Design of Welded Steel Tubular Connections. Steel tubes are widely used in building, road transportation, defence, recreation, and agriculture industries. The proposed program will develop static design procedures for welded tubular connections to ensure safe and economic structures. The program will also investigate the behaviour of a popular tubular connection utilizing very high strength steel tubes to extend the existing design scope and enhance the utilization of Australian produced innovat ....Design of Welded Steel Tubular Connections. Steel tubes are widely used in building, road transportation, defence, recreation, and agriculture industries. The proposed program will develop static design procedures for welded tubular connections to ensure safe and economic structures. The program will also investigate the behaviour of a popular tubular connection utilizing very high strength steel tubes to extend the existing design scope and enhance the utilization of Australian produced innovative tubular sections. The notch toughness of steel tubes will also be investigated to avoid fracture failure of welded connections under dynamic loading. The program will build strong ongoing collaboration between University of Toronto and Monash University.Read moreRead less
Production of a compact disk summarising the evolution and impact of Boger fluids. In 1977 the discovery of a unique class of materials, now called Boger fluids, was reported in the Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics. These materials have had a huge impact in the development of non-Newtonian fluid mechanics, to the extent that the Institute of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics in the UK have offered to make a cd documenting the impact of these materials. Funding is requested to support, in p ....Production of a compact disk summarising the evolution and impact of Boger fluids. In 1977 the discovery of a unique class of materials, now called Boger fluids, was reported in the Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics. These materials have had a huge impact in the development of non-Newtonian fluid mechanics, to the extent that the Institute of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics in the UK have offered to make a cd documenting the impact of these materials. Funding is requested to support, in part, the documentation of this important discovery.Read moreRead less
Control of Transitions in Wakes and Swirling Flows. We will attack industrially-important problems in fluid mechanics by building new, and substantially enhancing existing, international collaborations between key complementary teams of internationally-recognised French and Australian researchers. Funding will support the exchange of 6 senior staff and 3 graduate students, which, in turn, will measurably benefit the research output of a further 20 graduate students and 7 post-doctoral fellows as ....Control of Transitions in Wakes and Swirling Flows. We will attack industrially-important problems in fluid mechanics by building new, and substantially enhancing existing, international collaborations between key complementary teams of internationally-recognised French and Australian researchers. Funding will support the exchange of 6 senior staff and 3 graduate students, which, in turn, will measurably benefit the research output of a further 20 graduate students and 7 post-doctoral fellows associated with closely-related projects. From the Australian perspective, the planned exchanges will bring new research expertise, knowledge and skills, which will be focussed on a diverse range of applications. Target industries (with existing collaborations) include Airbus and Dassault Aviation in Europe, and Aerosonde and Warman pumps in Australia. Read moreRead less
CFRP (Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer) Strengthening of Steel Structures. The research will produce a breakthrough in understanding the bond characteristics between CFRP and steel. It will develop strengthening techniques for steel structures. The project will contribute to improved cost effectiveness and safety of steel structures thereby contributing to the socio-economic well-being of Australia including the road, offshore, building and mining industries. It will increase the international co ....CFRP (Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymer) Strengthening of Steel Structures. The research will produce a breakthrough in understanding the bond characteristics between CFRP and steel. It will develop strengthening techniques for steel structures. The project will contribute to improved cost effectiveness and safety of steel structures thereby contributing to the socio-economic well-being of Australia including the road, offshore, building and mining industries. It will increase the international competitiveness of the Australian steel industry and Australia's infrastructure maintenance capability. Furthermore, Australia will be better positioned for potential technology transfer to Asian countries in this technical area.Read moreRead less
DNA Dynamics is Shear and Extensional Flows: Simulation and Single Molecule Experiments. The proposal seeks to establish a collaboration between Monash University and Stanford University in order to combine several recent experimental and theoretical advances that have been made by the individual groups in single molecule experimental techniques, extensional rheometry, and molecular rheology, to obtain new insights into the structure and dynamics of biopolymers. The central aim is to make a sign ....DNA Dynamics is Shear and Extensional Flows: Simulation and Single Molecule Experiments. The proposal seeks to establish a collaboration between Monash University and Stanford University in order to combine several recent experimental and theoretical advances that have been made by the individual groups in single molecule experimental techniques, extensional rheometry, and molecular rheology, to obtain new insights into the structure and dynamics of biopolymers. The central aim is to make a significant contribution towards bringing state-of-the-art techniques used for the characterization of polymeric systems to bear on the nature and origin of the elastic properties of biopolymers.Read moreRead less
