A Vision Controlled Autonomous Multi-Robot Welding System. This developed system will increase the application of robotic welding in more Australian industries thereby increaseing the productivity and competitiveness of the nation. The system will provide a safer work environment for workers by reducing and potentially eliminating direct exposure of workers to the welding process. This fully automated welding system will give the Lincoln a significant advantage in commercialise this technology b ....A Vision Controlled Autonomous Multi-Robot Welding System. This developed system will increase the application of robotic welding in more Australian industries thereby increaseing the productivity and competitiveness of the nation. The system will provide a safer work environment for workers by reducing and potentially eliminating direct exposure of workers to the welding process. This fully automated welding system will give the Lincoln a significant advantage in commercialise this technology both in Australia and overseas. Therefore, this will reap considerable economic benefit for the company, and the nation. This project will also provide a realistic industrial environment for PhD student training.Read moreRead less
Virtual Reality Training Kit for Arc Welders. The aim of this research is to develop a virtual reality training package that enables welders to obtain basic manipulative skills in a safe environment before they are exposed to additional welding hazards. The research addresses the problem of welder training in a novel manner by utilizing a virtual reality simulator to allow the welding trainee to develop his manipulative and functional skills prior to attempting real welding tasks. An additional ....Virtual Reality Training Kit for Arc Welders. The aim of this research is to develop a virtual reality training package that enables welders to obtain basic manipulative skills in a safe environment before they are exposed to additional welding hazards. The research addresses the problem of welder training in a novel manner by utilizing a virtual reality simulator to allow the welding trainee to develop his manipulative and functional skills prior to attempting real welding tasks. An additional feature of the package is the internetworking facility that will allow monitoring and feedback of results to trainers. This is an advantage especially for remote communitiesRead moreRead less
Advanced Testing and Structural Analysis for Assessment and Control of Hydrogen Damage in Structural Steels. Hydrogen offers the potential for reducing emissions in transport and energy generation industries as it is a low emission energy carrier. However, there remain questions in relation to the effects of hydrogen gas on the structural integrity of large structural steel components, such as gas distribution pipelines. The project aims to provide guidance on the safe use of hydrogen in high pr ....Advanced Testing and Structural Analysis for Assessment and Control of Hydrogen Damage in Structural Steels. Hydrogen offers the potential for reducing emissions in transport and energy generation industries as it is a low emission energy carrier. However, there remain questions in relation to the effects of hydrogen gas on the structural integrity of large structural steel components, such as gas distribution pipelines. The project aims to provide guidance on the safe use of hydrogen in high pressure vessels manufactured from low alloy ferritic steels. This project will increase confidence in relevant safety codes and standards, consequently increasing the likelihood of large scale uptake of hydrogen energy technologies. Read moreRead less
Modelling and control of electromagnetically propelled arcs in joining processes. Magnetically impelled arc butt (MIAB) joining is a non-traditional manufacturing process for tubular steel components. Parameter selection and tuning have to date been experimentally determined via exhaustive trial-and-error techniques. Therefore the full capabilities of the process have not yet been realised. The project aims to model and optimise the complex process and thus facilitate the development of new a ....Modelling and control of electromagnetically propelled arcs in joining processes. Magnetically impelled arc butt (MIAB) joining is a non-traditional manufacturing process for tubular steel components. Parameter selection and tuning have to date been experimentally determined via exhaustive trial-and-error techniques. Therefore the full capabilities of the process have not yet been realised. The project aims to model and optimise the complex process and thus facilitate the development of new and effective control strategies. It is expected that novel power source designs will emerge as an outcome of the research proposed.Read moreRead less
Developing a scientific relationship between non-destructive testing ("NDT"), manufacturing acceptance levels and integrity requirements for pressure equipment welds. The acceptance of pressure equipment welds involves the interplay of three engineering fields: manufacturing acceptance standards, non-destructive testing and structural integrity analysis. Historically each of these fields has been developed separately by different research groups. In recent years these developments have acceler ....Developing a scientific relationship between non-destructive testing ("NDT"), manufacturing acceptance levels and integrity requirements for pressure equipment welds. The acceptance of pressure equipment welds involves the interplay of three engineering fields: manufacturing acceptance standards, non-destructive testing and structural integrity analysis. Historically each of these fields has been developed separately by different research groups. In recent years these developments have accelerated with new demands on failure risk, a revolution in NDT techniques and advances in structural integrity analysis. As a result there are now large inconsistencies between the various requirements which lead to serious disputes in industry.
