A collaborative project between The University of Western Australia and FUZE Solutions will boost composite technology in a diverse array of industries.
Representatives from energy, marine, defence, mining, construction and engineering services sectors gathered at UWA’s EZone last month to celebrate the start of a $3.28 million project funded by the Australian Composites Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (ACM CRC, formerly known as SoMAC CRC).
ACM CRC CEO Dr Steve Gower said the fundamental purpose of the Centre was to elevate composite manufacturing technology in Australia to serve vital industries and ensure safe and stable operations.
“The FUZE-UWA project is an example of the collaboration driving innovation in the manufacturing of composites for extreme environments and will serve diverse industry sectors from marine to mining,” Dr Gower said.
UWA alumnus and FUZE Solutions Managing Director Jason LeCoultre said manufacturing composites in-situ for offshore or remote operations faced unique challenges.
“Things that break due to sustained environmental pressures are often a long way from a traditional factory and repairs need to be performed anytime, anywhere,” Mr LeCoultre said.
“Composites can also be useful for making lighter, more versatile components for a range of industrial applications.”
Associate Professor Farhad Aslani, from UWA’s School of Engineering, is working with FUZE Solutions to examine the structural performance of corroded tubular structural joints strengthened with fibre-reinforced polymer, using embedded structural health monitoring.
The project aims to overcome certain limitations of structural health monitoring, enabling effective implementation in offshore structures and enhance safety and reliability.
The team also plans to develop acceptance criteria for field repairs using composite materials, establish protocols for in-service inspections and explore the optimal resin systems for bonding to metallic structures.
ACM CRC Director of Research, Professor Gangadhara Prusty said, the project was consistent with ACM CRC's strong focus on technology and field demonstration for composite repair technologies and structural health monitoring solutions.
"The colloboration will help position Australian business to compete and rapidly expand," Professor Prusty said.
Attendees had the opportunity to view the specialised machinery and equipment in the EZone structures laboratory for a demonstration of several structural steel components repaired by FUZE.
Professor Anna Nowak, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), thanked the Department of Industry, Science and Resources for more than 30 years of commitment to the Cooperative Research Centres program and invited those present to consider what kind of research collaboration would make a difference in their organisation.