Digital Commons Network^™

Characterising Compacted Fills At Penrith Lakes Development Site Using Shear Wave Velocity And Matric Suction, Ana Heitor, Buddhima Indraratna, Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn, R Golaszewski

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Conventional quality control of compaction during construction is currently based on an in-situ determination of dry unit weight and moisture content via nuclear procedures, but because this is a localised procedure, poor compaction can often occur. Moreover, with older compacted embankments where few or no records of the control done during construction are available, there is no existing methodology that can help practising engineers assess their post-construction condition. This means that the scope of the nuclear method renders it as inadequate and alternative methods should be considered. The use of shear wave velocity (Vs) surveys (i.e. MASW) to assess the …

Development Of A Metallurgical Coke Analogue To Investigate The Effects Of Coke Mineralogy On Coke Reactivity, Raymond Longbottom, Brian J. Monaghan, Oliver Scholes, Merrick R. Mahoney

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

In this study the suitability of a laboratory analogue for coke for studying the effects of minerals on the reactivity of coke was evaluated. In addition to this, the effects of different physical properties and production conditions on the reactivity of the coke analogue were also tested. The coke analogue was used for control testing of specific mineral, and to some degree maceral, effects on reactivity. Such information would improve our fundamental understanding of coke reactivity behaviour and could be used to develop more accurate predictive models of coke strength after reaction (CSR) or associated indices and coke properties. The …

Phase Development In Carbothermal Reduction And Nitridation Of Ilmenite Concentrates, Sheikh A. Rezan, Guangqing Zhang, Oleg Ostrovski

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

The phase development in the course of carbothermal reduction and nitridation of ilmentie concentrates and synthetic rutile was studied in temperature programmed reduction (623-1873 K) and isothermal reduction experiments. Ilmenites and synthetic rutile were reduced in a tube reactor with continuously flowing hydrogen-nitrogen mixture or pure nitrogen. The rate and extent of reduction were monitored by online off-gas analysis. Samples reduced to different extent were subjected to XRD and SEM/BSE analyses. Pseudorutile and ilmenite were the main phases in ilmenite concentrates; rutile was the main phase in synthetic rutile. Pseudorutile was first converted to ilmenite and titania which occurred at …

Microstructure Development And Alloying Elements Diffusion During Sintering Of Near-Beta Titanium Alloys, Elena Pereloma, Dmytro Savvakin, Andrew Carman, Azdiar Gazder, Orest Ivasishin

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Two near-beta alloys, Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-2Cr-1Fe and Ti-10V-3Fe-3Al, were produced by the blended element powder metallurgy technique. The use of (i) elemental powders with the Al-V master alloy in the case of Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-2Cr-1 Fe and, (ii) the complex Al-Fe-V master alloy in Ti-10V-3Fe-3Al has highlighted the influence of different alloying elements and their combination on microstructure evolution and chemical homogenisation. While Fe has the fastest diffusivity in Ti and its addition improves the density of both sintered alloys it also results in accelerated rates of grain coarsening. The combination of Al and V in the master alloy powder inhibits the diffusion of …

Strength Development In Blended Cement Admixed Saline Clay, Suksun Horpibulsuk, Worawit Phojan, Apichat Suddeepong, Avirut Chinkulkijniwat, Martin D. Liu

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Cement stabilization is extensively used to improve engineering properties of soft saline clays. The effect of salinity, which is modified by geological and climate changes, on the strength development in cement admixed saline clay is investigated in this paper. For a particular curing time and salt content, the strength development in saline clay admixed with cement is governed by the clay-water/cement ratio, wc/C. The strength increases with the decrease of wc/C. The increase in salt content for a particular water content decreases the inter-particle attraction of the clay and the cementation bond strength. Hence, for the same clay-water/cement ratio, the …

Development Of Sediment-Infilled Rock Joint Models And Implications On Rockmass Stability, Buddhima Indraratna, Wuditha N. Premadasa, David Oliveira, H S. Welideniya

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Soil-infi lled discontinuities adversely infl uence the stability of rockmass, because, the infi ll materials especially when saturated, drastically reduce the shear strength. The angle of shearing resistance of a discontinuity decreases signifi cantly for increasing infi ll thickness. Once it reaches a critical thickness, the shear strength of the discontinuity will be governed only by the infi ll material and the rock-walls effect becomes negligible. Owing to the lack of research on the shear behavior of infi lled rock joints, it has been common practice to assume that the shear strength of the joint is that of the infi …

