Experimental and numerical study of Encapsulated Compaction Grouting (ECG) in a loose fill slope. The proposed project will develop a flexible, cost-effective and environmentally friendly engineering solution (Encapsulated Compaction Grouting or ECG) for improving the performance of loose, soft soils. Important applications of the research include the mitigation of landslides, which pose a major threat to communities and infrastructure worldwide. Small-scale laboratory tests, full-scale field te ....Experimental and numerical study of Encapsulated Compaction Grouting (ECG) in a loose fill slope. The proposed project will develop a flexible, cost-effective and environmentally friendly engineering solution (Encapsulated Compaction Grouting or ECG) for improving the performance of loose, soft soils. Important applications of the research include the mitigation of landslides, which pose a major threat to communities and infrastructure worldwide. Small-scale laboratory tests, full-scale field tests and numerical analyses will be carried out to ensure that the proposed ECG method is an effective and economical engineering solution. The results of this integrated study will provide a valuable tool for engineers who wish to stabilise loose fill slopes or soft grounds.Read moreRead less
Innovative composite systems with enhanced resilience to extreme loads. The rapidly increasing global population (projected to be 9.8 billion by 2050) and global urbanisation have created a demand for the construction industry, thereby increasing the pressure on our planet’s limited resources for the construction industry. This high demand can yield detrimental effects to the environment due to the high carbon footprint of conventional construction materials, and is amplified by the threat of ac ....Innovative composite systems with enhanced resilience to extreme loads. The rapidly increasing global population (projected to be 9.8 billion by 2050) and global urbanisation have created a demand for the construction industry, thereby increasing the pressure on our planet’s limited resources for the construction industry. This high demand can yield detrimental effects to the environment due to the high carbon footprint of conventional construction materials, and is amplified by the threat of accidental or deliberate extreme loadings to buildings, which can trigger fatal progressive collapse events. The proposed project aims to develop an innovative structural system with that possesses superior structural resilience to extreme loads and progressive collapse using lightweight eco-friendly materials. Read moreRead less
Evaluation of densification and degradation of ballast under cyclic train loading. Formulation of a comprehensive cyclic densification model as a pioneering fundamental approach will enable efficient operation of modern high speed trains. Insightful understanding of ballast densification mechanisms will lead to enhanced, cost-effective track design with improved safety and passenger comfort.
Measuring and modelling the mechanical response of soils incorporating recycled tyres. Civil engineers use backfill to refill excavated areas around new structures. They have found recently that rubber chips and shredded rubber make excellent backfill when combined with a small percentage of cement to make ‘rubber soil’. The widespread use of rubber soil therefore offers a tremendous opportunity to make use of a serious waste product to achieve important engineering outcomes. However, too little ....Measuring and modelling the mechanical response of soils incorporating recycled tyres. Civil engineers use backfill to refill excavated areas around new structures. They have found recently that rubber chips and shredded rubber make excellent backfill when combined with a small percentage of cement to make ‘rubber soil’. The widespread use of rubber soil therefore offers a tremendous opportunity to make use of a serious waste product to achieve important engineering outcomes. However, too little is known about the technology. This project will model the behaviour of rubber soil in order to introduce it as an environmentally sustainable, cost-effective and technically sound choice of geomaterial for both standard and non-standard geotechnical structures.Read moreRead less
Adaptive Base Isolation using Innovative Magnetorheological Elastomers. Base isolation is of great importance for the safety of infrastructure, such as hospitals, bridges and nuclear power plants. Utilisation of a traditional passive base isolator makes the base isolation system vulnerable and susceptible to unexpected/extreme dynamic loadings, such as earthquakes. This project aims to address this critical issue through the development of a novel adaptive seismic isolator working with an innova ....Adaptive Base Isolation using Innovative Magnetorheological Elastomers. Base isolation is of great importance for the safety of infrastructure, such as hospitals, bridges and nuclear power plants. Utilisation of a traditional passive base isolator makes the base isolation system vulnerable and susceptible to unexpected/extreme dynamic loadings, such as earthquakes. This project aims to address this critical issue through the development of a novel adaptive seismic isolator working with an innovative stiffness softening magnetorheological elastomer (MRE). This research represents a fundamental step towards the understanding of MRE behaviour and is expected to be the breakthrough for the development of a future smart base isolation system.Read moreRead less
