Materials and structures
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 Yixiang Gan
Dr Benjy Marks
Dr Ali Hadigheh
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
Professor Fariba Dehghani
Professor Xiaoke Yi
Professor Simon Ringer
Professor Julie Cairney
Professor Xiaozhou Liao
Associate Professor Zongwen Liu
Associate Professor Jun Huang
Professor Yuan Chen
Real-world application