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
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
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
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
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775656
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$490,000.00
Summary
High Rate Testing System for Materials and Structures. Human or natural disasters such as terrorist attack or tsunami take place and they have catastrophic consequences, in terms of fatalities and psyche of fear among the population, as well as enormous financial loss. Vehicle accident is another example. In Australia, 1636 people were killed in 1481 road crashes, in 2005 alone. There is a great demand for research into devising novel materials and structures for optimum performance under such c ....High Rate Testing System for Materials and Structures. Human or natural disasters such as terrorist attack or tsunami take place and they have catastrophic consequences, in terms of fatalities and psyche of fear among the population, as well as enormous financial loss. Vehicle accident is another example. In Australia, 1636 people were killed in 1481 road crashes, in 2005 alone. There is a great demand for research into devising novel materials and structures for optimum performance under such circumstances. The proposed new high rate testing system will significantly advance research in this area. The facility will directly support a range of research projects in material and structural design in military and civil vehicles, aerospace industry and defence.Read moreRead less
Design of Welded Steel Tubular Connections. Steel tubes are widely used in building, road transportation, defence, recreation, and agriculture industries. The proposed program will develop static design procedures for welded tubular connections to ensure safe and economic structures. The program will also investigate the behaviour of a popular tubular connection utilizing very high strength steel tubes to extend the existing design scope and enhance the utilization of Australian produced innovat ....Design of Welded Steel Tubular Connections. Steel tubes are widely used in building, road transportation, defence, recreation, and agriculture industries. The proposed program will develop static design procedures for welded tubular connections to ensure safe and economic structures. The program will also investigate the behaviour of a popular tubular connection utilizing very high strength steel tubes to extend the existing design scope and enhance the utilization of Australian produced innovative tubular sections. The notch toughness of steel tubes will also be investigated to avoid fracture failure of welded connections under dynamic loading. The program will build strong ongoing collaboration between University of Toronto and Monash University.Read moreRead less
Interaction of Local and Distortional Buckling in Thin-Walled High Strength Steel Sections. Recent research at the University of Sydney has shown that the local and distortional buckling modes in thin-walled high strength steel sections may have adverse interaction. Cold-Formed steel sections of this type are used in residential construction, ceiling systems, partitioning systems in offices and other light gauge applications. The project will develop mathematical models of the interaction beha ....Interaction of Local and Distortional Buckling in Thin-Walled High Strength Steel Sections. Recent research at the University of Sydney has shown that the local and distortional buckling modes in thin-walled high strength steel sections may have adverse interaction. Cold-Formed steel sections of this type are used in residential construction, ceiling systems, partitioning systems in offices and other light gauge applications. The project will develop mathematical models of the interaction behaviour of sections of this type for a wide range of section geometries. A major outcome will be design methods which accurately quantify the interaction behaviour based on the models. Testing will be undertaken to support the theoretical developments and to calibrate the design models.Read moreRead less
Structural behaviour of innovative hollow flange steel members subject to local and lateral distortional buckling effects. This project will investigate the local and lateral distortional buckling behaviour of a new generation of innovative and cost-effective thin and high strength steel hollow flange sections (HFS) being developed using a unique dual weld and roll-forming technology. It will use experiments and advanced numerical modelling to develop fundamental behavioural and design data for ....Structural behaviour of innovative hollow flange steel members subject to local and lateral distortional buckling effects. This project will investigate the local and lateral distortional buckling behaviour of a new generation of innovative and cost-effective thin and high strength steel hollow flange sections (HFS) being developed using a unique dual weld and roll-forming technology. It will use experiments and advanced numerical modelling to develop fundamental behavioural and design data for HFS flexural members. Effects of web corrugations and punched holes will also be investigated. The research will enable innovative applications using HFS in the building industry in Australia and overseas. It will bring significant economic benefits to the industry partner, steel building industry, and Australia.Read moreRead less
An Integrated Thermal and Structural Investigation for the Development of Innovative Lightweight Cold-formed Steel Wall and Floor Systems under Fire Conditions. This research will benefit the Australian building industry by providing a set of design rules that will not only enhance the fire safety standards but also the structural robustness of steel construction, thereby resulting in a reduction in loss of lives and property due to natural or man-made disasters. This will give Australian manufa ....An Integrated Thermal and Structural Investigation for the Development of Innovative Lightweight Cold-formed Steel Wall and Floor Systems under Fire Conditions. This research will benefit the Australian building industry by providing a set of design rules that will not only enhance the fire safety standards but also the structural robustness of steel construction, thereby resulting in a reduction in loss of lives and property due to natural or man-made disasters. This will give Australian manufacturers a leading edge both nationally and internationally in developing innovative prefabricated fire resistant LSF wall and floor systems using high strength steels. Australians have an opportunity to become world leaders in fire research and LSF construction. It will provide valuable research training to young Australians and will contribute to the protection of Australia's critical infrastructure.Read moreRead less