Publications

Althuwaynee, OF & Pradhan, B 2014, 'An Alternative Technique for Landslide Inventory Modeling Based on Spatial Pattern Characterization' in Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography, Springer International Publishing, pp. 35-48.
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Chakraborty, S, Fidge, C, Ma, L & Sun, Y 2014, 'M-ary Trees for Combinatorial Asset Management Decision Problems' in Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering, Springer London, pp. 117-127.
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© Springer-Verlag London 2014. A novel m-ary tree-based approach is presented to solve asset management decisions which are combinatorial in nature. The approach introduces a new dynamic constraint-based control mechanism which is capable of excluding infeasible solutions from the solution space. The approach also provides a solution to the challenges with ordering of assets decisions.

Ding, GKC 2014, '3 Life cycle assessment (LCA) of sustainable building materials: an overview' in Eco-efficient Construction and Building Materials, pp. 38-62.
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Ding, GKC 2014, 'Life cycle assessment (LCA) of sustainable building materials: an overview' in Pacheco-Torgal, F, Cabeza, LF, Labrincha, J & de Magalhaes, A (eds), Eco-efficient Construction and Building Materials, Elsevier, Cambridge, UK, pp. 38-62.
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Ferrer-Boix, C & Hassan, M 2014, 'Temporal bed adjustments to a series of water pulses in gravel bed rivers' in River Flow 2014, CRC Press, pp. 1269-1274.
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Lee, JH, Gu, N, Jupp, J & Sherratt, S 2014, 'Evaluating Creativity in Parametric Design Processes and Products: A Pilot Study' in Design Computing and Cognition '12, Springer Netherlands, pp. 165-183.
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Lopa, R & Shimatani, Y 2014, 'Relationship between scenery of flow ecology habitat and physical environment' in River Flow 2014, CRC Press, pp. 2331-2338.
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Medury, A & Madanat, S 2014, 'A Comparison between MDP-based Optimization Approaches for Pavement Management Systems' in Maintenance and Safety of Aging Infrastructure, CRC Press, pp. 429-448.
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Moshiri, F, Shrestha, R & Crews, K 2014, 'The Predictive Model for Stiffness of Inclined Screws as Shear Connection in Timber-Concrete Composite Floor' in Aicher, S, Reinhardt, HW & Garrecht, H (eds), Materials and Joints in Timber Structures, Springer, Germany, pp. 443-453.
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Interest in timber-concrete composite (TCC) floors has increased over the last 30 years. TCC technology relies on timber and concrete members acting compositely together. Both timber and concrete exhibit a brittle behaviour in bending/tension and compression respectively whilst the shear connection is identified as the only contributor of ductile behaviour. Therefore, the strength, stiffness and arrangement of the shear connection play a crucial role in the design parameters of TCC system including deflection and stiffness of floor. Hence, calculation of stiffness is of interest to study the structural performance of TCC floor. Material properties of timber, fastener and concrete influence the overall load-displacement response of shear connection. There are only few investigations on analytical closed-form equation to predict the stiffness and strength of TCC joints as input values to design a partially composite floor. For example, Eurocode 5 recommends the empirical equations for the slip modulus of dowels and screws which are limited to vertically inserted fasteners only. Eurocode 5 only recommends that the strength and stiffness of unconventional joints should be determined by push-out tests. Previous investigations reported that the inclination of a fastener significantly increase the initial stiffness and ultimate strength of the TCC joints and consequently composite floor. This paper presents a model for prediction of the stiffness of TCC joint using crossed inclined proprietary screws (SFS Intec). The model assumes the behaviour of inclined screw as a beam on a two-dimensional elastic foundation, and considers the timber as the elastic foundation consisting of orthogonal springs with differing stiffness in the parallel and transverse to the grain directions. The experimental aspect of the research consists of embedding and push-out tests aiming to verify the stiffness model of TCC joints with inclined screws. The model is reasonably accurate in predictin...

