What We Do

In the present and foreseeable climate of industry restructuring, the traditional sources of external funding from industry need to be supplemented by new sources, and the new focus of Engineering Mechanics supported by advanced experimental facilities will prepare us ready for future funding opportunities. Applications for competitive ARC grants will be continually encouraged, and they will be reviewed by the memberships to improve the quality of submissions.

The Centre will enhance the research area of Materials and Manufacturing, one of the research strengths of the University, as can be seen from the research activities described above. The rolling technology research program of the Centre, through the metal forming, strip rolling and casting will contribute significantly to the manufacturing of metal products, and thus it interacts with the Institute for Steel Processing and Products. The welding prototyping activities, welding process simulation and integrity of bridges projects will contribute to the CRC for Welded Structures. The Computational Fluid Dynamics research when combined with the state-of the-art Laser Diagnostics Laboratory will provide a powerful tool for R&D and consultancy activities. It will interact with the Institute of Mathematical modelling. The fluids mechanics and heat transfer research are being carried out on an industrial manufacturing process. The computation and visualisation of two-phase flow with laser Doppler equipment will complement the activities of the Key Centre for Bulk Solids and Particulate Technologies. Other areas of focus are application of laser diagnostics in engineering measurement, and bio-engineering. For example, a patent on an application of laser speckle technique will be applied. Innovative type of screws for human skull can be fully develop for commercialisation.

The centre will involve five research fellows, 19 PhD, 5 Master (Hons) students in 2001. The Centre members have had a strong collaborative link with the Key Laboratory for Rolling Technology and Automation at NorthEastern University, China, Centre of Computational Fluid Dynamics (National Uni.Singapore), Swedish National Road Authority, Dalhousie University, Halifax (Canada). Collaborative R & D projects are being carried out wiht Bao Steel Co, and Benti Steel Co in China and Posco Steel in Korea.

These projects involve basic as well as industrial research, incorporating both aspects of computer simulation as well as experimental validation. Through these projects, the collaborative links with industry such as BHP Steel, BHP Research, CSIRO and companies through CRC-Welded Structures, CRC for Railways Engineering have been strong for a number of years.