Large-scale geotechnical analysis of new and aged pipeline infrastructure. This project aims to develop novel computational methods for predicting failure rates in geographically distributed pipeline networks affected by ground movements, one of the main triggers of bursts and leakages in buried pipe infrastructure. The project will be based on a blend of experimental work and development of simulation tools to quantify the coupled effects of pipe deterioration, poor backfilling and ground movem ....Large-scale geotechnical analysis of new and aged pipeline infrastructure. This project aims to develop novel computational methods for predicting failure rates in geographically distributed pipeline networks affected by ground movements, one of the main triggers of bursts and leakages in buried pipe infrastructure. The project will be based on a blend of experimental work and development of simulation tools to quantify the coupled effects of pipe deterioration, poor backfilling and ground movements in aged and new pipelines. The results will feed towards the formulation of a framework for the large-scale stress analysis of segmented and continuous pipes, capable of using as input high-resolution geospatial observations and predictions of ground movements.Read moreRead less
Unsaturated soil-structure interaction with emphasis on buried pipelines. Buried pipeline networks is the most common mode of transporting and distributing water, oil and gas resources and pipeline failures may have a major socioeconomic and environmental impact. The goal is to develop a framework for describing the mechanisms underlying soil-pipe interaction, aiming to reduce the failure risk of pipes affected by geohazards. The project aims to model the response of pipelines in the laboratory, ....Unsaturated soil-structure interaction with emphasis on buried pipelines. Buried pipeline networks is the most common mode of transporting and distributing water, oil and gas resources and pipeline failures may have a major socioeconomic and environmental impact. The goal is to develop a framework for describing the mechanisms underlying soil-pipe interaction, aiming to reduce the failure risk of pipes affected by geohazards. The project aims to model the response of pipelines in the laboratory, using a new custom-built apparatus. Experimental results are expected to provide insight for developing a theoretical model to quantify the effect of soil moisture on pipe integrity, and propose design formulas. A general framework is intended to be developed for handling various unsaturated soil-structure interaction problems in geotechnical engineering.Read moreRead less
Assessment and Prediction of Particle Breakage under Cyclic Loading. Every year, transport industries spend millions of dollars to maintain existing tracks suffering excessive settlement due to heavy traffic. In railways, differential settlement and track fouling are mostly due to ballast breakage. Frequent maintenance requires large amounts of quarried ballast causing environmental degradation. Simulation of particle breakage subject to cyclic loading is pioneering fundamental research that wi ....Assessment and Prediction of Particle Breakage under Cyclic Loading. Every year, transport industries spend millions of dollars to maintain existing tracks suffering excessive settlement due to heavy traffic. In railways, differential settlement and track fouling are mostly due to ballast breakage. Frequent maintenance requires large amounts of quarried ballast causing environmental degradation. Simulation of particle breakage subject to cyclic loading is pioneering fundamental research that will have significant impact on the design and maintenance of future rail and road networks. A full understanding of the breakage mechanisms of aggregates will lead to innovative techniques in design and construction, including faster trains carrying heavier loads with reduced maintenance costs.Read moreRead less
Motorway management system integrating safety, efficiency & sustainability. This project aims to develop a motorway management system that holistically optimises motorway safety, efficiency, and sustainability via intervening the traffic flow dynamics. In the current practice of motorway traffic flow management, safety, efficiency, and sustainability are fundamentally connected but separately managed as they are modeled by distinct methodologies. The new system is based on a proposed traffic flo ....Motorway management system integrating safety, efficiency & sustainability. This project aims to develop a motorway management system that holistically optimises motorway safety, efficiency, and sustainability via intervening the traffic flow dynamics. In the current practice of motorway traffic flow management, safety, efficiency, and sustainability are fundamentally connected but separately managed as they are modeled by distinct methodologies. The new system is based on a proposed traffic flow theory which includes a microscopic model for safety analysis and a derived macroscopic model for efficiency and sustainability analysis. This theory can be used to resolve the above-mentioned long unsettled challenge and significantly improve our motorway performance.Read moreRead less
Advancing water pollution emissions modelling in cities of the future. Advancing water pollution emissions modelling in cities of the future. This project aims to advance stormwater pollution modelling and enhance its link with urban development. Management of stormwater pollution by industry often results in inadequate strategies and, crucially, sub-optimal financial investments. Since this is unlikely to improve in light of urban growth and climate change, addressing decade-old pollution model ....Advancing water pollution emissions modelling in cities of the future. Advancing water pollution emissions modelling in cities of the future. This project aims to advance stormwater pollution modelling and enhance its link with urban development. Management of stormwater pollution by industry often results in inadequate strategies and, crucially, sub-optimal financial investments. Since this is unlikely to improve in light of urban growth and climate change, addressing decade-old pollution modelling knowledge gaps and the lack of a multidisciplinary approach to stormwater pollution management is urgent. The anticipated outcome is a modelling tool which industry can use to manage stormwater pollution in changing cities through smarter and economic technology and policy.Read moreRead less