The effects of cyclic loading on partially saturated soils. This project aims to predict the settlement and strength of the upper, partially saturated layer of the ground when it is subjected to cyclic loading. Most of our critical infrastructure is built on or in this layer, but currently we cannot reliably predict the ground response of partially saturated soils to the cyclic loads that arise from earthquakes, traffic and construction processes. The project is expected to develop a new numeric ....The effects of cyclic loading on partially saturated soils. This project aims to predict the settlement and strength of the upper, partially saturated layer of the ground when it is subjected to cyclic loading. Most of our critical infrastructure is built on or in this layer, but currently we cannot reliably predict the ground response of partially saturated soils to the cyclic loads that arise from earthquakes, traffic and construction processes. The project is expected to develop a new numerical model that can predict the effects of cyclic loads, and provide updated engineering guidance to ensure the integrity of infrastructure dependent on partially-saturated soils. Improved predictions of the processes involved resulting from this project will have significant economic benefits, as well as ensuring the safety and security of infrastructure and reduced maintenance costs.Read moreRead less
Liquefaction failures of intermediate soils. The aims of the project are to provide new data on the conditions under which liquefaction failures can occur in soil materials that are intermediate between sand and clay, and to develop models to describe this behaviour. This project addresses two significant problems: liquefaction failures which occur in silty sediments on continental slopes and produce tsunamis, and liquefaction in unsaturated ship cargos with intermediate gradings which lead to s ....Liquefaction failures of intermediate soils. The aims of the project are to provide new data on the conditions under which liquefaction failures can occur in soil materials that are intermediate between sand and clay, and to develop models to describe this behaviour. This project addresses two significant problems: liquefaction failures which occur in silty sediments on continental slopes and produce tsunamis, and liquefaction in unsaturated ship cargos with intermediate gradings which lead to ship losses. The outcomes of the project are expected to be greater understanding of the factors controlling liquefaction in silty materials, a better understanding of the risk of submarine landslides, and models which can be used to predict the conditions under which liquefaction can occur in ship cargos.Read moreRead less
Soft-Rigid Bonded Granular Mixes: Particle Scale Study to Field Predictions. Globally 1.5 Billion and in Australia 56 million tyres reach their end of life with less than 5% recycled. This project aims to create new knowledge and predictive models for the behaviour of bonded soft tyre and rigid rock aggregates through a multi-scale approach from particle scale investigation to large-scale observation and modelling. This will create new knowledge into the behaviour of this unconventional three-p ....Soft-Rigid Bonded Granular Mixes: Particle Scale Study to Field Predictions. Globally 1.5 Billion and in Australia 56 million tyres reach their end of life with less than 5% recycled. This project aims to create new knowledge and predictive models for the behaviour of bonded soft tyre and rigid rock aggregates through a multi-scale approach from particle scale investigation to large-scale observation and modelling. This will create new knowledge into the behaviour of this unconventional three-phase granular mixes; soft, rigid aggregates bonded with polymer binders. The project will provide significant benefits in diverting millions of tyres from landfills and illegal dumps and a more competitive and environmentally sensitive infrastructure industry.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
Development of structural-functional integrated concrete. This project seeks to create a structural concrete to control indoor temperature using thermal energy storage aggregates (TESA). Such concrete would improve indoor comfort without human intervention and significantly reduce the energy consumed in heating and cooling. TESA concrete is made of porous lightweight aggregate impregnated with phase-change materials. The aim of this project is to investigate and optimise the structural and funct ....Development of structural-functional integrated concrete. This project seeks to create a structural concrete to control indoor temperature using thermal energy storage aggregates (TESA). Such concrete would improve indoor comfort without human intervention and significantly reduce the energy consumed in heating and cooling. TESA concrete is made of porous lightweight aggregate impregnated with phase-change materials. The aim of this project is to investigate and optimise the structural and functional performance of TESA concrete. In particular, it aims to reveal the microstructure, mechanical, thermal, durability properties of TESA concrete and ways to optimise its overall performance. This knowledge would provide a solid foundation for the numerical simulation of TESA concrete and its use in engineering applications.Read moreRead less