Materials and structures
Research_

Materials and structures

Shaping the future of materials, construction and design

We lead the design and development of next-generation nanomaterials, high-performance building structures and advanced manufacturing technologies. We explore the frontiers of materials synthesis and structural design. 

There is widespread consensus on the big questions modern societies such as Australia need to address in the face of population growth, climate change, and changing local and global socio-economic factors. These questions concern environmental sustainability, clean water and air, energy, efficient building and construction technologies, and next-generation communications, health and transport. These areas pose big challenges for engineers and scientists, and can only be addressed with the advanced design and development of materials and structures.

We offer a world-class, campus-based network of researchers in this field, focusing on the design and engineering of advanced materials and structures with unique properties. This includes materials that are exceptionally light and strong with the capability of photovoltaic activity (solar power generation), biocompatibility (non-toxic to humans), or specific responses to light and sound. We also examine 'smart structures' – buildings equipped with sensors that enable them to adapt to changes in the local environment, revolutionising our experience of shelter – as well as microstructural design to achieve exceptional properties.

Our other areas of expertise include:

  • adaptive structural systems
  • resilient structures
  • advanced high-strength alloys
  • chemical and biomechanical materials and structures
  • multifunctional architectural materials and integrated systems
  • granular materials science and mechanics.

Our research priorities

With support from Australia’s building and construction industry, we seek high-value relationships based on materials and structures for future construction, specifically:

  • high-performance buildings
  • smart glass
  • photovoltaic integration
  • green concrete.

We aim to create more substantive relationships with industry around our niche capacity to characterise nanotechnology structures, such as state-of-the-art electronics components and advanced alloys.

There is strong potential here to create jobs and influence Australia’s advanced manufacturing industries. The development of materials and devices for biomedical technology represents a key focus of our engagement. 

Our work relates to materials fabrication, testing, characterisation and processing; nanomaterials (nanocomposites, wires, tubes, membranes); molecular sieves; multifunctional materials; self-healing and self-sensing materials; smart materials, metals, polymers, granular materials, cellular materials and bio-materials; high-strength steels and concrete; fracture modeling in steel and concrete; prefabricated composite construction; structural morphing; ventilated slabs and fibre-reinforced plastics strengthening.

Our research covers multiscale analysis (macro, meso and micro scales); constitutive modelling (crystal plasticity, fracture, fibre reinforcement, delamination); numerical methods, pre-processing and post-processing.

Our experts and their fields

Professor Simon Ringer

Professor Kim Rasmussen

Professor Kim Rasmussen

Professor Itai Einav

Professor Gianluca Ranzi

Associate Professor Luming Shen

Associate Professor Gwenaelle Proust

Associate Professor Hao Zhang

Associate Professor Daniel Dias Da Costa

Dr Mike Bambach

Dr Cao Hung Pham

Dr Yixiang Gan

Dr Benjy Marks

Dr Damith Mohotti

Dr Pierre Rognon

Dr Ali Hadigheh

Professor Grant Steven

Professor Liyong Tong

Associate Professor KC Wong

Dr Dries Verstraete

Professor Gregg Suaning

Professor Andrew Ruys

Professor Qing Li

Professor Timothy Langrish

Professor Philp De Chazal

Associate Professor Ali Abbas

Associate Professor Vincent Gomes

Associate Professor Colin Dunstan

Associate Professor Marjorie Valix

Professor Hala Zreiqat

Dr Alejandro Montoya

Professor Fariba Dehghani

Professor Simon Ringer

Professor Julie Cairney

Professor Xiaozhou Liao

Associate Professor Zongwen Liu

Associate Professor Jun Huang

Professor Yuan Chen