SYNTHESIS OF A NANO-STRUCTURED TITANIA SURFACE AND ITS APPLICATION IN PHOTOCATALYTIC OXIDATION FOR WATER TREATMENT. Australia is facing severe freshwater crisis. Although there is an increasing public awareness of saving and using water efficiently, re-using water/wastewater has been neglected. In Australia, 97% of city runoff and 86% of effluent water is unproductive. How to recycle and re-use them becomes an urgent issue. This project attempts to develop novel titania based photocatalysts to c ....SYNTHESIS OF A NANO-STRUCTURED TITANIA SURFACE AND ITS APPLICATION IN PHOTOCATALYTIC OXIDATION FOR WATER TREATMENT. Australia is facing severe freshwater crisis. Although there is an increasing public awareness of saving and using water efficiently, re-using water/wastewater has been neglected. In Australia, 97% of city runoff and 86% of effluent water is unproductive. How to recycle and re-use them becomes an urgent issue. This project attempts to develop novel titania based photocatalysts to convert organic contaminated water into reusable/potable freshwater. The project's innovation lies in the synthesis of highly reactive nano-structured titania surfaces in fixed form to solve downstream separation problem. Successful development of such photocatalysts will show significant environmental and socio-economic benefits to Australia.Read moreRead less
Tough bio-derived and biodegradable wood plastic composites. This project aims for the development of tough bio-based and biodegradable wood plastic composites (WPCs), directly addressing a key end-user demand that performance of bio-WPCs must be at least comparable with existing commercial WPCs. The project expects to generate key innovations such as developing a new, high performance, bio-based and biodegradable WPC by incorporating native spinifex-derived nano-cellulose fibres, ensuring excel ....Tough bio-derived and biodegradable wood plastic composites. This project aims for the development of tough bio-based and biodegradable wood plastic composites (WPCs), directly addressing a key end-user demand that performance of bio-WPCs must be at least comparable with existing commercial WPCs. The project expects to generate key innovations such as developing a new, high performance, bio-based and biodegradable WPC by incorporating native spinifex-derived nano-cellulose fibres, ensuring excellent, molecular-level dispersion with a novel low-cost and energy-efficient wet-mix technology. This will provide significant benefits as it will lead to new products and markets for the Australian forestry industry and for rural and indigenous Australia, maximising Australia’s competitive advantage in biomass-derived products.Read moreRead less
Programming anisotropy into responsive soft materials. The project aims to generate viscoelastic soft materials with programmable anisotropy using aqueous suspensions of colloidal rods that have tunable surface coatings. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the rheology and structural characteristics of this unique class of materials. A key innovation is the use of charge-directed polymer self-assembly to control colloidal interactions, suspension rheology and phase behaviour. The in ....Programming anisotropy into responsive soft materials. The project aims to generate viscoelastic soft materials with programmable anisotropy using aqueous suspensions of colloidal rods that have tunable surface coatings. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the rheology and structural characteristics of this unique class of materials. A key innovation is the use of charge-directed polymer self-assembly to control colloidal interactions, suspension rheology and phase behaviour. The intended outcome is spatial control over the orientation of nanostructures, potentially mimicking the structural hierarchy found in nature. This should provide significant benefits to the creation of viscoelastic materials with complex rheology as well as structural, mechanical and optical heterogeneity.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100212
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$393,229.00
Summary
Behaviour and reliability of Veneer Based Composite structures manufactured from waste hardwood plantation thinning. This project will investigate the structural behaviour, strength and reliability of innovative veneer based composite structures manufactured from waste hardwood plantation thinning. Unlike sawn timber, these structures have efficient cross-sectional shapes and can be made in sizes currently not available in timber. Yet due to the proportion of natural singularities in the materia ....Behaviour and reliability of Veneer Based Composite structures manufactured from waste hardwood plantation thinning. This project will investigate the structural behaviour, strength and reliability of innovative veneer based composite structures manufactured from waste hardwood plantation thinning. Unlike sawn timber, these structures have efficient cross-sectional shapes and can be made in sizes currently not available in timber. Yet due to the proportion of natural singularities in the material, the variability in their mechanical properties is not fully understood and their actual strength cannot be accurately predicted. Additionally, their exact structural behaviour and failure modes require attention. This project aims to fill these gaps in knowledge and ultimately establish probability-based limit state design criteria for these sections.Read moreRead less
Industrial Transformation Training Centres - Grant ID: IC180100008
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,981,223.00
Summary
ARC Training Centre for Multiscale 3D Imaging, Modelling and Manufacturing. The ARC Training Centre for Multiscale 3D Imaging, Modelling and Manufacturing aims to connect the detailed microscopic characteristics of materials with their macroscopic properties and design characteristics of natural and manufactured structures. It will train a new generation of researchers and practitioners in the emerging discipline of Digital Materials. The approach allows optimisation at all scales, enabling cost ....ARC Training Centre for Multiscale 3D Imaging, Modelling and Manufacturing. The ARC Training Centre for Multiscale 3D Imaging, Modelling and Manufacturing aims to connect the detailed microscopic characteristics of materials with their macroscopic properties and design characteristics of natural and manufactured structures. It will train a new generation of researchers and practitioners in the emerging discipline of Digital Materials. The approach allows optimisation at all scales, enabling cost reductions and performance enhancements in key industries, including Oil, Gas and Energy Resources, Medical Technologies, and Advanced Manufacturing. The Centre expects to reduce the time needed in the prototyping cycle and product development, increasing industry’s capacity for accelerated innovation. The developments will build world-class Australian capabilities for developing high-value scaleable production of bespoke products and optimised process design.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101512