Amelioration strategies to reduce environmental deterioration and agricultural production losses in water repellent regions. Millions of hectares of potentially productive agricultural land in Australia are affected by water-repellency. Water repellency causes non-uniform infiltration of water in soils and promotes surface erosion. Consequently, water repellent soils cannot be satisfactorily used for agricultural production, resulting in production losses of millions of dollars annually. This in ....Amelioration strategies to reduce environmental deterioration and agricultural production losses in water repellent regions. Millions of hectares of potentially productive agricultural land in Australia are affected by water-repellency. Water repellency causes non-uniform infiltration of water in soils and promotes surface erosion. Consequently, water repellent soils cannot be satisfactorily used for agricultural production, resulting in production losses of millions of dollars annually. This investigation is part of a genuine international effort that will develop new procedures to ameliorate water-repellent soils. New and improved mathematical models and decision support tools will also be developed to improve water-repellent land management, reduce environmental risk and minimise agriculture production loss.Read moreRead less
The development of low cost sorbents for removal of contaminants in ground water at cold regions contaminated sites. Contamination of soils and waters as a result of industrial and other human activities, is a significant global environmental issue. Both Australia and Japan have a large legacy of hydrocarbon and heavy metals contamination from mining activities and industry. This project aims to address hydrocarbon and heavy metals contamination through investigation of novel, low-cost sorbents ....The development of low cost sorbents for removal of contaminants in ground water at cold regions contaminated sites. Contamination of soils and waters as a result of industrial and other human activities, is a significant global environmental issue. Both Australia and Japan have a large legacy of hydrocarbon and heavy metals contamination from mining activities and industry. This project aims to address hydrocarbon and heavy metals contamination through investigation of novel, low-cost sorbents suitable for implementation in passive in-situ remediation technologies. This will be achieved through the combined efforts of Australian and Japanese scientists who are expert in the fields of water treatment and chemical synthesis of sorbent materials.Read moreRead less
Advanced polymer fibres with multiple functionalities. This project will add value to the local polymer and fibre industries. Australia is a significant producer of synthetic polymers such as polypropylene and the largest producer of wool. There is also local production of nanoparticles such as zinc oxide. This project will add value to all these producers through innovative uses and applications of different types of material. Combining organic and inorganic particles in a polymer matrix has no ....Advanced polymer fibres with multiple functionalities. This project will add value to the local polymer and fibre industries. Australia is a significant producer of synthetic polymers such as polypropylene and the largest producer of wool. There is also local production of nanoparticles such as zinc oxide. This project will add value to all these producers through innovative uses and applications of different types of material. Combining organic and inorganic particles in a polymer matrix has not been reported. This innovation will strengthen our position in research into advanced materials, which is a national research priority.Read moreRead less
Development of a Superplastic Forming Capabilities in Magnesium-Based Alloys through Processing using Severe Plastic Deformation. This research will provide a basis for advancing the structural use of magnesium alloys in the building and transportation industries. It is anticipated the project will lower the cost of producing lightweight structures and extend the range of alloys that can be used in such applications. With the growing magnesium industry in Australia, and with the potential for Au ....Development of a Superplastic Forming Capabilities in Magnesium-Based Alloys through Processing using Severe Plastic Deformation. This research will provide a basis for advancing the structural use of magnesium alloys in the building and transportation industries. It is anticipated the project will lower the cost of producing lightweight structures and extend the range of alloys that can be used in such applications. With the growing magnesium industry in Australia, and with the potential for Australia to become a major world supplier of magnesium, the development of advanced processing technology for magnesium-based alloys is of national importance. The project will play a vital role in strengthening the Australian technological position and increasing the opportunities for professional Australians.Read moreRead less
Modelling and simulation of emergent behaviour in particulate assemblies under terrestrial and microgravity conditions: a focus on force propagation. Systems and processes involving particulate matter are complex, and due to inadequate understanding and modelling capabilities, rarely reach more than 60% of the design capacity. Given the prominence of these materials in Australia's leading export industries, the potential economic and social impact of this research program is significant. For exa ....Modelling and simulation of emergent behaviour in particulate assemblies under terrestrial and microgravity conditions: a focus on force propagation. Systems and processes involving particulate matter are complex, and due to inadequate understanding and modelling capabilities, rarely reach more than 60% of the design capacity. Given the prominence of these materials in Australia's leading export industries, the potential economic and social impact of this research program is significant. For example, Australia holds the largest known resources of iron ore with annual exports exceeding $3.8 billion; annual wheat exports exceed $3.4 billion and 90% of Australia's sealed roads (granular paved) cost $1 billion per year to maintain. This research will advance knowledge of fundamental behaviour and deliver predictive tools to control and optimise processes involving particulate matter.Read moreRead less