Mueller, J & Stewart, MG 2014, 'Responsible Counterterrorism Policy' in Are We Safe Enough?, Elsevier, pp. 187-223.
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Ngo, H, Guo, W & Chen, Z 2014, 'New submerged membrane bioreactors (SMBRs) for sustainable water' in Singh, RS, Pandey, A & Larroche, C (eds), Advances in Industrial Biotechnology, IK International Publishing House Pvt. Ltd., India, pp. 393-411.
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To ensure a stable and reliable operation of MBR in wastewater treatment, it is vital important to exploit and develop novel advanced system configurations as well as low cost and environmental friendly materials in controlling membrane fouling and reducing contaminant loading. The enhanced system performance, extended service life of membrane, and reduced operational cost can significantly contribute to long-term sustainable development in water resources. Compared with conventional SMBR approach, the modified SMBR systems, including ASMBR, SSMBR, integrated SMBR and GACS-FBBR, achieved more desirable outcomes in organic and nutrient removal and exhibited lower TMP development. While PAC in ASMBR can increase the organic removal, mitigate membrane fouling and enhance permeate flux by simultaneous functions of adsorption and biodegradation on its surface, the porous media (e.g., sponge and NB) addition to SMBR can be an excellent solution for additional nutrient removal improvement. It is worth noting that GBF can also play important roles for enhancing microbial activity and minimizing membrane fouling. Furthermore, both the laboratory and pilot scale studies on GACS-FBBR confi rmed that this hybrid system can be a promising pre-treatment for MBR, owing to its success in treating organics and nutrients along with the membrane fouling control.

Samali, B, Li, J, Dackermann, U & Choi, FC 2014, 'Vibration-based damage detection for timber structures in Australia' in Chan, THT & Thambiratnam, DP (eds), Structural Health Monitoring in Australia, Nova Science Publishers, New York, USA, pp. 117-144.
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The use of non-destructive assessment techniques for evaluating structural conditions of aging infrastructure, such as timber bridges, utility poles and buildings, for the past 20 years has faced increasing challenges as a result of poor maintenance and inadequate funding. Replacement of structures, such as an old bridge, is neither viable nor sustainable in many circumstances. Hence, there is an urgent need to develop and utilize state-of-the-art techniques to assess and evaluate the ?health state? of existing infrastructure and to be able to understand and quantify the effects of degradation with regard to public safety. This paper presents an overview of research work carried out by the authors in developing and implementing several vibration methods for evaluation of damage in timber bridges and utility poles. The technique of detecting damage involved the use of vibration methods, namely damage index method, which also incorporated artificial neural networks for timber bridges and time-based non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods for timber utility poles. The projects involved successful numerical modeling and good experimental validation for the proposed vibration methods to detect damage for simple beams subjected to single and multiple damage scenarios and was then extended to a scaled timber bridge constructed under laboratory conditions. The time-based NDE methods also showed promising trends for detecting the embedded depth and condition of timber utility poles in early stages of that research.

