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Carbon and glass fibre-reinforced hybrid composites in flexure
Get PDFThis study investigates the flexural behaviour of carbon and glass fibre-reinforced hybrid composites using a finite element analysis (FEA)-based approach. Hybrid composites combine the strengths of different fibre types to enhance material performance, with carbon and glass fibres being selected for their distinct mechanical properties. The primary objective is to evaluate the flexural strength and failure mechanisms of these composites, focusing on the effects of hybrid layups and the interlaminar stresses that can lead to delamination. Nine different layups of hybrid composites, varying in the number of glass/epoxy plies, were analysed under three-point bending conditions. The study considers two predominant failure modes: microbuckling and delamination. Results show that delamination is the most likely failure mode, particularly at higher interlaminar shear stresses, while microbuckling is less critical in comparison. The predicted flexural strengths, based on delamination criteria, align closely with experimental data, with relative differences less than 2 %, demonstrating the significant influence of stacking sequence on hybrid composite performance. The findings highlight the complex interplay of fibre types and stacking sequences, providing valuable insights into the design and optimization of carbon and glass fibre-reinforced hybrid composites for engineering applications
Bearing capacity and deformation behavior of shallow footing loads on geogrid reinforced marine coral sand
No full textstruction safety in the island and coastal regions. Coral sand, characterized by its weak and irregularly shaped
particles, presents unique challenges compared to clay and silty sand, influencing bearing and deformation
performance. In this study, laboratory model tests are conducted to assess the impacts of various factors on the
bearing capacity and deformation performance of rigid shallow footings on the GRCS, including footing size, the
number of geogrids, burial depth, and spacing of geogrids. A three-dimensional discrete-continuous coupled
numerical method was developed to explore the microscopic bearing and deformation mechanisms, focusing on
the particle-crushing effect. Test results show that the bearing capacity suffers from the burial depth of the single layer geogrid and decays more slowly than the conventional soils after reaching the critical depth. For multi layer reinforcements, optimizing burial depths and spacing allows doubling of the bearing capacity compared
to the unreinforced condition. The microscopic numerical results show that particle crushing reduces the stress
level and failure area of the foundation soil, degrading the macroscopic bearing performance. Although various
factors influence the bearing behavior, the geogrid-particle interaction within the core bearing zone determines
bearing, settlement, stress, and particle crushing. This study enhances the understanding of the macro-micro
bearing behavior of shallow footings on GRCS and provides insight into the potential reinforcement design
and engineering geological disaster prevention on marine coral sand sites
Harnessing model-based group decision support systems for more effective stakeholder engagement: Reflections from the field
Get PDFStakeholder engagement is an integral component of active and participatory decision-making, enabling robust outcomes to be delivered and facilitating organisations in gaining and retaining a social license to operate. However, engaging stakeholders requires methods that realise these benefits whilst avoiding common pitfalls such as tokenism, selective participation, and stakeholder fatigue amongst others. This paper reports on an approach to identify stakeholder perspectives on the socio-economic values associated with decommissioning of Australian offshore oil and gas structures in a manner that enabled a holistic understanding of these values. This involved combining causal mapping with group decision support system technology, allowing a complex range of views to be explored whilst reducing pressures for conformity. The results demonstrate how such a method can ensure transparency and facilitate knowledge sharing between stakeholders, whilst also underlining the significance of a systemic approach to understanding the heterogeneity of stakeholder views. These process outcomes provide policy-makers with insights into the complexities of perceived issues and opportunities associated with offshore decommissioning and an approach that enables a nuanced understanding of these and related grand challenges to be incorporated into marine policy
Investigating the Impact of Antibiotics on Environmental Microbiota Through Machine Learning Models.
Get PDFAntibiotic pollution in the environment can significantly impact soil microorganisms, such as altering the soil microbial community or emerging antibiotic-resistant bacteria. We propose three machine learning (ML) methods to investigate antibiotics' impact on microorganisms and predict microbial abundance. We examined the microbial abundances of various environmental soil samples treated with antibiotics. We developed 3 ML models: (Model 1) for predicting the most abundant bacterial classes in a specific treatment group; (Model 2) for predicting antibiotic treatment effects based on bacterial abundances; and (Model 3) for using data from short-term incubations to predict the data of community structure after stabilisation. In Model 1, the Random Forest model achieved the highest average accuracy, with a Coefficient of Variation mean of 0.05 and 0.14 in the training and test set. In Model 2, the accuracy of the random forest and SVM models have the highest accuracy (nearly 0.90). Model 3 demonstrates that the Random Forest can use data from short-term incubations to predict the abundance of bacterial communities after long-term stabilisation. This study highlights the potential of ML models as powerful tools for understanding microbial dynamics in response to antibiotic treatments. The code is publicly available at - https://github.com/DeweyYihengDu/ML_on_Microbiota
“Body for talk”: Bringing the pragmatics of indigenous contact languages into the classroom.
