Infrastructure Engineering - Research Publications
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ItemNo Preview AvailableUpcycling opportunities and potential markets for aluminium composite panels with polyethylene core (ACP-PE) cladding materials in Australia: A review(ELSEVIER SCI LTD, 2022-11-28)Many buildings worldwide have high fire-risk materials as part of their cladding. As governments in Australia strive to make buildings safer, it is expected that a large volume of end-of-life dangerous cladding will be replaced with safer materials. This high volume of hazardous materials might be upcycled into value-added products. This article presents a systematic market analysis and literature review in identifying current and potential uses for the raw materials used in hazardous ACP-PE cladding. The most promising areas were identified to be non-food-contact packaging (US$228 M p.a.), non-pressure pipes (US$30 M p.a.), footwear (US$5.29 M p.a.) and 3D printer filament (US$2.73 M p.a.)
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ItemEffect of wind speed and direction on facade fire spread in an isolated rectangular building(Elsevier, 2022-05-01)This paper investigates the influence of wind speed and direction on external fire spread in an isolated rectangular building using computational fluid dynamics models validated with wind tunnel data and facade fire tests. Two wind speeds (2 m/s, 4 m/s) are considered for each of four wind directions (0°, 45°, 90°, 180°) and compared to a reference case of no wind. Results indicate that facade fire spread is heavily influenced by the near-wall flow fields generated by the building geometry. These flow fields explain counterintuitive findings such as the upstream tilting of flames under the influence of reverse flow near the side walls. The presence of external wind was found to inhibit the initial development of facade fires, but can greatly exacerbate fire spread once the fire has fully developed. The largest fire occurred for the case of no wind (7.5 GJ in 15 min) while the smallest fire occurred for the 4 m/s diagonal wind case (2.2 GJ). An additional case with temporally varying wind conditions demonstrated a 50% increase in fire spread area compared to no wind. The study provides valuable insight into wind and fire interaction in building facades that can help improve fire safety of buildings.
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ItemEngineering Performance of Concrete Incorporated with Recycled High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)-A Systematic Review(MDPI, 2021-06)Incorporating recycled plastic waste in concrete manufacturing is one of the most ecologically and economically sustainable solutions for the rapid trends of annual plastic disposal and natural resource depletion worldwide. This paper comprehensively reviews the literature on engineering performance of recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) incorporated in concrete in the forms of aggregates or fiber or cementitious material. Optimum 28-days' compressive and flexural strength of HDPE fine aggregate concrete is observed at HDPE-10 and splitting tensile strength at HDPE-5 whereas for HDPE coarse aggregate concrete, within the range of 10% to 15% of HDPE incorporation and at HDPE-15, respectively. Similarly, 28-days' flexural and splitting tensile strength of HDPE fiber reinforced concrete is increased to an optimum of 4.9 MPa at HDPE-3 and 4.4 MPa at HDPE-3.5, respectively, and higher than the standard/plain concrete matrix (HDPE-0) in all HDPE inclusion levels. Hydrophobicity, smooth surface texture and non-reactivity of HDPE has resulted in weaker bonds between concrete matrix and HDPE and thereby reducing both mechanical and durability performances of HDPE concrete with the increase of HDPE. Overall, this is the first ever review to present and analyze the current state of the mechanical and durability performance of recycled HDPE as a sustainable construction material, hence, advancing the research into better performance and successful applications of HDPE concrete.
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ItemThe Potential Use of Hypochlorous Acid and a Smart Prefabricated Sanitising Chamber to Reduce Occupation-Related COVID-19 Exposure(DOVE MEDICAL PRESS LTD, 2021)This work is part of a project on the development of a smart prefabricated sanitising chamber (SPSC) to provide extra measures against the transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Stabilised hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is an approved disinfectant against SARS-CoV-2 by the Environmental Protection Association US in its liquid form on non-porous surfaces. This review is extended to cover its viricidal/bactericidal efficacy in aerosolised or sprayed form which showed an effective dose of as low as 20 ppm and the exposure duration of at least 60 s. The aerosolised application was also recommended with particle size of less than 200 μm to increase the contact with pathogens. The review also includes the safety and toxicity of HOCl with different concentrations. The review calls for more investigations into the effect of HOCl in mist and fog form on the respiratory system when transitioning through the proposed SPSC.
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ItemDesign of a smart prefabricated sanitising chamber for COVID-19 using computational fluid dynamics(Vilnius Gediminas Technical University Press, 2021-02-23)The novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has spread at an unprecedented rate, resulting in a global pandemic (COVID-19) that has strained healthcare systems and claimed many lives. Front-line healthcare workers are among the most at risk of contracting and spreading the virus due to close contact with infected patients and settings of high viral loads. To provide these workers with an extra layer of protection, the authors propose a low-cost, prefabricated, and portable sanitising chamber that sprays individuals with sanitising fluid to disinfect clothing and external surfaces on their person. The study discusses computer-aided design of the chamber to improve uniformity of sanitiser deposition and reduce discomfort due to excessive moisture. Advanced computational fluid dynamics is used to simulate the dispersion and deposition of spray particle, and the resulting wetting pattern on the treated person is used to optimise the chamber design.