Sinha, A & Wang, JJ 2014, 'Bio-mimetic Path Integration Using a Self Organizing Population of Grid Cells' in Artificial Neural Networks and Machine Learning – ICANN 2014, Springer International Publishing, pp. 675-682.
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Stewart, MG 2014, 'Climate change risks and climate adaptation engineering for built' in Life-Cycle of Structural Systems, CRC Press, pp. 89-108.
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Stewart, MG, Val, DV, Bastidas-Arteaga, E, O'Connor, A & Wang, X 2014, 'Climate Adaptation Engineering and Risk-based Design and Management of Infrastructure' in Maintenance and Safety of Aging Infrastructure, CRC Press, pp. 641-684.
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Tien Bui, D, Ho, TC, Revhaug, I, Pradhan, B & Nguyen, DB 2014, 'Landslide Susceptibility Mapping Along the National Road 32 of Vietnam Using GIS-Based J48 Decision Tree Classifier and Its Ensembles' in Cartography from Pole to Pole, Springer Berlin Heidelberg, pp. 303-317.
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Tien Bui, D, Pradhan, B, Revhaug, I & Trung Tran, C 2014, 'A Comparative Assessment Between the Application of Fuzzy Unordered Rules Induction Algorithm and J48 Decision Tree Models in Spatial Prediction of Shallow Landslides at Lang Son City, Vietnam' in Society of Earth Scientists Series, Springer International Publishing, pp. 87-111.
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Tijing, LD, Kim, CS, Lee, DH & Cho, YI 2014, 'Physical Water Treatment Using Oscillating Electric Fields to Mitigate Scaling in Heat Exchangers' in Cheng, L (ed), Frontiers and Progress in Multiphase Flow I, Springer International Publishing, Switzerland, pp. 105-155.
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Yanev, B 2014, 'Comparing Bridge Condition Evaluations with Life-Cycle Expenditures' in Maintenance and Safety of Aging Infrastructure, CRC Press, pp. 685-706.
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Abdolali, A, Guo, WS, Ngo, HH, Chen, SS, Nguyen, NC & Tung, KL 2014, 'Typical lignocellulosic wastes and by-products for biosorption process in water and wastewater treatment: A critical review', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 160, pp. 57-66.
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Biosorption on lignocellulosic wastes and by-products has been identified as a proper alternative to the existing technologies applied for toxic metal ion and dye removal from wastewater streams. This paper deals with utilization of typical low cost wastes and by-products produced in different food agricultural and agro-industries as biosorbent and reviews the current state of studies on a wide variety of cheap biosorbents in natural and modified forms. The efficiency of each biosorbent has been also discussed with respect to the operating conditions (e.g. temperature, hydraulic residence time, initial metal concentration, biosorbent particle size and its dosage), chemical modification on sorption capacity and preparation methods, as well as thermodynamics and kinetics. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Abdolali, A, Ngo, HH, Guo, WS, Lee, DJ, Tung, KL & Wang, XC 2014, 'Development and evaluation of a new multi-metal binding biosorbent', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 160, pp. 98-106.
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A novel multi-metal binding biosorbent (MMBB) was developed by combining a group of three from the selective natural lignocellulosic agro-industrial wastes for effectively eliminating lead, cadmium, copper and zinc from aqueous solutions. Four MMBBs with different combinations (MMBB1: tea waste, corncob, sugarcane bagasse; MMBB2: tea waste, corncob and sawdust; MMBB3: tea waste, corncob and apple peel; MMBB4: tea waste, corncob and grape stalk) were evaluated. FTIR analysis for characterizing the MMBB2 explored that the MMBB2 contains more functional groups available for multi-metals binding. Comparing among the MMBBs as well as the single group biosorbents, MMBB2 was the best biosorbent with the maximum biosorption capacities of 41.48, 39.48, 94.00 and 27.23 mg/g for Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II), respectively. After 5 times of desorption with CaCl2, CH3COOH and NaCl as eluent, the MMBB2 still remained excellent biosorptive capacity, so as it could be well regenerated for reuse and possible recovery of metals.

Abdullahi, S, Mahmud, ARB & Pradhan, B 2014, 'Spatial modelling of site suitability assessment for hospitals using geographical information system-based multicriteria approach at Qazvin city, Iran', Geocarto International, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 164-184.
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Abedin, MJ, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Sanjid, A, Rahman, SMA & Fattah, IMR 2014, 'Performance, emissions, and heat losses of palm and jatropha biodiesel blends in a diesel engine', Industrial Crops and Products, vol. 59, pp. 96-104.
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Abedin, MJ, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Varman, M, Arbab, MI, Fattah, IMR & Masum, BM 2014, 'Experimental Investigation of a Multicylinder Unmodified Diesel Engine Performance, Emission, and Heat Loss Characteristics Using Different Biodiesel Blends: Rollout of B10 in Malaysia', The Scientific World Journal, vol. 2014, pp. 1-9.
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This paper deals with the performance and emission analysis of a multicylinder diesel engine using biodiesel along with an in-depth analysis of the engine heat losses in different subsystems followed by the energy balance of all the energy flows from the engine. Energy balance analysis allows the designer to appraise the internal energy variations of a thermodynamic system as a function of ‘‘energy flows’’ across the control volume as work or heat and also the enthalpies associated with the energy flows which are passing through these boundaries. Palm and coconut are the two most potential biodiesel feed stocks in this part of the world. The investigation was conducted in a four-cylinder diesel engine fuelled with 10% and 20% blends of palm and coconut biodiesels and compared with B5 at full load condition and in the speed range of 1000 to 4000 RPM. Among the all tested blends, palm blends seemed more promising in terms of engine performance, emission, and heat losses. The influence of heat losses on engine performance and emission has been discussed thoroughly in this paper.

