Noise control in aircraft and motor vehicles. The principal aim of this collaborative program between Australian and Japanese research teams is to tackle the complex issue of using active noise control systems focussing "zones of quiet" at passengers in aircraft and motor vehicles. The work has important implications for increased comfort of air travel and a safer environment for drivers of heavy vehicles. The outcomes will be the development of "smart skins" for application to aircraft and veh ....Noise control in aircraft and motor vehicles. The principal aim of this collaborative program between Australian and Japanese research teams is to tackle the complex issue of using active noise control systems focussing "zones of quiet" at passengers in aircraft and motor vehicles. The work has important implications for increased comfort of air travel and a safer environment for drivers of heavy vehicles. The outcomes will be the development of "smart skins" for application to aircraft and vehicle cabin interiors to actively control of interior noise. This will be achieved by combining the Japanese team's "structural wavenumber sensors" and the Adelaide team's "virtual microphones".Read moreRead less
Virtual acoustic sensors for active noise control systems. Traditional active noise control systems achieve the greatest noise reduction at the microphone error sensor(s). It is often desirable to achieve the maximum noise reduction remote from such sensors. Virtual sensing technology, the focus of this application, has the promise to replace traditional microphone sensing by projecting the zone of quiet away from the sensor microphones and directly into the ear of the user of the active noise c ....Virtual acoustic sensors for active noise control systems. Traditional active noise control systems achieve the greatest noise reduction at the microphone error sensor(s). It is often desirable to achieve the maximum noise reduction remote from such sensors. Virtual sensing technology, the focus of this application, has the promise to replace traditional microphone sensing by projecting the zone of quiet away from the sensor microphones and directly into the ear of the user of the active noise control system. This will revolutionise the sensing used in active noise control systems, and in doing so allow the realisation of active noise control in applications that have previously been infeasible.Read moreRead less
Theory and methods for evaluation of microstructural fatigue damage. The microstructural damage accumulation stage often consumes a significant portion of the total fatigue life of structures. However, its progressive evaluation is beyond the reach of safety inspection techniques which are currently employed to maintain structural integrity and prevent fatigue failures. This project aims to fill this gap by developing innovative methods for the measurement of material properties related to fatig ....Theory and methods for evaluation of microstructural fatigue damage. The microstructural damage accumulation stage often consumes a significant portion of the total fatigue life of structures. However, its progressive evaluation is beyond the reach of safety inspection techniques which are currently employed to maintain structural integrity and prevent fatigue failures. This project aims to fill this gap by developing innovative methods for the measurement of material properties related to fatigue damage and establishing a new theory which links these properties to the remaining life of the structure. The project outcomes will facilitate the global trend towards predictive maintenance strategies, thereby generating substantial cost benefits, specifically, for high-value assets and ageing infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Next generation nondestructive inspection using guided-wave mixing. This project aims to develop a novel approach for early damage detection. It relies on a systematic experimental investigation of nonlinear ultrasonic interaction between different input wave modes in the presence of damage, so as to identify optimal mode selections and operating parameters that will maximise the sensitivity to particular forms of structural damage. The effects of in-service loading on wave-mixing response, and ....Next generation nondestructive inspection using guided-wave mixing. This project aims to develop a novel approach for early damage detection. It relies on a systematic experimental investigation of nonlinear ultrasonic interaction between different input wave modes in the presence of damage, so as to identify optimal mode selections and operating parameters that will maximise the sensitivity to particular forms of structural damage. The effects of in-service loading on wave-mixing response, and non-contact detection suitable for hard-to-inspect surface conditions, will also be investigated. The new developments will help transform existing schedule-based maintenance practice to a condition-based maintenance paradigm, to achieve significant cost savings in maintenance.Read moreRead less
Design of Tough, Durable and Corrosion-resistant Coatings. Coatings are frequently applied to components operating in harsh environments to enhance durability. Often such coatings exhibit low toughness and poor corrosion resistance that leads to premature failure. The aim of this project is to design, characterise and test innovative coatings that exhibit unique architectures based on natural materials such as teeth and nacre. It is envisaged that these coatings will be hard, tough and durable i ....Design of Tough, Durable and Corrosion-resistant Coatings. Coatings are frequently applied to components operating in harsh environments to enhance durability. Often such coatings exhibit low toughness and poor corrosion resistance that leads to premature failure. The aim of this project is to design, characterise and test innovative coatings that exhibit unique architectures based on natural materials such as teeth and nacre. It is envisaged that these coatings will be hard, tough and durable in hostile, corrosive environments, and will thus, transform industries such as manufacturing, mining and offshore oil exploration as well as enhance the lifetime of prosthetic devices.Read moreRead less
Novel vibro-acoustic technologies for detecting bearing and wheel defects in rail vehicles. Research will be conducted to provide the basis for the development of a novel automatic system that detects bearing and wheel defects in under-way railway wagons, thus helping to prevent catastrophic derailments and minimise fuel consumption. It will also maintain Australian industry at the forefront of the global track-side monitoring industry.