Working to advance materials research for a better future

The Engineering Materials research cluster is comprised of expertise in material characterisation, material selection, novel applications for existing materials, use of new materials in the industry, material recycling, development of sustainable materials, and many other materials research fields providing consultancy knowledge across multiple engineering disciplines.

Through the collaboration of multiple schools and research groups within UWA, this cluster aims to provide engineering solutions to materials related problems in industry and research. Additionally, the cluster also aims to provide material research consultations to other research groups in and out of the university.

Expertise within the Research Cluster

Engineering Materials research cluster plans to give emphasis to wide-ranging consultation activities including oil and gas, construction, automotive, rail, maritime, 3D printing, energy, defence, aerospace, machinery and electrical and electronic products. Engineering Materials research cluster is comprised of expertise in testing and analysis of a multitude of materials, including the following:

• Construction materials
• Composite materials
• Metallic materials and alloys
• Polymeric materials
• Coatings
• Geo materials
• Bio materials
• Minerals
• Hybrid and internally engineered structure materials
• Electronic materials

Engineering Materials Testing Facilities and Services

Cluster testing facilities and services include:

• Static and dynamic mechanical tests
• Hardness tests
• Physical, fluid flow and thermal tests
• Non-destructive tests
• Corrosion and ageing tests
• Minerals tests
• Rock tests
• Fracture and Failure tests
• Fatigue
• Microstructural characterisation:

- Optical microscopy

- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)

- X-ray diffractometry (XRD)

- X-ray microscopy (XRM)

- Scanning probe microscopy (SPM)

- Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy

Our Research Projects

Current Projects

1. Concrete and recycled plastic pipes abrasion tests for Concrete Pipe Association of Australasia

2. WARRIP epoxy timber pile repair for NTRO - Main Roads WA

3. Durability of reinforced concrete sewer access chambers to soil and groundwater conditions found in greenfield development areas around the greater Perth metropolitan area for Water Corporation

Past Projects

1. Thermogravimetric analysis for waste plastics to use in pavement for ARRB National Transport Research Organisation

2. Determination of the tensile bond strength of concrete for the The Forrestfield-Airport Link

3. Tensile strength tests for cellulose-based material for Nanollose

4. Compressive, flexural and direct tensile strength tests for cellulose-based material for Nanollose

5. Anti-roll pin in segmental tunnel lining testing for Alkimos SeaWater Alliance

6. Experimentally investigate the form-filling ability of concrete in relation to T-beams for Main Roads

7. The performance of corrosion protection measures on chloride ingress into concrete in a solar salt environment for Rio Tinto

8. Strength capacity of half-cap scarf splices of timber bridges for Main Roads

9. Finite element modelling of half-cap scarf splices of timber bridges for Main Roads