This project seeks to redefine the appropriate relationship between the fields and develop a scientific and logical pathway for standards development.Read moreRead less
DETERMINATION OF SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ENVIRONMENTALLY-ASSISTED CRACKING OF SMALL AND MICROSTRUCTURALLY VARIED REGIONS WHILE MAINTAINING FRACTURE MECHANICS VALIDITY. The proposed work seeks to develop an improved tool for more accurate design data and improved materials selection criteria for critical equipment and infrastructure maintenance in major Australian industries, where environmentally-assisted cracking is a serious concern (viz., marine, polymer/chemical processing, aeronautical, alumina m ....DETERMINATION OF SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ENVIRONMENTALLY-ASSISTED CRACKING OF SMALL AND MICROSTRUCTURALLY VARIED REGIONS WHILE MAINTAINING FRACTURE MECHANICS VALIDITY. The proposed work seeks to develop an improved tool for more accurate design data and improved materials selection criteria for critical equipment and infrastructure maintenance in major Australian industries, where environmentally-assisted cracking is a serious concern (viz., marine, polymer/chemical processing, aeronautical, alumina mineral processing and pulp-and-paper). A successful validation of the novel testing approach (namely, Spiral Notch Torsion Test (SNTT)) for evaluating the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility of materials of practical interest that are difficult or impossible to adequately characterize by conventional tests, is as much a fundamental research challenge as its accomplishment will be industrially attractive.Read moreRead less
Improvement in Stress Corrosion Cracking Resistance of Stainless Steels in Environments Conducive to Localized Pitting Damage. Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) represents a serious threat to infrastructure exposed to chloride and caustic environments. The proposed project will characterize the chloride-SCC crack propagation parameters for a super duplex stainless steel, which is the material of construction for vessels for stripping vinyl chloride monomer in a PVC processing plant. Alarmingly hig ....Improvement in Stress Corrosion Cracking Resistance of Stainless Steels in Environments Conducive to Localized Pitting Damage. Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) represents a serious threat to infrastructure exposed to chloride and caustic environments. The proposed project will characterize the chloride-SCC crack propagation parameters for a super duplex stainless steel, which is the material of construction for vessels for stripping vinyl chloride monomer in a PVC processing plant. Alarmingly high numbers the welds (nearly 50%) in the vessel had suffered extensive pitting (which is a well-known SCC initiator) and SCC cracking. For the mitigation measures, the project will also investigate pitting and SCC susceptibility of weldments of alternative varieties of stainless steels, such as Zeron 100.Read moreRead less
Integration of Wireless LAN and GPRS/UMTS Cellular Systems. Integration of wireless local area networks with cellular mobile systems provides a feasible, reliable, and cost-effective way for high-speed mobile Internet access in wide area networks. In this project in collaboration with Australia's second largest telecommunications company; Optus, we will develop network architecture and essential access and mobility techniques for such a system. The project's outcomes will enable Optus to expand ....Integration of Wireless LAN and GPRS/UMTS Cellular Systems. Integration of wireless local area networks with cellular mobile systems provides a feasible, reliable, and cost-effective way for high-speed mobile Internet access in wide area networks. In this project in collaboration with Australia's second largest telecommunications company; Optus, we will develop network architecture and essential access and mobility techniques for such a system. The project's outcomes will enable Optus to expand its broadband mobile Internet service to all parts and population of the country including rural and regional areas and subsequently export the breakthrough technology resulted from the project to overseas.Read moreRead less
Cooperative Mesh Networks for Municipal Wireless Access. Robust mobile broadband data communication is vital for public safety and emergency services applications. This project will improve the performance and cost-effectiveness of mesh networks, enabling new network architectures. Immediate benefits to Australia will be: Contribution to a growing knowledge base and fundamental capabilities wireless broadband communications; Education of future leading academic and industrial innovators; Raising ....Cooperative Mesh Networks for Municipal Wireless Access. Robust mobile broadband data communication is vital for public safety and emergency services applications. This project will improve the performance and cost-effectiveness of mesh networks, enabling new network architectures. Immediate benefits to Australia will be: Contribution to a growing knowledge base and fundamental capabilities wireless broadband communications; Education of future leading academic and industrial innovators; Raising the international profile of Australian research in information technology. The contribution of Information and Communications Technology to the National economy is widely recognized. ICT contributes to wealth creation, employment and exports, underpinning many innovation processes.Read moreRead less
Enhancing Australian Universities' Research Commercialisation Performance. The primary aims of the project are to develop a detailed understanding of the systematic barriers to research commercialisation within Australian universities and to promote innovation within the commercialisation through the adoption of effective processes. The project will also explore the needs of the smaller and regional universities to develop effective strategies that will enhance their research commercialisation c ....Enhancing Australian Universities' Research Commercialisation Performance. The primary aims of the project are to develop a detailed understanding of the systematic barriers to research commercialisation within Australian universities and to promote innovation within the commercialisation through the adoption of effective processes. The project will also explore the needs of the smaller and regional universities to develop effective strategies that will enhance their research commercialisation capacity and performance through the promotion of industry uptake of their research outcomes.Read moreRead less