Digital Commons Network^™

Modelling Net Zero Energy Options For A Sustainable Buildings Research Centre, Paul Cooper, Xiong Liu, Prabuono Buyung Kosasih, Rui Yan

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

This paper describes the preliminary design and energy analysis of a university research building in NSW, Australia. This case study highlights some of the challenges confronting those wishing to design cost-effective net zero energy buildings in the Australian higher education sector and beyond. The Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC) is presently under development at the University of Wollongong and will be a unique building in the local region and an exemplar in respect of demonstration of a range of technical and operational means of reducing greenhouse emissions and other ecological impacts. This paper provides details on the constraints and opportunities …

Towards Teaching And Research Parity: A Teaching Quality And Reward Framework, Brett Lemass, Ray Stace

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

It is well recognised in the literature that teaching is under-valued in status and financial terms when compared to research at most academic institutions. The emergence in Australia of a Research Quality Framework (RQF) risks further eroding the already fragile status of teaching and learning in Australian Universities by diverting academic attention away from teaching to the building of research reputations as a guarantee of future promotion. Teaching is viewed as not bringing in money, compared to research, despite the fact that the bulk of university income comes from per capita funding of students by the government and from full-fee …

Research Methodologies For Engineering Asset Management, Khaled O. El-Akruti, Richard Dwight

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

This paper serves as a guide for researchers in Asset Management (AM). Its objective is to establish sufficient reasoning to select and complement research methodologies for AM research studies. It explores literature and adds to existing research approaches in AM. This will lead to a stronger body of knowledge through a better contribution from research. AM as a discipline, addresses the management of the life cycle of assets utilized by an organisation. This extends from identification of the need to the disposal and liability thereafter. It includes technical and business activities. From this view, AM is a relatively new discipline. …

Transferring Advanced Physics Research Tools To Education: How To Teach Simulation Tools Used In Radiation Physics Research To University Students, Susanna Guatelli, Catherine Anne Layton, Dean L. Cutajar, Anatoly B. Rosenfeld

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

At the Centre of Medical Radiation Physics (CMRP), School of Engineering Physics, Faculty of Engineering, at the University of Wollongong (UOW), we are implementing a hands-on computing laboratory, commencing in autumn 2010, to teach scientific computing methods and modern, advanced research tools for radiation physics to postgraduate and undergraduate students. Engaging undergraduates and postgraduates together in work with a tool widely used in research laboratories is a unique development, and represents the articulation of the University’s commitment to the enhancement of the teaching/research nexus, and to the development of learning communities. The object of the laboratory is to teach students …

The Teaching/Research Nexus And Internationalisation: An Action Research Project In Radiation Physics, Susanna Guatelli, Catherine Layton, Dean Cutajar, Anatoly B. Rosenfeld

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

This paper attempts to unpack the teaching and learning experiences of academics and students when a new way of teaching radiation physics was introduced. In an attempt to articulate the University of Wollongong’s commitment to the enhancement of the teaching/research nexus and to the development of learning communities, staff of the School of Physics in the Faculty of Engineering at University of Wollongong (UOW) implemented an action research project teaching scientific computing methodologies used in radiation physics to a combined laboratory class of postgraduates and undergraduates. The design of the practical laboratory classes took account of the expected heterogeneous computing …

Case Study Approach In Operations Management Research, Senevi B. Kiridena, Anneke Fitzgerald

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

No abstract provided.

Verstatile Welding Power Source Controller For Research And Product Development, Dominic Cuiuri, John Norrish

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

The diminishing cost and increasing speed of microprocessors has made them ubiquitous in modern welding control equipment, whether it is mass produced or custom made for research purposes.

Internationalization Of Higher Education And Research In Manufacturing In Asian Region, Devi P. Saini

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

During the past few decades, a number of Asian economies have expe rienced spectacular growths of twentieth century. The rapid expansion of the manufacturing sector based on mainly low and medium technology has contributed significantly in these economic growths. In order to maintain their competitiveness and enhance their exports, these nations are realising the need of a multi-pronged approach involving development of new high value products, unmanned manufacturing employing sophisticated machinery and better manufacturing management. Unable to meet the vast demand of scientists and engineers expected during implementation of this strategy, many countries of this region are looking for assistance …

Parameters Affecting Mine Gas Drainage And Outburst Control Research, Najdat I. Aziz, F. Sereshki, Dieter Bruggemann, Ian Porter

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Removing gases form mine environment represents the most important challenge that any mine operator is faced with. The ease with which the challenge is met and addressed depends on better understanding of the various parameters. Coal permeability and porosity is one of the key factors affecting the drainability of the coal. Coal matrix structure and coal mineralization provide a key to various issues related to effective drainage. Abnormal geological intrusions such as faults and dykes are likely to adversely affect the drainability of the coal seam. A combination of coal permeability, volumetric matrix change and petrography studies has been found …

Status Of Outburst Research At The University Of Wollongong, Najdat I. Aziz, F. Sereshki, Dieter Bruggemann

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

There has been an ongoing research on coal and gas outburst for the past two decades at the School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong. Research study began with a humble beginning, initially conducting basic laboratory studies on the coal and gas properties, progressing into the determination of gas content of coal by sorption technique and the effect of gas pressures on coal strength. The present laboratory facilities and research interests are extended to include the study of coal permeability and shrinkage properties and their effect of gas drainage characteristics with respect to gas type, and pressures. …

Research Of Surface-Oxidation Epitaxy Of Nio Films On Cube Textured Ni Tapes, Dongqi Shi, Mihail Ionescu, Jeff Mckinnon, Wu Ming Chen, S. X. Dou

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Thin films of NiO were fabricated in air by surface-oxidation epitaxy (SOE) on biaxially-textured Ni substrate, for use as buffer layers for YBCO coated conductors. The surface-oxidation conditions such as the temperature and the reaction time, as well as the cooling rate, playa determining role in the process of epitaxial growth of the NiO layer. A continuous, biaxially-aligned textured NiO layer, was obtained for a 10 min oxidation in air at 1120°C,and acooling rate of 150 Klh. The roughness of the NiO layer is mostly controlled by a coarsening of some NiO grains .

A Flexible Computer-Controlled Experimental Power Source For Welding Research, Dominic Cuiuri, John Norrish, Christopher David Cook

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Control of the Gas Metal Arc welding process is becoming increasingly sophisticated, due to improvements in technology and a better understanding of the process itself. To effectively conduct research in this area, it is necessary to have equipment that is extremely flexible in both architecture and operation. Experimental power sources and a welding test facility have been developed at the University of Wollongong which meet these criteria. The core time-critical control functions are performed by an independent digital signal processor (DSP). Non time-critical functions such as data storage and operator interface are performed by a desktop personal computer. Both computing …

A Versatile Experimental Test Rig For Gma Welding Research, Gary Dean, Dominic Cuiuri, John Norrish, Christopher David Cook

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Welding process research is severely hampered when adequate experimental equipment is not available. With the development of numerous welding processes and the control techniques associated with them, the need now exists for experimental equipment that offers the flexibility to control these processes and to set up parameters associated with the research.

At the University of Wollongong an experimental research rig has been developed based on a digital signal processor control system that offers the researcher the facilities to study the various processes associated with GMA welding.