English materials engineering

The prediction of the expected long-term performance of concrete exposed to sewage and similar materials can be difficult as it is affected by a large number of parameters. In addition, the deterioration process in concrete is generally slow. The focus of the study was to ascertain the life expectancy of concrete septic tanks located in rural Victoria. In developing the accelerated test method, ASTM C 192, ASTM C 452, ASTM C 1293 and ASTM C 109 standard procedures were adopted wherever possible.

172p runthenight05 01-03-2023 8 3   Download

The specific objectives of this study are: 1. To conduct a literature review on carbon-based hydrogen storage electrodes and direct proton absorbance in various forms of carbon; 2. To prepare and characterise activated carbon samples with proper porosity for the present application; 3. To manufacture and characterise a range of composite materials containing carbon material and a proton-conducting medium such as nafion in various levels of hydration 4. To fabricate a number of membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) from the composite materials;…

264p runthenight05 01-03-2023 6 3   Download

The aim of this Master of Engineering (MEng) - Aerospace thesis is to study the structural response and failure of aerospace grade composites during exposure to fire. Key aspects of the research are to analyse the thermal and mechanical responses of laminates and sandwich composites in high temperature and fire environments, which result in softening and structural failure. The research is concentrated on carbon/epoxy laminates and sandwich composites, which are the most common composite materials used in aerospace structures.

209p runthenight05 01-03-2023 7 3   Download

The aim of the research was the processing of the vibration signatures from healthy and damaged composite beams acquired with the help of a Scanning Laser Vibrometer (SLV) upon excitation and analysis of the mode shapes acquired for damage detection. The displacement mode shapes acquired were then converted into curvature mode shapes with the help of a Central Difference Approximation method (CDA).

146p runthenight07 01-03-2023 6 3   Download

This project investigates the use of free radical initiators in the recycling of post consumer recycled high density polyethylene using reactive extrusion. Both molecular and rheological characterisation of recycled and reprocessed materials was carried out and this was followed by tensile testing of the modified materials to satisfy end use applications such as packaging and drainage piping.

154p runthenight07 01-03-2023 6 3   Download

This research project investigates the influence of decoration and decorating on a fashion design practice, exploring the transformative effects of both in relation to surface and structure. Decoration is considered an after-effect, an element that can be differentiated from the object it adheres to, sometimes making it superfluous to the object’s function. In this project I consider decoration as having its own function – the ability, through its link to the ‘exterior’ world, to transform the shape, appearance and materials of forms by modifying their facade.

100p runthenight07 01-03-2023 13 4   Download

The focus of this study is to investigate its optical and conductive properties under different conditions of doping environments, temperature and polymerization conditions. Optical characterization technique such as UV-Visible spectroscopy is developed to carry out the investigation. The developed nanofibers have been demonstrated to possess optical and conductive properties to be dependent on doping variables. Study of these optical properties could prove very useful in the development of electrochromic devices and gas sensors.

103p runthenight07 01-03-2023 8 3   Download

The purpose of this project is to enable the prediction of flow behaviour of concentrated slurries in the pipe loop under various laminar flow conditions using the fluid analogue to slurry and to find the suitable rheological model from the literature for the fluid analogue and tailings from the Sunrise dam. The major objective of the project is to develop a fluid analogue which will have similar rheological behaviour to that of the tailings from Sunrise dam so that it can be used as a test material to predict the flow behaviour of tailings in a pipe.

114p runthenight07 01-03-2023 7 3   Download

The objectives of the present study are: Justifying the possibility of using laser cladding technology as a repair method for refurbishment of worn railway axles without jeopardizing their fatigue properties; Analysis of crack initiation and propagation in laser clad samples.

130p runthenight07 01-03-2023 6 3   Download

A retaining wall constructed on expansive soil can be subjected to lateral swelling pressures due to soil swelling, which may cause a significant horizontal deformation and bending of the retaining wall. In Australia, it is generally assumed that the backfill behind a retaining wall is non-expansive material. Therefore lateral swelling pressures induced by expansive soils are ignored in routine design.

115p runthenight07 01-03-2023 12 3   Download

The goal of this thesis is to evaluate and compare the environmental impacts of alternative thermal treatments processing MRF residual waste in Victoria.