Development And Validation Of Calibration Methods For Discrete Element Modelling, Andrew Grima, Peter W. Wypych

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Discrete element method (DEM) is proving to be a reliable and increasingly used tool to study and predict the behaviour of granular materials. Numerous particlescale mechanisms influence the bulk behaviour and flow of bulk materials. It is important that the relevant measurable input parameters for discrete element models bemeasured by laboratory equipment or determined by physical calibration experiments for rational results. This paper describes some of the bench-scale experiments that have been developed to calibrate the DEM simulations to reflect actual dynamic behaviour. Relevant parameters such as static and rolling coefficients of friction, coefficient of restitution and interparticle cohesion forces …

Development Of A Web-Based Underground Coal Mining Information Management System, Ian Porter, Ernest Y. Baafi, Raymond J. Stace

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

The development of the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) funded “one stop shop” information management system for the coal mining industry is described. The site www.undergroundcoal.com.au went live on 28 August 2009 with various sub-modules including an introduction to underground coal mining practices and a handbook of roadway development practice. The site also includes presentations from ACARP six-monthly workshops on current roadway development practice. These workshops provide an invaluable opportunity to share state of the art knowledge in roadway development practice, to learn of emerging Research and Development (Rand D) programs and development of equipment and technology by Original …

Development Of A Water-Mist Based Venturi System For Dust Control From Maingate Chocks And Bsl, Ting Ren, Graeme Cooper, Srinivasa Yarlagadda

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Advances in modern longwall (LW) technology have resulted in high production faces with more powerful chocks and shearers that can advance at faster rates. As longwall chocks (supports) advance, crushed roof coal and/or rock can fall from the top of the chock canopy into the face ventilation airflow. Dust survey showed that chock movement is a significant source of dust exposure for shearer operators, accounting for about 47% of total LW face dust make during the cutting cycle. 3D CFD models have been developed to understand the behaviour of longwall dust particles from various sources including maingate (MG) chocks and …

Comprehensive Model Of Oxygen Steelmaking Part 1: Model Development And Validation, Neslihan Dogan, Geoffrey A. Brooks, Akbar Rhamdhani

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

A comprehensive model of oxygen steelmaking that includes the kinetics of scrap melting, flux dissolution, slag chemistry, temperature profile of the system, formation and residence of metal droplets in the emulsion, and kinetics of decarburization reaction in different reaction zones was developed. This paper discussed the development and the application of the model into an industrial practice. The results from the model were consistent with the plant data from the study of Cicutti et al. The model suggested that 45% of the total carbon was removed via emulsified metal droplets and the remaining was removed from the impact zone during …

Development Of A Comprehensive Model For Oxygen Steelmaking, Neslihan Dogan, Geoffrey A. Brooks, Muhammad A. Rhamdhani

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

One of the main goals in oxygen steelmaking process is to reduce the carbon concentration of the liquid iron effectively. It is understood that the majority of the carbon removal reaction occurs in the emulsion phase via the reaction between metal droplets and the slag phase. An improved understanding of this reaction and the factors controlling the overall rate should provide better control of the process and increase the productivity. In the literature, there is limited knowledge on how to relate the carbon removal rate within the droplets to the overall kinetics of the process under full scale operating conditions. …

Phase Development In Carbothermal Reduction Of Ilmenite Concentrates And Synthetic Rutile, Mohammad A. R Dewan, Guangqing Zhang, Oleg Ostrovski

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

The phase development in the course of carbothermal reduction of ilmentie concentrates and synthetic rutile was studied in temperature programmed reduction (350–1 600°C) and isothermal reduction at 1 100°C in hydrogen and 1 300°C in argon and helium. Ilmenites and synthetic rutile were reduced in a tube reactor with continuously flowing gas. The rate and extent of reduction were monitored by online off-gas analysis. Samples reduced to different extent were subjected to XRD and SEM/BSE analyses. Pseudorutile and ilmenite were the main phases in ilmenite concentrates; rutile was the main phase in synthetic rutile. The phase changes in the course …

Neutron Dosimeter Development Based On Medipix2, Mohd Amir R. Othman, Marco Petasecca, Susanna Guatelli, J. Uher, Damion Marinaro, Dale A. Prokopovich, Mark I. Reinhard, Michael L. F. Lerch, J. Jakubek, S. Pospisil, Anatoly B. Rosenfeld

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

A novel neutron dosimetry system for avionics and space applications is described. The new dosimetric system is based on Medipix2, a high density silicon based pixilated detector with integrated readout and digital interface circuitry. Real time dose equivalent response to fast neutron fields with flattened energy response is achieved through the coupling of a structured variable thickness polyethylene (PE) over layer with the high density pixilated detector. Experimental results obtained to 14 MeV D-T and Am-Be neutron fields are described along with a comparison to results obtained with GEANT4 simulations.