Ahmed, S, Hassan, MH, Kalam, MA, Ashrafur Rahman, SM, Abedin, MJ & Shahir, A 2014, 'An experimental investigation of biodiesel production, characterization, engine performance, emission and noise of Brassica juncea methyl ester and its blends', Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 79, pp. 74-81.
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Al Mahmud, KAH, Varman, M, Kalam, MA, Masjuki, HH, Mobarak, HM & Zulkifli, NWM 2014, 'Tribological characteristics of amorphous hydrogenated (a-C:H) and tetrahedral (ta-C) diamond-like carbon coating at different test temperatures in the presence of commercial lubricating oil', Surface and Coatings Technology, vol. 245, pp. 133-147.
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Alamdari, MM, Li, J, Samali, B, Ahmadian, H & Naghavi, A 2014, 'Nonlinear Joint Model Updating in Assembled Structures', Journal of Engineering Mechanics, vol. 140, no. 7, pp. 04014042-04014042.
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Dynamic response of mechanical structures is significantly affected by joints. Joints introduce remarkable frictional damping and localized flexibility to the structure; hence, to obtain a more accurate representation of a system’s dynamics, it is crucial to take these effects into account. This paper investigates the application of finite-element model updating on characterization of a nonlinear joint interface. A thin layer of virtual elements is used at a joint location to represent the nonlinear behavior of the coupling in the tangential direction. The material properties of the elements are described by a nonlinear constitutive stress-strain equation that defines the nonlinear state of the joint interface. In this study, Richard–Abbot elastic-plastic material was considered, which is capable of characterizing energy dissipation and softening phenomena in a joint at a nonlinear state. Uncertain material parameters are adjusted to minimize the residual between the numerical and experimental nonlinear frequency responses. Minimization was carried out based on iterative sensitivity-based optimization. The procedure was implemented on an assembled structure consisting of two steel threaded pipes coupled to each other by a nut interface. It was demonstrated that the proposed technique significantly reduced the uncertainties in the joint modeling and led to a more reliable description of the assembled structure.

Alamdari, MM, Li, JC & Samali, B 2014, 'A Novel FRF-Based Damage Localisation Method Using Random Vibration', Applied Mechanics and Materials, vol. 553, pp. 713-718.
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This paper presents a novel damage localization method based on the measured Frequency Response Functions (FRFs) without demanding any previous data records of the structure in its healthy state. The main innovation of this study starts with reconstruction of FRFs curvature to develop spatial shape functions. It is demonstrated that reconstructed data significantly magnifies the influence of low-frequency spectra in damage detection procedure which is considered the milestone of this approach as excitation of the higher frequencies is not easy to obtain in most practical applications. The modified curvature data in all measured frequencies and locations is interpreted as a two dimensional image and then processed by employing 2-D discrete wavelet transform to detect any abrupt variation at damage site. Level one wavelet decomposition is utilised to provide the finest detail coefficients. It is illustrated that this approach presents a more recognizable pattern at damage site in all measured frequencies. The pattern can be described by a horizontal line parallel to the frequency spectra in 2-D image. Hence, the horizontal detail coefficients are utilised to detect this pattern as they are more sensitive to perturbation with orientation parallel to horizontal axis in the image. The main contribution of this approach lies in the fact that the proposed technique is able to detect the structural damage in all measured frequencies and the effectiveness of the method is independent of the excitation location. Moreover, the results provide a better visualisation at damage site which other FRF-based damage detection methods could not obtain. Applying broadband FRF data in this approach and the fact that there is no need for data from the healthy state of the structure are other advantages accompanying this method. The robustness of the proposed damage identification method was examined with various damage conditions in both single and multiple states. Mo...

