Enhancing passive cooling using flexible baffles. The project aims to develop a novel passive strategy using fluid-structure-thermal interactions to enhance passive cooling by natural convection and improve the energy efficiency of engineering systems. Comparing to the existing strategies, the new strategy does not require driving fan or pump and is quiet, reliable, self-adaptive and economical. The Multiphysics embodied in the proposal is at the leading edge of the field. Expected outcomes incl ....Enhancing passive cooling using flexible baffles. The project aims to develop a novel passive strategy using fluid-structure-thermal interactions to enhance passive cooling by natural convection and improve the energy efficiency of engineering systems. Comparing to the existing strategies, the new strategy does not require driving fan or pump and is quiet, reliable, self-adaptive and economical. The Multiphysics embodied in the proposal is at the leading edge of the field. Expected outcomes include advanced understanding of the complex Multiphysics and design rules for enhancing passive cooling by natural convection using flexible baffles. The research is expected to bring direct economic benefit to relevant industry and significant environmental and social benefit to the general public.Read moreRead less
Towards energy-efficient lighting based on light-emitting diodes: the role of silicon carbide grown on Si Wafers. This project will investigate a potential solution to the problems of cost and quality of light-emitting diodes for solid-state lighting. The expected outcome is knowledge to underpin future development of solid-state lighting that is suitable for a wide replacement of the much less efficient and effective incandescent bulbs and fluorescent tubes.
Developing novel big-data based models for designing greener turbines. Developing novel big-data based models for designing greener turbines. This project aims to improve the fuel efficiency of gas turbines, the backbone of power generation and aircraft propulsion, for efficient and affordable power generation and air travel. Australia is large, remote and has some of the world’s highest carbon dioxide emissions per capita. Improving fuel efficiency will reduce cost and emissions, but current de ....Developing novel big-data based models for designing greener turbines. Developing novel big-data based models for designing greener turbines. This project aims to improve the fuel efficiency of gas turbines, the backbone of power generation and aircraft propulsion, for efficient and affordable power generation and air travel. Australia is large, remote and has some of the world’s highest carbon dioxide emissions per capita. Improving fuel efficiency will reduce cost and emissions, but current design tools lack the accuracy to advance technology. This project will investigate fluid flow in gas turbines and use big-data analytics to develop more accurate design tools. Gas turbines with reduced fuel usage and carbon dioxide emissions are expected to reduce the cost and environmental impact of power generation and air travel in Australia.Read moreRead less
Micromechanical analysis of size segregation and its prediction in granular free-surface flows. Industries often suffer from size segregation in the handling and processing of granular materials, leading to significant economic consequences. This project aims to develop a fundamental understanding of size segregation and prediction models, enabling industries to eliminate, minimise, or manage the effects to an acceptable level.
Advanced multivariable nonlinear control methodology for matrix converters. The aim of this project is to explore a specific multivariable nonlinear control design problem. Motivation for the project arises from the control of Matrix Converters. Matrix Converters are considered one of the key enabling technologies for the electric transport of the future. However, their penetration into practice has fallen short of their promise. This is, in part, due to the associated control design problem whi ....Advanced multivariable nonlinear control methodology for matrix converters. The aim of this project is to explore a specific multivariable nonlinear control design problem. Motivation for the project arises from the control of Matrix Converters. Matrix Converters are considered one of the key enabling technologies for the electric transport of the future. However, their penetration into practice has fallen short of their promise. This is, in part, due to the associated control design problem which is extremely difficult involving coupled nonlinear dynamics and under-actuation. We plan to address these problems by using modern control system design methods. Our specific goal is to achieve a provably stable, closed loop control system whose performance is independent of unmeasured disturbances and model errors.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140101489
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$387,220.00
Summary
Micro-mechanical and micro-structural aspects of strength variation in rocks under various loading conditions. Understanding rock failure is of vital interest to researchers and practitioners across a wide range of productive activities, including those of critical importance to the Australian economy such as mining and civil engineering design and contracting. The failure of rocks is a complex function of interactions between pre-existing micro-cracks and loading conditions. This project will d ....Micro-mechanical and micro-structural aspects of strength variation in rocks under various loading conditions. Understanding rock failure is of vital interest to researchers and practitioners across a wide range of productive activities, including those of critical importance to the Australian economy such as mining and civil engineering design and contracting. The failure of rocks is a complex function of interactions between pre-existing micro-cracks and loading conditions. This project will develop a much-needed understanding of the mechanisms leading to rock failure and damage. The project will explore micro and macro-scale mechanisms under both static and cyclic loading conditions. Laboratory testing and micro-analysis will be combined with discrete element modelling to achieve this end.Read moreRead less