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Behaviour of novel FRP-timber composite thin-walled structural members. This project aims to investigate the structural behaviour of innovative hybrid Fibre Reinforced Polymer - Timber Composite (FRPTC) sections manufactured from small 'sawlog' timber. These FRPTC sections are made by taking advantage of the orthotropic material properties and, unlike sawn timber, these structures have efficient cross sectional shapes and can be made easily in different sizes to match the requirements. Even thou ....Behaviour of novel FRP-timber composite thin-walled structural members. This project aims to investigate the structural behaviour of innovative hybrid Fibre Reinforced Polymer - Timber Composite (FRPTC) sections manufactured from small 'sawlog' timber. These FRPTC sections are made by taking advantage of the orthotropic material properties and, unlike sawn timber, these structures have efficient cross sectional shapes and can be made easily in different sizes to match the requirements. Even though preliminary studies have shown promising results, behaviour of these FRPTC sections are not yet fully understood. This project aims to investigate the behaviour of these novel FRPTC sections and to develop numerical models to allow wide usage of these sections.Read moreRead less
Behaviour of novel FRP-timber ultralight thin-walled structural members. This project aims to investigate the structural behaviour of innovative hybrid fibre reinforced polymer–timber composite (FRPTC) thin-walled members which could be used as structural members in roof systems, façade systems, floor systems, etc. These FRPTC sections are made by taking advantage of the orthotropic material properties. Unlike sawn timber, these structures have efficient cross-sectional shapes and can be made ea ....Behaviour of novel FRP-timber ultralight thin-walled structural members. This project aims to investigate the structural behaviour of innovative hybrid fibre reinforced polymer–timber composite (FRPTC) thin-walled members which could be used as structural members in roof systems, façade systems, floor systems, etc. These FRPTC sections are made by taking advantage of the orthotropic material properties. Unlike sawn timber, these structures have efficient cross-sectional shapes and can be made easily in different sizes to match the requirements. Preliminary studies have shown promising results, however the behaviour of these novel FRPTC members is not yet fully understood. This project aims to investigate the behaviour of these novel FRPTC thin-walled members, specifically Cee-section members.Read moreRead less
Transforming Australian bio-based industries through multiscale modelling. Agricultural and forestry biomass can be converted into feedstocks for production of biofuels and biomaterials via synthetic biology. A key challenge is the complex biomass microstructure renders it highly resistant to conversion, and pretreatment is crucial for enhancing process efficiency. Micro-CT imaging will enable particle characterisation and identification of changes in the fibre composition during pretreatment. T ....Transforming Australian bio-based industries through multiscale modelling. Agricultural and forestry biomass can be converted into feedstocks for production of biofuels and biomaterials via synthetic biology. A key challenge is the complex biomass microstructure renders it highly resistant to conversion, and pretreatment is crucial for enhancing process efficiency. Micro-CT imaging will enable particle characterisation and identification of changes in the fibre composition during pretreatment. This information will be used to create a virtual biomass particle model for an in silico investigation to inform optimal process design. The framework will transform the way biomass is processed, contributing to the growth of the Australian bio-manufacturing industry by making it more productive, profitable and sustainable.Read moreRead less
High performance bioderived hybrid fillers for rubber composite. This project aims to address a significant problem in polymer composite synthesis by production and application of high performance bioderived hybrid silica fillers from renewable biomass feedstock. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of advanced manufacturing using interdisciplinary approaches in biorefining, filler and composite production and characterization. Expected outcomes of this project include a mo ....High performance bioderived hybrid fillers for rubber composite. This project aims to address a significant problem in polymer composite synthesis by production and application of high performance bioderived hybrid silica fillers from renewable biomass feedstock. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of advanced manufacturing using interdisciplinary approaches in biorefining, filler and composite production and characterization. Expected outcomes of this project include a more sustainable filler production process for producing novel bioderived silica fillers with properties superior to commercial silica fillers. The successful implementation of this project will lead to the development of a new advanced manufacturing industry, creating jobs in regional Australia. Read moreRead less
Fibre-Reinforced Timber for Novel Hybrid Folded Thin-Walled Structures. This project proposes novel manufacture and analysis methods for fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) hybrid sections. FRP composites have gained wide acceptance within the civil engineering community. All-FRP systems typically use thin-walled profiles based on steel sections, but existing manufacturing technologies are unable to optimise material usage. Hybrid systems combine FRP with traditional materials for optimum structural ....Fibre-Reinforced Timber for Novel Hybrid Folded Thin-Walled Structures. This project proposes novel manufacture and analysis methods for fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) hybrid sections. FRP composites have gained wide acceptance within the civil engineering community. All-FRP systems typically use thin-walled profiles based on steel sections, but existing manufacturing technologies are unable to optimise material usage. Hybrid systems combine FRP with traditional materials for optimum structural performance and so are often more economical than all-FRP systems. This project aims to develop an effective way to analyse, manufacture, and design FRP-based hybrid thin-walled structural members and optimise performance against buckling failure modes. The technology developed in this project would support the development of advanced low-cost FRP structural systems.Read moreRead less