Alsharif, AAA & Pradhan, B 2014, 'Urban Sprawl Analysis of Tripoli Metropolitan City (Libya) Using Remote Sensing Data and Multivariate Logistic Regression Model', Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, vol. 42, no. 1, pp. 149-163.
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Al-sharif, AAA & Pradhan, B 2014, 'Monitoring and predicting land use change in Tripoli Metropolitan City using an integrated Markov chain and cellular automata models in GIS', Arabian Journal of Geosciences, vol. 7, no. 10, pp. 4291-4301.
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Altaee, A & Hilal, N 2014, 'Dual-stage forward osmosis/pressure retarded osmosis process for hypersaline solutions and fracking wastewater treatment', Desalination, vol. 350, pp. 79-85.
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Hypersaline solution with high TDS is not suitable for direct treatment by the conventional membrane and thermal processes. The current study proposes a dual-stage FO/PRO process for hypersaline solution treatment and power generation. The treatment process reduces the concentration of saline wastewater and hence renders it suitable for disposal directly to sea or treatment by the conventional membrane and thermal processes. The draw and feed solutions in the FO process were the hypersaline solutions and wastewater effluent, respectively. Five concentrations were evaluated for the process treatment with different concentrations ranging from 53. g/L to 157. g/L. The performance of FO membrane was estimated using pre-developed computer software. The results showed that a higher power can be generated from the PRO-FO system than from the FO-PRO system without compromising the concentration of hypersaline solution after dilution. The study also showed that although increasing the flow rate of draw solution resulted in an increase in the permeate flow rate, it caused a reduction in the dilution of draw solution. On the other hand, the study showed a negligible improvement in the performance of FO membrane upon increasing the feed solution flow rate. Finally, the simulation results showed that the concentration of diluted draw solution was suitable for the conventional membrane and thermal treatments or discharge to seawater after the dual-stage FO membrane treatment. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.

Altaee, A & Zaragoza, G 2014, 'A conceptual design of low fouling and high recovery FO–MSF desalination plant', Desalination, vol. 343, pp. 2-7.
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Forward Osmosis (FO) has many applications in water and wastewater treatment and seawater desalination. In this paper, the FO was suggested for seawater pretreatment to the thermal desalination processes such as Multi Stage Flashing (MSF). The integrated FO-MSF hybrid system was designed to reduce the cost of desalination in which the brine reject from MSF was recycled and reused as a draw solution in the FO process. A simple model was suggested here to estimate water flux and power consumption in the FO process and compared with Nanofiltration (NF) process which was previously used in seawater softening. The simulation results showed that for feed salinities between 32,000. mg/L and 50,000. mg/L the recovery rate in the NF was higher than that in the FO. It is also found that the water permeability and specific power consumption was higher in the NF than that in the FO. However, power consumption in the FO wasn't affected by the feed salinity while it increased with feed salinity in NF. Therefore, the FO process has the potential to replace the NF seawater pretreatment for thermal desalination. © 2013.