Stabilisation of erodible and dispersive soils with natural wood processing by-products. Lignosulfonate is a by-product of paper and wood processing industry, which is an environmentally friendly organic compound with an immense potential for stabilising erodible and dispersive soils when mixed in small quantities. This project will deliver practical design guidelines and specifications for sustainable performance of road and rail embankments that are treated with lignosulfonates. Utilisation of ....Stabilisation of erodible and dispersive soils with natural wood processing by-products. Lignosulfonate is a by-product of paper and wood processing industry, which is an environmentally friendly organic compound with an immense potential for stabilising erodible and dispersive soils when mixed in small quantities. This project will deliver practical design guidelines and specifications for sustainable performance of road and rail embankments that are treated with lignosulfonates. Utilisation of lignosulfonates in soil stabilisation is not only cost-effective, but also has the benefit of eliminating a waste disposal problem. The proposed project will improve industrial competitiveness and Australia's export earnings through increased commercialisation and technology transfer in the region.Read moreRead less
High Strength Steel Protection Bollards. Terrorist attacks cost Australians much human grief and millions of dollars. Prevention of an attack is paramount. Passive road bollards are commonly used to stop a vehicle approaching and/or entering security sensitive infrastructure. Thin-walled tubes are used to manufacture such bollards. However there is a lack of knowledge about their behaviour, and in particular high strength alloy steel bollards, when subjected to impact loads. The investigators wi ....High Strength Steel Protection Bollards. Terrorist attacks cost Australians much human grief and millions of dollars. Prevention of an attack is paramount. Passive road bollards are commonly used to stop a vehicle approaching and/or entering security sensitive infrastructure. Thin-walled tubes are used to manufacture such bollards. However there is a lack of knowledge about their behaviour, and in particular high strength alloy steel bollards, when subjected to impact loads. The investigators will apply their extensive knowledge in thin-walled tubular structures to establish the most economical means of designing high strength bollards. This knowledge will be transferred into design standards and Australia's limited defence resources.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0233830
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,000.00
Summary
Intelligent Transport and Vehicle Systems Research Laboratory. This proposal seeks funding to establish a world class Intelligent Transport and Vehicle Systems Research Laboratory. The Laboratory is aimed at developing and evaluating advanced traffic management and advanced vehicle technologies to improve the safety and efficiency of existing transport systems. The laboratory will comprise high-end computing and traffic simulation workstations with live real-time connections to a test-bed. The l ....Intelligent Transport and Vehicle Systems Research Laboratory. This proposal seeks funding to establish a world class Intelligent Transport and Vehicle Systems Research Laboratory. The Laboratory is aimed at developing and evaluating advanced traffic management and advanced vehicle technologies to improve the safety and efficiency of existing transport systems. The laboratory will comprise high-end computing and traffic simulation workstations with live real-time connections to a test-bed. The live link to the test-bed is a unique feature of the proposed facility. It will provide researchers with access to field data from sensors, videos and detectors to test prototypes of systems and evaluate their performance under live traffic conditions.Read moreRead less
Optimal scheduling of urban bulk water systems under uncertainty. This project will develop a new optimisation framework for planning and operation of urban bulk water systems that incorporates flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances. Population growth in major Australian cities, coupled with a potentially drying climate, is putting pressure on existing water supply. To avoid the risk of overinvesting and losing future flexibility, water utilities have to develop plans for the future, a t ....Optimal scheduling of urban bulk water systems under uncertainty. This project will develop a new optimisation framework for planning and operation of urban bulk water systems that incorporates flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances. Population growth in major Australian cities, coupled with a potentially drying climate, is putting pressure on existing water supply. To avoid the risk of overinvesting and losing future flexibility, water utilities have to develop plans for the future, a task made difficult by uncertainty about future climate and demand. The framework is intended to explicitly deal with uncertainty about future demand and climate change, to ensure that solutions can cope with plausible but unexpected futures. The project will apply this framework to the bulk water supply for Sydney.Read moreRead less
Adapting catchment monitoring and potable water treatment to climate change. Adapting catchment monitoring and potable water treatment to climate change. This project aims to make the water industry capable of foreseeing and managing adverse raw water organic matter quality from the catchment to the treatment plant. It will research the triggers for organic matter excursions that compromise treatment plant performance and affect public health. The project will develop and deploy innovative senso ....Adapting catchment monitoring and potable water treatment to climate change. Adapting catchment monitoring and potable water treatment to climate change. This project aims to make the water industry capable of foreseeing and managing adverse raw water organic matter quality from the catchment to the treatment plant. It will research the triggers for organic matter excursions that compromise treatment plant performance and affect public health. The project will develop and deploy innovative sensors to detect targeted water quality changes at the molecular level in situ and real time, and improve operating strategies for robust and reliable performance of existing treatment plants. This catchment to plant approach is expected to make existing treatment assets more productive and defer additional treatment costs.Read moreRead less