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
Fatigue Life Assessment of Structures under Realistic Loading Conditions. The project will develop a new methodology for the assessment of fatigue life of structures subjected to realistic loading conditions. This new methodology is based on recent advances in experimental techniques which make possible, for the first time, the investigation of the crack opening/closure mechanisms and the crack driving force for large numbers of fatigue cycles (>1 million) of variable amplitude, representative o ....Fatigue Life Assessment of Structures under Realistic Loading Conditions. The project will develop a new methodology for the assessment of fatigue life of structures subjected to realistic loading conditions. This new methodology is based on recent advances in experimental techniques which make possible, for the first time, the investigation of the crack opening/closure mechanisms and the crack driving force for large numbers of fatigue cycles (>1 million) of variable amplitude, representative of real-world applications. The project will expand Australia’s knowledge base and research capabilities in structural life prognosis. It will increase the competitiveness of domestic products and industries, fostering international collaborations and leadership of Australia in this strategically important area of research.Read moreRead less
Topology optimisation of mechanical metamaterials with additive manufacture. Metamaterials have sparked a surge of interest with potential applications as diverse as biomedical implants, ballistic barriers, and acoustic cloaks. This project aims to develop topology optimisation technology, with the marriage of additive manufacturing for computational design of mechanical metamaterials of pentamode, which are a new class of artificial composites engineered to have elastic properties not easily fo ....Topology optimisation of mechanical metamaterials with additive manufacture. Metamaterials have sparked a surge of interest with potential applications as diverse as biomedical implants, ballistic barriers, and acoustic cloaks. This project aims to develop topology optimisation technology, with the marriage of additive manufacturing for computational design of mechanical metamaterials of pentamode, which are a new class of artificial composites engineered to have elastic properties not easily found in nature. This approach aims to create novel metamaterials to have extraordinary properties and complex geometries that can be easily fabricated. Potential applications may include defense, vehicles, biomedicine, marine uses, energy and cloaks.Read moreRead less
Towards autonomous structural safety prognostics: integrating in-situ imaging and predictive modelling. This project aims to advance a scientific basis for autonomous safety prognostics by developing predictive models and in-situ damage imaging principles. Development of this new health prognostic approach will overcome the significant challenge of safety assurance of composite structures in the presence of in-service damage, which is largely hidden.
Dominant flow noise source identification for ducted marine propellers. Ducted marine propellers are becoming an increasing alternative to conventional open propellers. Understanding flow-induced noise generated by ducted propellers is a key consideration in the design process to minimise noise emission. This project aims to develop new methods to identify turbulent flow sources of a ducted marine propeller that dominate sound. High-fidelity numerical methods will be developed to study the compl ....Dominant flow noise source identification for ducted marine propellers. Ducted marine propellers are becoming an increasing alternative to conventional open propellers. Understanding flow-induced noise generated by ducted propellers is a key consideration in the design process to minimise noise emission. This project aims to develop new methods to identify turbulent flow sources of a ducted marine propeller that dominate sound. High-fidelity numerical methods will be developed to study the complex interaction between inflow turbulence, support struts, propeller blades and duct structure. Successful identification of the dominant sources of noise will allow for targeted noise mitigation strategies with significant impact for stealth of military vessels and reduction of underwater noise pollution on marine life.Read moreRead less
Baseline-free Methods for Early Damage Diagnosis using Nonlinear Ultrasound. To address the significant limitation of existing non-destructive evaluation techniques in detecting and characterising early damage, this project aims to discover the physical nature of self-generated nonlinear waves by structural damage and to explore its potential for an entirely new class of non-destructive evaluation and structural health monitoring techniques. Major applications are expected to include a baseline- ....Baseline-free Methods for Early Damage Diagnosis using Nonlinear Ultrasound. To address the significant limitation of existing non-destructive evaluation techniques in detecting and characterising early damage, this project aims to discover the physical nature of self-generated nonlinear waves by structural damage and to explore its potential for an entirely new class of non-destructive evaluation and structural health monitoring techniques. Major applications are expected to include a baseline-free structural health monitoring technique capable of detecting and quantifying barely-visible impact damage in advanced composite materials, non-destructive evaluation of structures made by additive manufacturing, and detection of hard-to-inspect locations in unitised structures.Read moreRead less