Altaee, A, Mabrouk, A, Bourouni, K & Palenzuela, P 2014, 'Forward osmosis pretreatment of seawater to thermal desalination: High temperature FO-MSF/MED hybrid system', Desalination, vol. 339, no. 1, pp. 18-25.
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Forward osmosis (FO) seawater pretreatment was proposed for the removal of scale ions from seawater to the thermal desalination plant. In the current study, previously developed models were applied to estimate the effectiveness of FO pretreatment in the removal of divalent ions from feed solution to MSF/MED at elevated temperatures. The simulation results showed that the water and salt flux across the FO membrane increased with increasing the seawater salinity. However, for given seawater salinity, the water and salt flux across the FO membrane decreased with increasing the FO recovery rate. It was found that the concentration of Ca2+, Mg2+ and SO42- ions increased with increasing the operating temperature in the thermal plant but decreased with increasing the recovery rate of the FO pretreatment. Additionally, an FO pretreatment-MED Scale Index (FMSI) was developed to determine the required FO recovery rate and avoids scale problems at different MED operating temperatures. Initially, Ryznar Scale Index (RSI) of the feed solution was calculated for different MED operating temperatures. Then, RSI was plotted against the FO recovery rates and the desirable FO recovery rate was determined from the plot based on the operating temperature of the MED plant. The scale index was also applied to determine the required mixing ratio of NF permeate-makeup water in the NF-MED desalination hybrid system. The application of the FO pretreatment-MED Scale Index has the potential to reduce the required time and resources to determine the desirable FO/NF pretreatment ratio of feed water to the MED plant. © 2014.

Altaee, A, Sharif, A, Zaragoza, G & Hilal, N 2014, 'Dual stage PRO process for power generation from different feed resources', Desalination, vol. 352, pp. 118-127.
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© 2014 . A dual stage PRO process is proposed here for power generation using osmotic energy. The process is able to handle a wide range of feed water salinities with different pretreatment requirements in order to reduce the membrane fouling problems. In the current study, the salinity gradient resource consisted of seawater at standard TDS, 35. g/L, while the first stage feed water was brackish water or fresh water and the second stage feed water was wastewater effluent. The diluted seawater from the first stage of PRO process was the draw solution in the second stage of PRO process. The performance of dual stage PRO process was evaluated for a number of brackish water salinities ranged from 1. g/L to 5. g/L. The TDS of wastewater and freshwater was assumed 0.2. g/L. The results showed that a better PRO performance was achieved when the brackish water and the wastewater were introduced in the first stage and the second stage respectively. In case when wastewater and brackish water were introduced in the first and second stage respectively there was about 28% decrease in the second stage permeate flow. The results also showed a decrease in the first stage permeate flow with increasing the feed salinity but the second stage permeate flow increased with increasing the feed salinity. Furthermore the results showed that the first stage maximum power density was achieved at δP=. δπ/2 while the second stage maximum power density was achieved at δP=. δπ/1.5. Unlike the conventional PRO process, it has been found that the impact of feed salinity increase on the performance of dual stage PRO process was insignificant. Finally, the power generation in the dual stage PRO process was higher than that in the conventional PRO process. The difference was equal to the entire amount of power generated in the second stage of PRO process.

Altaee, A, Zaragoza, G & Sharif, A 2014, 'Corrigendum to ‘Pressure retarded osmosis for power generation and seawater desalination: Performance analysis’ [Desalination 344 (2014) 108–115]', Desalination, vol. 346, pp. 37-37.
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Altaee, A, Zaragoza, G & Sharif, A 2014, 'Pressure retarded osmosis for power generation and seawater desalination: Performance analysis', Desalination, vol. 344, pp. 108-115.
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The present study evaluated the performance of pressure retarded osmosis-reverse osmosis (PRO-RO) process for power generation and seawater desalination. Two pre-developed software were used separately to estimate the performance of forward osmosis (FO) and RO process. The draw and feed solutions in the FO process were seawater and low-quality water; i.e. wastewater effluent and brackish water. The simulation results showed that the FO performance increased with increasing seawater salinity and decreased with increasing feed water TDS. Increasing the feed and draw solution flow rate resulted in an increase in the FO performance especially when brackish water was used as a feed solution in the FO process. Power generation from the PRO process was found to increase with increasing the TDS of seawater and the flow rate of feed and draw solutions. The simulation results, however, showed that the PRO process was more sensitive to the increase in the seawater TDS than the flow rate of feed and draw solutions. For fresh water supply, the diluted seawater from the FO process was treated by RO membrane system. Up to 31% decrease in the desalination power consumption can be achieved by the PRO-RO process. It was also found that the increase in the draw solution flow rate resulted in an increase of the permeate concentration and power consumption. This issue should be considered in the operation of the PRO-RO system in order to reduce the overall treatment cost. © 2014.