Design And Simulation Of Roadway Development Operations To Improve Productivity, Soumya Raghavendra Rao, Christopher D. Cook, Ernest Y. Baafi, R Porteous

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

A typical Australian 3–5 Mt/year longwall requires 9 to 15 km of roadway to be developed every year (G. Lewis and G. Gibson: Proc. 13th Austr. Tunnelling Conf., Melbourne, Australia, May 2008, ATS, 317–326.). One of the major challenges faced by the Australian longwall mining industry is that roadway development has been unable to keep pace with improvements in longwall extraction rates. This has affected the profitability, viability and future of underground coal mines (M. Kelly: 'Coordination of roadway development strategy', ACARP report no. C5013, ACARP, Brisbane, Australia, 1997.). Gibson (G. Gibson: 'Australian roadway development– current practices', ACARP report no. …

Embedding Graduate Attribute Development Into The Engineering Curriculum: Less Is More?, Long Nghiem, Thomas L. Goldfinch, Maureen E. Bell

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

'Graduate Attributes' is a term which all too frequently sends shivers down the spines of engineering academics. The idea of having to instil a diverse set of professional behaviours and attitudes in youthful engineering students, while still ensuring a level of technical competence, can be intimidating for many. With high stakes associated with accreditation, high level university policy, and external government auditing, there can be perception that addressing as many different attributes as possible in a subject is desirable. Recent research at the University of Wollongong suggests that the idea of tackling several different Graduate attributes may be ineffective. This …

Development And Fabrication Of Cylindrical Silicon-On-Insulator Microdosimeter Arrays, Nai Shyan Lai, Wee Han Lim, Amy L. Ziebell, Mark I. Reinhard, Anatoly B. Rosenfeld, Andrew S. Dzurak

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Recent developments in the fabrication and simulation of prototype silicon-on-insulator (SOI) microdosimeter arrays are presented. A new planar array design has been proposed which has a number of advantages over the previous elongated parallelepiped and cylindrical mesa array designs. This novel planar array design, which incorporates a guard ring, is based upon 2500 planar cylindrically shaped p-i-n detectors and was fabricated via dopant diffusion and ion implantation. The dopant-diffused arrays were successfully fabricated and tested using 2 mum and 10-mum- thick SOI substrates. Technology computer-aided design modeling of the ion-implanted structure is presented which includes the electrostatic potential profile, showing …

Development And Performance Analysis Of A Saturated Core High Temperature Superconducting Fault Current Limiter, Jeffrey W. Moscrop, Scott Hopkins

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Recent international activity in the field of high voltage Fault Current Limiters (FCLs) has intensified since the North American blackout of 2003. A number of national and international peak body groups in the USA, Europe and Japan have been established to assess the need for FCLs and the issues associated with their design, specification, operation, protection and integration into the electricity grids. This paper details the development of a prototype 3-phase saturated core High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) FCL in Australia. Through experimental analysis, the performance of this device is characterised in terms of DC saturation, steady state performance, and fault …

Design And Development Of A 3-Phase Saturated Core High Temperature Superconducting Fault Current Limiter, Jeffrey W. Moscrop, Frank Darmann

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

The occurrence of fault currents and system sensitivity to fault currents are both increasing in modern power systems. Along with extensive damage to network hardware, considerable consumer losses (due to network unavailability) can result from fault current events. One device that is designed to reduce the impact of fault currents and increase network availability is the fault current limiter (FCL). This paper describes the design and development of a 3-phase saturated core high temperature superconducting (HTS) FCL. This particular type of FCL exhibits negligible power losses during the un-faulted state and also provides instantaneous reaction and recovery during fault events. …

Development Of A Force Sensor Working With Mr Elastomers, Weihua Li, Kosta Kostidis, Xianzhou Zhang, Yang Zhou