Stress Evaluation with Non-Linear Guided Waves. This project plans to investigate a novel approach for in situ measurement of stress in structures based on an internal resonance phenomenon for nonlinear guided waves. Monitoring the stress level of critical structural components is important to ensure structural safety. The project plans to derive the requirements for this internal resonance and its dependence on stress analytically and verify them experimentally for both simple waveguides and mo ....Stress Evaluation with Non-Linear Guided Waves. This project plans to investigate a novel approach for in situ measurement of stress in structures based on an internal resonance phenomenon for nonlinear guided waves. Monitoring the stress level of critical structural components is important to ensure structural safety. The project plans to derive the requirements for this internal resonance and its dependence on stress analytically and verify them experimentally for both simple waveguides and more realistic structures. The expected outcome is the demonstration of the feasibility of a new inexpensive method for continuous monitoring of applied or thermally-induced stresses, which is of great importance in several engineering contexts, such as modern railway track rails, pipelines or pre-stressed strands in concrete structures.Read moreRead less
Thermo-electro-chemo-mechanical properties of biological systems. The proposal is aimed at developing a new theoretical framework for piezoelectric biological materials and structures, through theoretical analysis, computation and numerical simulations, as well as experimental investigations, to produce high-reliability, high-performance hydrogel components and smart soft tissue structures. It is envisaged that successful outcomes of this program will give the Australian biological industry a te ....Thermo-electro-chemo-mechanical properties of biological systems. The proposal is aimed at developing a new theoretical framework for piezoelectric biological materials and structures, through theoretical analysis, computation and numerical simulations, as well as experimental investigations, to produce high-reliability, high-performance hydrogel components and smart soft tissue structures. It is envisaged that successful outcomes of this program will give the Australian biological industry a technology edge over their competitors and provide easy-to-use guidelines for the design of smart biological systems.Read moreRead less
Development of Advanced Fracture Mechanics Models and Novel Technical Tools for Integrity, Durability and Safety Assessment. The proposed project will lead to the new understanding of fracture phenomena and structural integrity. It will create a range of novel computer based technical tools for life and integrity assessment of structures in the presence of cracks and other defects, so as to meet the high safety standards across a wide range of industries. The project will result in technology th ....Development of Advanced Fracture Mechanics Models and Novel Technical Tools for Integrity, Durability and Safety Assessment. The proposed project will lead to the new understanding of fracture phenomena and structural integrity. It will create a range of novel computer based technical tools for life and integrity assessment of structures in the presence of cracks and other defects, so as to meet the high safety standards across a wide range of industries. The project will result in technology that will help to make Australian products stronger and more durable so they become more competitive with low cost overseas imports. All the research outcomes will have a direct benefit to Australian interests, including both public and private industries.Read moreRead less
Hybrid Toughening of Carbon Fibre Composites for Liquid Hydrogen Storage. This project aims to develop hybrid toughening technologies to overcome the major problem of transverse matrix cracking and splitting in existing carbon fibre composites when subjected to thermal-mechanical loading at the ultracold liquid hydrogen temperature. Nano-toughened thin-ply carbon fibre layers will be hybridised with standard-ply laminates to sustain internal pressure and external impact loading at cryogenic temp ....Hybrid Toughening of Carbon Fibre Composites for Liquid Hydrogen Storage. This project aims to develop hybrid toughening technologies to overcome the major problem of transverse matrix cracking and splitting in existing carbon fibre composites when subjected to thermal-mechanical loading at the ultracold liquid hydrogen temperature. Nano-toughened thin-ply carbon fibre layers will be hybridised with standard-ply laminates to sustain internal pressure and external impact loading at cryogenic temperatures without leaks. The hybrid composites are expected to enable Australian companies to engineer, manufacture and export lightweight carbon fibre tanks for storing and exporting liquid hydrogen, which is emerging as a transformational opportunity for Australia to become a global supplier of green energy.Read moreRead less