficient new fuels.Read moreRead less
Formation, photochemistry and fate of gas-phase peroxyl radicals. This project aims to understand how peroxyl radical reactions modulate the composition of air. The gas-phase chemical reactions of organic peroxyl radicals contribute to air quality in clean and polluted environments. However, experimental observations of these reaction intermediates and the complex mechanisms governing their formation and fate are limited. This project will use mass spectrometry and laser-based methods to interro ....Formation, photochemistry and fate of gas-phase peroxyl radicals. This project aims to understand how peroxyl radical reactions modulate the composition of air. The gas-phase chemical reactions of organic peroxyl radicals contribute to air quality in clean and polluted environments. However, experimental observations of these reaction intermediates and the complex mechanisms governing their formation and fate are limited. This project will use mass spectrometry and laser-based methods to interrogate the chemical and photochemical reactions of peroxyl radicals in the gas phase. This project expects to understand the composition and dynamics of the troposphere and inform strategies to improve air quality.Read moreRead less
Chemistry at the threshold: unusual mechanisms and unexpected products. The chemical processes in combustion and in the atmosphere are complex and understood incompletely; for example 30-60 million tonnes of acids in the atmosphere are unaccounted for. The project will measure and model three new chemical processes that may account for the atmospheric acids, and other unexplained occurrences in combustion chemistry.
Atmospheric photochemistry - it's a lot more complicated than we thought. The project plans to develop a more accurate model of the changing atmosphere. The chemical composition of Earth’s atmosphere is changing because of anthropogenic activities. Predicting the consequences of this change requires accurate chemical models. The hydroxyl radical (OH) is the most important radical in the atmosphere, yet atmospheric models predict its concentration in forested regions to be about 10 times lower th ....Atmospheric photochemistry - it's a lot more complicated than we thought. The project plans to develop a more accurate model of the changing atmosphere. The chemical composition of Earth’s atmosphere is changing because of anthropogenic activities. Predicting the consequences of this change requires accurate chemical models. The hydroxyl radical (OH) is the most important radical in the atmosphere, yet atmospheric models predict its concentration in forested regions to be about 10 times lower than measured. These models also predict the amount of organic acids to be lower than measured. This project hypothesises two new chemical processes to account for these discrepancies. Photo-isomerisation of carbonyls to enols is suggested to be a source of organic acids. Reaction of extraordinarily hot carbonyl photofragments with oxygen is hypothesised to be an important source of OH radicals.Read moreRead less
Blocking of the interfaces of polymeric ion sensors - implications for novel sensor applications. Control of the transmembrane fluxes of polymeric ion sensors represents a paradigm shift that has revolutionised the use of these analytically important devices. This project will develop and characterise innovative methods for controlling these fluxes by using blocked interfaces, and this has important ramifications for the development of robust and reliable sensors, as well as novel biosensors.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100549
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$384,616.00
Summary
The true impact of fluorinated compounds in the atmosphere. This project aims to improve the underpinning science that is incorporated into atmospheric chemistry models so humanity can better understand, predict and respond to the impact of emitting large volumes of fluorinated compounds. This project expects to challenge assumptions currently used to model the atmospheric chemistry of organic fluorine compounds, as well as to evaluate the environmental impact of replacements. Expected outcomes ....The true impact of fluorinated compounds in the atmosphere. This project aims to improve the underpinning science that is incorporated into atmospheric chemistry models so humanity can better understand, predict and respond to the impact of emitting large volumes of fluorinated compounds. This project expects to challenge assumptions currently used to model the atmospheric chemistry of organic fluorine compounds, as well as to evaluate the environmental impact of replacements. Expected outcomes include a general model of organic fluorine photochemistry and refined atmospheric chemistry models. This should provide significant benefits in that humanity can avoid an environmental disaster and new, environmentally benign products can be developed.Read moreRead less
A molecular understanding of transport fuels to drive clean and efficient combustion. A molecular understanding of hydrocarbon combustion remains incomplete and this inhibits the deployment of alternative fuels and clean/efficient engine technologies. This project will develop the chemistry that will enable accurate combustion models to accelerate developments towards clean and efficient fuels for the twenty-first century.
Cause and effect: new mechanisms of particles formation in thunderstorms. This project aims to identify meaningful and specific indicators for predicting particle formation and alteration during thunderstorms. How thunderstorms develop is well-understood. However, identifying meaningful and specific indicators for predicting particle alteration during a thunderstorm is still not clear. This project will practically contribute to the evidence of the impact of air particulates, thereby having dire ....Cause and effect: new mechanisms of particles formation in thunderstorms. This project aims to identify meaningful and specific indicators for predicting particle formation and alteration during thunderstorms. How thunderstorms develop is well-understood. However, identifying meaningful and specific indicators for predicting particle alteration during a thunderstorm is still not clear. This project will practically contribute to the evidence of the impact of air particulates, thereby having direct implications for meteorological, and air pollution policy in Australia and worldwide. This project will allow researchers to understand the impact of these factors on the escalation of the causative effects, and to find a way to prevent unnecessary fatal outcomes.Read moreRead less