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

This paper presents the development of a new force sensor with MR elastomer as a sensing element. One key element in this study was to find a suitable material with high sensing capabilities which can be used for developing a sensor. Thus different MR elastomers, with ingredients of carbonyl iron particle, graphite, silicone oil and silicone rubber, were manufactured and measured with a modified rheometer. The effects of additives on the sensing capabilities were systematically investigated and an optimal MR elastomer sample was selected for design and manufacturing of a force sensor prototype. The development sensor prototype consists of three …

Professional Development At University: Student Perceptions Of Professional Engineering Practice, Vinay Domal, Brad Stappenbelt, James Trevelyan

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

This study examined student perceptions regarding professional engineering practice. We surveyed secondary school students attending engineering camps, engineering students in their first and fourth years, graduate engineers and experienced engineers to ascertain their impressions about what constitutes the daily activities of a professional engineer. We asked respondents to rate 39 aspects of engineering practice identified from the research later reported in (Trevelyan 2008). These aspects were rated by the participants according to their perception of the importance and the frequency encountered in engineering practice. We also asked where the participants learned or where they believed they were going to learn …

Strategic Development Of Service Orientated Architecture In Supply Chain Networks, Leone J. Dunn, Peter R. Gibson

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

relative strategic positioning and competitive advantages. The traditional 'make and sell' attitude is rapidly becoming a customer orientated 'sense and respond' philosophy. Further, the needs for avoidance of waste, cost efficiency and service to the customer have the potential to become the major competitive focus especially in industries where there is little differentiation in product design and technology. This paper examines the strategic opportunities for participants in the pipeline construction industry to adopt state of the art industry philosophies. It is postulated that competitors are relying on functional hierarchy and command and control governance where operations rely on a chain …

Development And Preliminary Evaluation Of A Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Procedure For Sensitive Detection Of Cryptosporidium Oocysts In Fecal And Water Samples, Panagiotis Karanis, Oriel Thekisoe, Klytaimnistra Kiouptsi, Jerry Ongerth, Ikuo Igarashi, Noborou Inoue

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) procedure for the detection of Cryptosporidium in environmental and fecal samples was developed and evaluated. This is the first demonstration of LAMP applied to detection of Cryptosporidium. Due to its specificity and simplicity, the method could become a useful diagnostic tool for epidemiologic studies of Cryptosporidium presence.

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.

Assessment Of The Structural Development Of Resin Bonded Taphole Clay (Icsti 06), Sharon Nightingale, Lisa Wells, F W B U Tanzil, Jim Cummins, Brian J. Monaghan, K Price

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Resin in taphole clay provides good extrudability and strength at low temperatures. However, it also contains volatile matter that is lost on heating. The blast furnace taphole is subject to a large thermal gradient, leading to variation in the bonding and structure of the clay along the taphole’s length. This has a critical effect on properties. Effects of this variation in properties on furnace operations are not well understood. A simple laboratory test was devised to simulate the thermal gradient, and assess its effects on taphole clays.

Thermogravimetric tests were also conducted at different heating rates. Results of experiments are …

Implementation Of A New Monte Carlo Simulation Tool For The Development Of A Proton Therapy Beam Line And Verification Of The Related Dose Distributions, G A. P Cirrone, G Cuttone, S Guatelli, S Lo Nigro, B Mascialino, M G. Pia, L Raffaele, G Russo, M G. Sabini

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

Using the Monte Carlo simulation tool GEANT4 we simulated the hadron-therapy beam line of the CATANA center. CATANA is the unique italian hadron-therapy facility in which 62 AMeV proton beams are used for the radiotherapeutic treatment of choroidal and iris melanomas. All the elements, such as diffusers, range shifters, collimators and detectors, typical of a proton-therapy line were modelled. The CATANA beam line provides an ideal environment for the experimental testing and validation of the software developed. The software architecture was developed, and now the validation of the software is in its final stage. Simulated ranges, energy distribution, depth and …

Development And Analysis Of A Novel Vertical Axis Wind Turbine, Paul Cooper, Oliver C. Kennedy

Faculty of Engineering - Papers (Archive)

This paper describes the development of a novel vertical axis wind turbine used for teaching and research purposes. The device is designed to operate at low tip speed ratios and features blades that are symmetric about the mid-chord plane. The blades are actively pitched by means of a mechanical system so that the chord of each blade rotates by 180º for every revolution of the main rotor. One of the attractions of the device is that it is self-starting and produces relatively high torque. A multiple streamtube analysis of the device has been developed and numerical predictions for the performance …