No full textExploring Strengths-Based Approaches for Autistic Students in High School
Get PDFThis thesis examines strengths-based approaches for autistic students in high schools, addressing research gaps. Through a scoping review and phenomenological studies of autistic adolescents, parents, and educators, it identifies the benefits and key elements of leveraging students’ strengths in order to enhance inclusion and educational experiences. Findings emphasise the need for tailored support, teacher professional development, and whole-school approaches, advocating for inclusive practices that celebrate neurodivergence and improve educational experiences and outcomes for autistic students
Slope Stability Monitoring Methods and Technologies for Open-Pit Mining: A Systematic Review
No full textSlope failures in open-pit mining pose significant operational and safety issues, underscoring the importance of implementing effective stability monitoring frameworks for early hazard detection to allow for timely intervention and risk mitigation. This systematic review presents a comprehensive synthesis of existing and emerging methods and technologies used for slope stability monitoring in open-pit mining, including both remote sensing and in situ methods, as well as advanced technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, a total of 49 studies were selected from a collection of four engineering databases, and a comparative analysis was conducted to determine the underlying differences between the various methods for open-pit slope stability monitoring in terms of their performance across key attributes, such as monitoring accuracy, spatial and temporal coverage, operational complexity, and economic viability. Their juxtaposition highlighted the notion that no universally optimal slope stability monitoring system exists, due to a series of compromises that arise as a result of inherent technological limitations and site-specific constraints. Notably, remote sensing methods offer large-scale, non-intrusive monitoring, but are often limited by environmental factors and data acquisition infrequency, whereas in situ methods provide high precision, but suffer from limited spatial coverage and scalability. This review further highlights the capacity of emerging methods and technologies to address these limitations, providing suggestions for future research directions involving the integration of multiple sensing technologies for the enhancement of monitoring capabilities. This study provides a consolidated knowledge base on open-pit slope stability monitoring methods, technologies, and techniques, to guide the development of integrated, cost-effective, and scalable slope monitoring solutions that enhance mine safety and efficiency
Pre-clinical evaluation of novel small-molecule GPR119 agonists to treat metabolic disorders
No full textThis PhD project investigates the preclinical safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics (PK) features of novel GPR119 agonists, ps297 and ps318, for metabolic disorders. Both investigational compounds act as GLP-1 secretagogues, showing synergistic effects with sitagliptin. PK analysis confirmed a gut-oriented mechanism with low bioavailability. Its chronic combination therapy with sitagliptin restored incretin and insulin secretion, glucose homeostasis, and liver health in obese mice. Toxicity assessments indicated safety, supporting further investigation of these gut-oriented agents to treat metabolic disorders
“It’s Complicated”: Addressing the Psychological Complexity of Romantic Partner Selection Processes Through a Multi-Method Exploration of Diverse Identity, Conceptualisations, and Lived Experiences
Get PDFThis thesis explored the complexity inherent to romantic partner selection processes through diverse identity, lay conceptualisations, and lived experiences. Findings include identification of personal and experiential differences and similarities between diverse identities, how lay conceptualisations of phenomena can inform theory and research, and revealing how complex lived experiences can be despite simplifying propositions. The thesis challenges established findings and positions in the field and strongly argues for the need to address complexity and integrate perspectives
Towards a playworld translanguaging approach in early childhood education
No full textIn this conceptual paper, we integrate interdisciplinary perspectives from early childhood education and applied linguistics to propose a new framework: Playworld Translanguaging. This framework refers to the intentional blending of pedagogical translanguaging and conceptual playworlds to create a supportive, inclusive pedagogy in early childhood education settings for children from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
We argue that pedagogical translanguaging and conceptual playworlds share complementary features and philosophical foundations that can enhance language and literacy development, conceptual understanding, problem-solving skills, identity formation, personal agency, and overall wellbeing in young children. As both approaches are rights-based, inclusive, and responsive, their combination has the potential to effectively address the needs of linguistically and culturally diverse children.
While extensive research has shown the benefits of pedagogical translanguaging and conceptual playworlds independently, there is limited theorising and research on how combining these approaches might further improve outcomes in early childhood education. This paper thus aims to bridge that gap by introducing Playworld Translanguaging as a promising, unified approach