Altaee, A, Zaragoza, G & van Tonningen, HR 2014, 'Comparison between Forward Osmosis-Reverse Osmosis and Reverse Osmosis processes for seawater desalination', Desalination, vol. 336, no. 1, pp. 50-57.
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The combination of Forward Osmosis (FO) and Reverse Osmosis (RO) was evaluated for seawater desalination. RO process was suggested for the draw solution regeneration because of its high efficiency and applicability for a wide range of ionic solution treatments. Two different salts, NaCl and MgCl2, were used as a draw solution. The performance of FO and RO regeneration processes was simulated using pre-developed software. A comparison between the RO and FO-RO processes was carried out. The simulation results showed that the total power consumption in the RO was lower than that in the FO-RO process. But, the difference in total power consumption between the RO and 0.65mol MgCl2 FO-RO processes was insignificant. The results also showed that the power consumption in the FO process was only 2%-4% of the total power consumption in the FO-RO process. However, the difference in total power consumption between the RO process and the FO-RO process decreased with a higher seawater salinity. In the FO-RO process, the results showed that the permeate TDS was increased with increasing the concentration of draw solution. The lowest permeate TDS was achieved in the 0.65mol MgCl2 FO-RO process and it was attributed to the high rejection rate of MgCl2 by the RO regeneration unit. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.