213p runthenight04 02-02-2023 10 2   Download

The specific research objectives of this study are: 1. The development of a high throughput method for evaluation of alloys (5xxx Al as model materials in this work) subject to pitting; 2. Understanding the roles of variation in functional groups' in determining the inhibition efficiency; 3. Elucidating the inhibition mechanisms; and 4. Unveiling the role of intermetallic present in Al matrix and their contribution to the inhibition mechanism, particularly the long-term durability of the inhibitor systems.

104p runthenight04 02-02-2023 9 2   Download

This Master's thesis aims to document the research process into the synthesis of 2D AlPO4 via a liquid metal synthesis pathway. The synthesised 2D AlPO4 will then undergo qualitative and structural analysis, after which it will be characterised via advanced techniques to determine piezoelectric characteristics, as well as the exploration of the ability of the synthesised material to absorb heavy metals.

114p runthenight04 02-02-2023 5 2   Download

The aim of this thesis is investigate and design a small antenna which can be embedded onto a Polyethylene substrate (used for making roof tiles). The antenna can be used to harvest ambient energy by connecting it to a rectifier. Due to the dimensional constraints of a roof tile as well as the materials used, there are limitations imposed on the antenna size, and thus the radiation efficiency and bandwidth often become a limiting factor in the overall performance of the system.

93p runthenight04 02-02-2023 11 2   Download

The following boundaries are considered in pursuing the proposed research study: This study is conducted on an experimental basis; Domestic hot water supply using evacuated tube solar thermal collectors has been selected as the applied context for this study; Paraffin has been chosen to be used as a PCM for this study due to its attractive techno-economic properties for use with solar thermal systems in domestic hot water applications; The effect of scale factor is not studied; The effect of the shape of the PCM container is not investigated in this study.

102p runthenight04 02-02-2023 9 2   Download

This research investigates a means of negating such shortcomings and reaping the benefits of both LPBF additive manufacturing and traditional manufacturing methods by joining such parts together using laser welding in the autogenous mode (no fillers required). Based on the literature review conducted in this field and the gaps identified, a two-stage methodology was utilised, as per following.

191p runthenight04 02-02-2023 7 5   Download

Once the mechanical properties of printed TPU are characterised, a novel, low cost, and environmentally friendly method for concrete casting using printed TPU moulds is proposed in this thesis. Additively manufactured TPU mould is developed to cast complex concrete structures. A planar topologically optimized cantilever and a free-form 3D column are cast using the proposed TPU mould. Good surface quality is obtained for the cast concrete elements, and the moulds can be reused many times after cleaning.

98p runthenight04 02-02-2023 8 4   Download

The recent advances in the study of the unique capabilities of monolayer crystals had predicted piezoelectricity in two-dimensional (2D) group IV chalcogenides which are not present in their bulk forms. In this study, the predicted piezoelectric properties of was experimentally explored through Piezoelectric Force Microscopy (PFM). Tin Sulfide (SnS), Tin Selenide (SnSe), Germanium Sulfide (GeS), were exfoliated from their bulk forms by the top down methods of liquid sonication, while and Tin Disulfide (SnS2) mechanically exfoliated by tape.

82p runthenight04 02-02-2023 9 3   Download

The purpose of this research was to investigate the technological feasibility of biological filtration process for Mn control in Lorne WTP. This thesis consists of eight chapters. Project background and research objectives are described in Chapter 1. Chapter 2 presents an extensive literature review covering the nature of manganese, manganese analytical methods, manganese control methods, the nature of MOB and biological control of Mn in drinking water treatment. The materials and methods used throughout the experimental investigation for this study are described in Chapter 3.

119p runthenight04 02-02-2023 6 3   Download

The aim of this project was to design, fabricate and characterise multifunctional structural composites incorporating phase change materials for thermal management applications. The specific research objectives to achieve this goal were formulated as follows: Investigate effective methods to integrate microencapsulated PCMs into glass fibrereinforced epoxy composites; Evaluate the mechanical properties of micro-PCMs enhanced FRP composites and investigate associated failure mechanisms; Study the thermal management effectiveness of micro-PCMs enhanced FRP composites.

125p runthenight04 02-02-2023 11 3   Download