Using acoustic retroreflection in architecture to improve rooms for speech. This project aims to discover how a novel form of acoustic treatment can improve acoustics for speech in rooms such as classrooms and open-plan offices. The project will generate new knowledge on the theory, design, and effects of acoustically retroreflective surfaces in room acoustics. Expected outcomes include solutions for effective acoustic retroreflectors, knowledge on how retroreflection influences people’s voice r ....Using acoustic retroreflection in architecture to improve rooms for speech. This project aims to discover how a novel form of acoustic treatment can improve acoustics for speech in rooms such as classrooms and open-plan offices. The project will generate new knowledge on the theory, design, and effects of acoustically retroreflective surfaces in room acoustics. Expected outcomes include solutions for effective acoustic retroreflectors, knowledge on how retroreflection influences people’s voice regulation and sound quality perception, and guidelines and simulation tools for integrating retroreflective treatments to improve speaking comfort. This should provide significant benefits including opportunities to resolve seemingly intractable design dilemmas in the acoustics of education and workplace environments.Read moreRead less
Shallow foundations in unsaturated soils: mechanistic design through numerical modelling, analysis and experimental investigation. This project will close the knowledge gap of how shallow foundations perform in variably saturated soils. It will integrate expertise in unsaturated soil mechanics, theory of elasto-plasticity, numerical modelling, limit analysis and experimental investigation. It will achieve a rigorous understanding of footings founded on unsaturated soils subjected to monotonic lo ....Shallow foundations in unsaturated soils: mechanistic design through numerical modelling, analysis and experimental investigation. This project will close the knowledge gap of how shallow foundations perform in variably saturated soils. It will integrate expertise in unsaturated soil mechanics, theory of elasto-plasticity, numerical modelling, limit analysis and experimental investigation. It will achieve a rigorous understanding of footings founded on unsaturated soils subjected to monotonic loading using a recently developed experimental testing facility, and analyses using finite elements, the method of characteristics and zero extension line theory. Impact and adoption in industry will be direct through world first design tools which incorporate the influence of suction on bearing capacity, settlement and safety.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100130
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$320,000.00
Summary
An earthquake shaking table to investigate soil-structure interactions. An earthquake shaking table to investigate soil-structure interactions: This project aims to develop Australia's most advanced earthquake shaking table. Earthquakes are a problem of great significance to Australia. Infrastructure in civil, transport, mining and energy sectors may be at an unacceptable risk of damage under earthquake loading as current design practices do not account for the interaction between infrastructure ....An earthquake shaking table to investigate soil-structure interactions. An earthquake shaking table to investigate soil-structure interactions: This project aims to develop Australia's most advanced earthquake shaking table. Earthquakes are a problem of great significance to Australia. Infrastructure in civil, transport, mining and energy sectors may be at an unacceptable risk of damage under earthquake loading as current design practices do not account for the interaction between infrastructure and the ground under such loading. The shaking table will simulate earthquakes and enable controlled testing of three-tonne models of foundation and soil-structure interaction systems typical of Australia's infrastructure. The discoveries made are expected to be integral to the modernisation of Australia's seismic design standards so that earthquake-induced damage and risk exposure can be minimised.Read moreRead less
Behaviour of ultra-high strength double-skin composite tubular construction. Ultra-high strength (UHS) steel tubes are currently used mainly in the vehicle industry due to their high strength and light weight. This project aims to enable the building of more resilient and sustainable infrastructure by utilising these UHS steel tubes in double-skin composite tubular construction. To date there has been little work to understand the effects of fire, earthquake and impact related incidents on these ....Behaviour of ultra-high strength double-skin composite tubular construction. Ultra-high strength (UHS) steel tubes are currently used mainly in the vehicle industry due to their high strength and light weight. This project aims to enable the building of more resilient and sustainable infrastructure by utilising these UHS steel tubes in double-skin composite tubular construction. To date there has been little work to understand the effects of fire, earthquake and impact related incidents on these structures. This project aims to access unique testing facilities for full size impact and fire testing and the state-of-the-art hybrid testing simulation. It is expected to increase the competitiveness of the Australian manufacturing industry by overcoming the bottleneck in the manufacture of steel sections.Read moreRead less
Composite tubular construction subject to impact and blast loading. This project will advance the knowledge of composite tubular members and connections under impact and blast loading. It will provide confident design methodology against impact and blast loading for buildings designated as prominent targets or items of critical infrastructure, to save lives and reduce losses.