Efficient Pipeline Transport of Highly Concentrated Wastewater Sludge . This project aims to investigate the rheology and fluid mechanics of highly concentrated wastewater sludges and develop tools to support effective pipeline designs for wastewater treatment plants. The project expects to generate new knowledge about the complex flow of concentrated wastewater which will enable predictive models to support the design and optimization of pipeline transport systems. Expected outcomes of the proj ....Efficient Pipeline Transport of Highly Concentrated Wastewater Sludge . This project aims to investigate the rheology and fluid mechanics of highly concentrated wastewater sludges and develop tools to support effective pipeline designs for wastewater treatment plants. The project expects to generate new knowledge about the complex flow of concentrated wastewater which will enable predictive models to support the design and optimization of pipeline transport systems. Expected outcomes of the project include a new toolkit that will enable wastewater treatment plants to design and optimize both existing and future pipeline systems. This will support the Australian wastewater industry to plan for future growth, increase throughput and efficiency, reduce environmental pollutants, and capital and operating costs.Read moreRead less
Application of exact coherent structures to transition and turbulence. This project aims to understand coherent structures and devise methods to prevent bypass transition to turbulence and reduce turbulent wall drag. Coherent structures in turbulence may be identified with nonlinear solutions of the exact equations of motion. Such "exact" coherent structures have their Reynolds number dependence described explicitly and apply for moderate to very large Reynolds numbers, well above the range of f ....Application of exact coherent structures to transition and turbulence. This project aims to understand coherent structures and devise methods to prevent bypass transition to turbulence and reduce turbulent wall drag. Coherent structures in turbulence may be identified with nonlinear solutions of the exact equations of motion. Such "exact" coherent structures have their Reynolds number dependence described explicitly and apply for moderate to very large Reynolds numbers, well above the range of full Navier–Stokes calculations. Understanding the fundamentals of turbulence is expected to lead to more efficient and cheaper air transportation, and better tools for climate prediction and short-term weather forecasting.Read moreRead less
A Novel Approach To Flow Control By Topography. The project will resolve important questions concerning the influence of boundary topography on transition to turbulence and on the exact coherent structures forming the backbone of turbulence.
The canonical topography known from previous work by one of the investigators is a wavy wall and, as well as resolving important issues in flow physics, the research is relevant to many flows of importance such roughness induced transition on aircraft wings, ....A Novel Approach To Flow Control By Topography. The project will resolve important questions concerning the influence of boundary topography on transition to turbulence and on the exact coherent structures forming the backbone of turbulence.
The canonical topography known from previous work by one of the investigators is a wavy wall and, as well as resolving important issues in flow physics, the research is relevant to many flows of importance such roughness induced transition on aircraft wings, flows in heat transfer/mixing devices, blood flow and the influence of topography on the atmospheric boundary layer.
Expected outcomes are an understanding of the interplay between transitional and turbulent flows with wall topography together with strategies to enhance mixing and drag reduction.Read moreRead less
Unravelling the enigma of turbulence by integrating simulation & modelling. This project will transform how turbulence and flow-induced noise is understood and predicted to help meet the challenge of ever-growing transport and energy demands in an affordable and sustainable way. This will be achieved by integrating the latest simulation advances with unique machine-learning approaches. The expected outcome will be a paradigm shift in how turbulence and noise models are created and used, informed ....Unravelling the enigma of turbulence by integrating simulation & modelling. This project will transform how turbulence and flow-induced noise is understood and predicted to help meet the challenge of ever-growing transport and energy demands in an affordable and sustainable way. This will be achieved by integrating the latest simulation advances with unique machine-learning approaches. The expected outcome will be a paradigm shift in how turbulence and noise models are created and used, informed by new scientific knowledge and data. The proliferation of these new models will allow the design and operation of more efficient, reliable and quieter technologies in the aerospace, naval and energy industries, benefitting the Australian economy and environment, and raise the international profile of our scientists.Read moreRead less