Impact
Our team is working to combat the effects of urban development on the environment. We have research capabilities and unique expertise in the areas of:
- hybrid structural systems – maximising structural and architectural advantages by combining building components made from different materials like steel and timber to create durable structural systems.
- advanced materials – utilising computational and experimental approaches to study the characteristics and uses of various materials such as metals, ceramics, and plastics to design, manufacture, and test the resilience of new composite materials and structures for use across different industries.
- bio-cementitious materials – utilising natural elements like wood to hold cement together to increase strength and help concrete become less vulnerable to corrosion.
- sustainable and green energy systems – exploring the best ways to make use of renewable energy technologies like solar energy to reduce the pollution produced by traditional distributions systems.
- green and smart transportation – developing sustainable transport infrastructure that doesn’t depend on or diminish natural resources like fossil fuels.
- waste recycling in a circular economy – harnessing the value of materials we dispose of and returning them to productive use.
Using advanced materials with low embodied energy, durable structural systems, and recycling waste will help to save space in landfills, conserve energy, and reduce pollution. This will not only benefit the environment but also boost economic growth to build a more sustainable future.
Competitive Advantage
We’re home to several contemporary facilities dedicated to developing and improving sustainable infrastructure. Our purpose-built workshops and laboratories give us a unique advantage for experimentation and simulation in advanced materials for sustainable development.
- Advanced Composites Laboratory – provides the capability to manufacture specimens and complex structural components made of advanced composite materials like glass, carbon, and aramid fibre. This lab provides experimental training and research infrastructure for the design and manufacture of composite compounds, experimental model validation and verification, and material characterisation.
- Concrete, Soils, and Bitumen Laboratory – used for soil and concrete preparation and testing. This includes equipment for testing fresh concrete workability and air content, simulating concrete carbonation and shrinkage, and a fog room for concrete setting time acceleration.
- Four temperature and humidity controlled environmental rooms that can be automatically controlled to provide various ranges of temperature and humidity.
Successful Applications
The following projects are currently active:
- Hybrid structural systems consisting of a combination of different materials
- Recycling of tyre rubber as a construction material
- Decontamination and recycling of chromate copper arsenate (CCA) treated timber
The following research proposals are in the planning stage
- Recycling of mixed waste in infrastructure development projects
- Recycling of demolition concrete as a construction material