Five CIES members were successful in receipt of four ARC Linkage grants totaling over $1 million in the most recent ARC Linkage Grants scheme...
Five CIES members were successful in receipt of four ARC Linkage grants totaling over $1 million in the most recent ARC Linkage Grants scheme announced on 7 July, 2015. The Minister for Education and Training, the Hon. Christopher Pyne MP announced 252 new research grants under the Linkage Projects scheme for 2015. A total of $86.9 million was awarded in this 2015 round and full details are available at http://www.arc.gov.au/2015-linkage-projects.
Professors Mark Bradford and Brian Uy received $380,000 to carry out research on the use of high strength steel in building frames in a project in collaboration with Tsinghua University, Beijing and the China Construction Steel Structure Corporation.
A/Professor Arnaud Castel and Professor Stephen Foster received $299,000 for a project to investigate the fundamental mechanics of early age thermal cracking in mass concrete elements in collaboration with Boral Cement.
Professor Stephen Foster and Dr Hamid Valipour received $190,000 in collaboration with One Steel Reinforcing to carry out research on the use of high strength steel reinforcement in reinforced concrete structures.
Professor Abhijit Mukherjee (Curtin University, Perth) in collaboration with Professor Brian Uy also received $160,000 to collaborate with Lastek to develop a laser ultrasonic device for structural health monitoring of major infrastructure, with particular focus on structural steel elements.
Full details of the four CIES projects are provided in the table below.
Chief Investigator(s) |
Project details |
Industry Organisations |
Total Awarded |
Prof Mark Bradford, Prof Brian Uy, Prof Yanlin Guo, Prof Li Xian Dai |
This project plans to investigate the use in building frames of composite steel-concrete members that use high-strength steel (HSS) instead of mild steel (MS). HSS is finding increased use in construction, and HSS has a much greater strength-to-weight ratio than MS, leading to lighter composite structures, less material usage and smaller foundations. Overall, this reduces the cost and carbon footprint of steel-framed buildings. The investigation is planned to involve physical testing, numerical studies, developing structural models and crafting design guidance for T-beams, columns and joints. The major intended outcome of the project is design guidance that will support the expanded use of HSS. |
TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY, BEIJING; CHINA CONSTRUCTION STEEL STRUCTURE CORP. LTD |
$380,000 |
A/Prof Arnaud Castel, Prof Stephen Foster, Dr Ali Akbarnezhad, Dr Redmond Lloyd |
The aim of this project is to determine the fundamental mechanics of early age thermal cracking in mass concrete elements and in members with high cement contents, and to develop a tool to predict early age cracking. Early age thermal cracking in concrete due to heat of hydration and thermal gradients is a major engineering problem and is undesirable for durability and structural performance, as well as aesthetics and project economics. The research outputs include new theories and relationships from which advanced engineering models will be derived that will support improved design and construction of mass concrete elements. |
BORAL CEMENT LIMITED |
$299,000 |
Prof Stephen Foster, Dr Hamid Valipour, Mr Graeme McGregor |
The aim of this project is to develop the fundamental understanding needed to design and construct high-strength concrete columns with high-strength steel reinforcement, with the intended outcome of providing design rules for adoption by engineers and Standards bodies. With significant innovations in Australian steel bar technology, strengths grades of 750 megapascals, and higher, are becoming available. These high-strength steels can be used in reinforced concrete building construction and would increase the competitiveness of Australia's manufacturing industry and enable the export of high-value-added technologies. Significant efficiencies in construction costs and in carbon emissions are possible. |
ONESTEEL REINFORCING PTY LIMITED/ONESTEEL |
$190,000 |
Prof Abhijit Mukherjee, Prof Brian Uy, Dr Victor Karaganov, Mr Alex Stanco |
This project aims to develop technologies to monitor the health of Australia’s ageing infrastructure with the use of a unique laser ultrasonic device. The laser device will be used to conduct experiments that are expected to develop a set of techniques for monitoring the critical areas of structures with most frequently observed ageing problems. Precise estimates of damage will be made by processing signals from a combination of simulation and experimental modelling. Feedback from the user community is expected to further improve the techniques. |
THE TRUSTEE FOR LASTEK UNIT TRUST/LASTEK PTY LTD |
$160,000 |