Developing innovative concrete composites by upscaling material properties. This project aims to develop an upscaling process to correlate micro-nano properties of engineering materials to their comprehensive physicochemical properties based on systematic mechanical and statistical analysis approaches and nanoindentation technology. The process will enable assessing material mechanical and viscoelastic properties at a microscale level thus will generate a new knowledge in structural engineering ....Developing innovative concrete composites by upscaling material properties. This project aims to develop an upscaling process to correlate micro-nano properties of engineering materials to their comprehensive physicochemical properties based on systematic mechanical and statistical analysis approaches and nanoindentation technology. The process will enable assessing material mechanical and viscoelastic properties at a microscale level thus will generate a new knowledge in structural engineering discipline including health monitoring, assessment of existing structures, historical buildings, and strengthening and repairing materials in structures. The outcomes are a multiscale link model for upscaling material properties and a development of innovative reinforced concrete composites which are cost-effective and efficient.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100747
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$333,157.00
Summary
Reliability assessment of concrete-filled steel tubular frames designed by advanced analysis. Concrete-filled steel tubular structures have been increasingly used in high-rise buildings, bridges and other infrastructure due to their enhanced properties such as high strength, high ductility and large energy absorption capability. This project will evaluate the system reliability of concrete-filled steel tubular frames designed by advanced analysis. The influences of inherent uncertainties in load ....Reliability assessment of concrete-filled steel tubular frames designed by advanced analysis. Concrete-filled steel tubular structures have been increasingly used in high-rise buildings, bridges and other infrastructure due to their enhanced properties such as high strength, high ductility and large energy absorption capability. This project will evaluate the system reliability of concrete-filled steel tubular frames designed by advanced analysis. The influences of inherent uncertainties in loads, strength capacities, material properties and geometric properties on the system reliability of such frames will be studied. The outcomes of this project will be used to develop reliability-based provisions to achieve a target reliability range in the design of concrete-filled steel tubular structures.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100138
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$235,000.00
Summary
National Drop Weight Impact Testing Facility. National drop weight impact testing facility:
The national drop weight impact testing facility aims to enable dynamic tests on geo- and construction materials and systems. This facility aims to provide state-of-the-art technology to observe the real-time behaviour of elements and sub-assemblies under combined quasi-static and impact loading. Understanding material behaviour under dynamic loading is essential in dealing with many engineering problems ....National Drop Weight Impact Testing Facility. National drop weight impact testing facility:
The national drop weight impact testing facility aims to enable dynamic tests on geo- and construction materials and systems. This facility aims to provide state-of-the-art technology to observe the real-time behaviour of elements and sub-assemblies under combined quasi-static and impact loading. Understanding material behaviour under dynamic loading is essential in dealing with many engineering problems. The facility may advance understanding of the fundamental behaviour of critical infrastructure exposed to impact loading and will foster innovations in design and construction. Applications may include improvement of the structural safety of infrastructure including railway networks, tunnels and bridges, and also the development of cost-effective and environmentally friendly building and construction materials. Read moreRead less
Seismic attenuation of structures through use of magnetorheological dampers. This project aims to improve understanding of the attenuating characteristics of the co-flowing of magnetised solid particles and fluid in a conduit subject to seismic waves generated by rapid ground movement. The distribution of magnetised solid particles in fluid plays an important role in the design of large-scale magnetorhelogical dampers for seismic conditions. These dampers promote the protection of historical str ....Seismic attenuation of structures through use of magnetorheological dampers. This project aims to improve understanding of the attenuating characteristics of the co-flowing of magnetised solid particles and fluid in a conduit subject to seismic waves generated by rapid ground movement. The distribution of magnetised solid particles in fluid plays an important role in the design of large-scale magnetorhelogical dampers for seismic conditions. These dampers promote the protection of historical structures and eliminate costly rebuilding of architectural structures. The project plans to perform experimental and numerical investigations to develop robust and accurate predictive models to improve understanding of the seismic attenuation of next-generation magnetorhelogical dampers, prevalent in semi-active control devices, and of the ability of such devices to suppress elevated structural vibrations.Read moreRead less
Time Dependent Behaviour of Fibre Reinforced Concrete Structures. . The project aims to quantify the initial and long-term cracking and deformation of fibre reinforced concrete structures such as tunnel linings and slabs under sustained in-service loads and conditions. Concrete structures with and without conventional steel reinforcement and containing either steel or polypropylene fibres mixed in the concrete will be tested experimentally and modelled analytically and numerically. Expected outc ....Time Dependent Behaviour of Fibre Reinforced Concrete Structures. . The project aims to quantify the initial and long-term cracking and deformation of fibre reinforced concrete structures such as tunnel linings and slabs under sustained in-service loads and conditions. Concrete structures with and without conventional steel reinforcement and containing either steel or polypropylene fibres mixed in the concrete will be tested experimentally and modelled analytically and numerically. Expected outcomes are benchmark experimental data on structural behaviour under sustained loads, development of reliable simulation models and robust design procedures for the control of time-dependent cracking and deformation in fibre reinforced concrete, with reduced maintenance costs and more sustainable concrete structures.Read moreRead less