Althuwaynee, OF, Pradhan, B, Park, H-J & Lee, JH 2014, 'A novel ensemble bivariate statistical evidential belief function with knowledge-based analytical hierarchy process and multivariate statistical logistic regression for landslide susceptibility mapping', CATENA, vol. 114, pp. 21-36.
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Althuwaynee, OF, Pradhan, B, Park, H-J & Lee, JH 2014, 'A novel ensemble decision tree-based CHi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) and multivariate logistic regression models in landslide susceptibility mapping', Landslides, vol. 11, no. 6, pp. 1063-1078.
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Amani, A, Mansor, S, Pradhan, B, Billa, L & Pirasteh, S 2014, 'Coupling effect of ozone column and atmospheric infrared sounder data reveal evidence of earthquake precursor phenomena of Bam earthquake, Iran', Arabian Journal of Geosciences, vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 1517-1527.
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Amarjargal, A, Tijing, LD, Shon, HK, Park, C-H & Kim, CS 2014, 'Facile in situ growth of highly monodispersed Ag nanoparticles on electrospun PU nanofiber membranes: Flexible and high efficiency substrates for surface enhanced Raman scattering', Applied Surface Science, vol. 308, pp. 396-401.
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Amiri, F, bin Mohamed Shariff, AR, Tabatabaie, T & Pradhan, B 2014, 'A geospatial model for the optimization grazing management in semi-arid rangeland of Iran', Arabian Journal of Geosciences, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 1101-1114.
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Amiri, F, Rahdari, V, maleki najafabadi, S, Pradhan, B & Tabatabaei, T 2014, 'Erratum to: Multi-temporal landsat images based on eco-environmental change analysis in and around Chah Nimeh reservoir, Sistan and Balochestan (Iran)', Environmental Earth Sciences, vol. 72, no. 3, pp. 811-811.
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Amiri, F, Rahdari, V, maleki najafabadi, S, Pradhan, B & Tabatabaei, T 2014, 'Multi-temporal landsat images based on eco-environmental change analysis in and around Chah Nimeh reservoir, Balochestan (Iran)', Environmental Earth Sciences, vol. 72, no. 3, pp. 801-809.
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An, Z, He, J, Dai, Y, Yu, C, Li, B & He, J 2014, 'Enhanced heterogeneous asymmetric catalysis via the acid–base cooperation between achiral silanols of mesoporous supports and immobilized chiral amines', Journal of Catalysis, vol. 317, pp. 105-113.
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Ary Subagia, IDG, Kim, Y, Tijing, LD, Kim, CS & Shon, HK 2014, 'Effect of stacking sequence on the flexural properties of hybrid composites reinforced with carbon and basalt fibers', Composites Part B: Engineering, vol. 58, pp. 251-258.
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We investigated the effect of different stacking sequences of carbon and basalt fabrics on the flexural properties of hybrid composite laminates. The hybrid composites were fabricated using a vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding process. Three-point bending test was performed and the fracture surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscopy. The present results showed that the flexural strength and modulus of hybrid composite laminates were strongly dependent on the sequence of fiber reinforcement. All the stacking sequences showed a positive hybridization effect. The interply hybrid composite with carbon fiber at the compressive side exhibited higher flexural strength and modulus than when basalt fabric was placed at the compressive side. Here, the proper stacking sequence of basalt and carbon fiber layers was found to improve the balance of the mechanical properties of the hybrid composite laminate. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ary Subagia, IDG, Tijing, LD, Kim, Y, Kim, CS, Vista IV, FP & Shon, HK 2014, 'Mechanical performance of multiscale basalt fiber–epoxy laminates containing tourmaline micro/nano particles', Composites Part B: Engineering, vol. 58, pp. 611-617.
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In this study, the effect of different tourmaline (TM) micro/nano particle loading (i.e., 0.5-2 wt%) on the tensile and flexural properties of a basalt fiber-reinforced epoxy composite laminate (BFRP) was investigated. The TM/basalt/epoxy laminates were fabricated by impregnating woven basalt fibers into epoxy resin mixed with TM particles via vacuum assisted resin transfer molding. Tensile and flexural tests were performed according to ASTM standards. Fracture surfaces were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The results showed significant improvement in both tensile and flexural strength and modulus when tourmaline particles where incorporated in the basalt/epoxy composite. The best result was obtained at 1 wt% TM loading with surfactant (i.e., C4) showing an increase of ∼16% in both tensile and flexural strength, and 27.4% and 153.3% increase in tensile and flexural modulus, respectively, compared to neat basalt/epoxy composite. The enhanced performance of TM/basalt/epoxy laminates is attributed to a good dispersion of TM particles in the epoxy matrix providing increased surface area for strong interfacial interaction and good load transfer. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Asadullah, M, Jahan, I, Ahmed, MB, Adawiyah, P, Malek, NH & Rahman, MS 2014, 'Preparation of microporous activated carbon and its modification for arsenic removal from water', JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY, vol. 20, no. 3, pp. 887-896.
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Ashraful, AM, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Rahman, SMA, Habibullah, M & Syazwan, M 2014, 'Study of the Effect of Storage Time on the Oxidation and Thermal Stability of Various Biodiesels and Their Blends', Energy & Fuels, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 1081-1089.
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Ashraful, AM, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Rashedul, HK, Sajjad, H & Abedin, MJ 2014, 'Influence of anti-corrosion additive on the performance, emission and engine component wear characteristics of an IDI diesel engine fueled with palm biodiesel', Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 87, pp. 48-57.
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Ashraful, AM, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Rizwanul Fattah, IM, Imtenan, S, Shahir, SA & Mobarak, HM 2014, 'Production and comparison of fuel properties, engine performance, and emission characteristics of biodiesel from various non-edible vegetable oils: A review', Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 80, pp. 202-228.
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Aslani, F, Nejadi, S & Samali, B 2014, 'Long-term flexural cracking control of reinforced self-compacting concrete one way slabs with and without fibres', COMPUTERS AND CONCRETE, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 419-444.
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Aslani, F, Nejadi, S & Samali, B 2014, 'Short term bond shear stress and cracking control of reinforced self-compacting concrete one way slabs under flexural loading', COMPUTERS AND CONCRETE, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 709-737.
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Fibre-reinforced self-compacting concrete (FRSCC) is a high-performance building material that combines positive aspects of fresh properties of self-compacting concrete (SCC) with improved characteristics of hardened concrete as a result of fibre addition. To produce SCC, either the constituent materials or the corresponding mix proportions may notably differ from the conventional concrete (CC). These modifications besides enhance the concrete fresh properties affect the hardened properties of the concrete. Therefore, it is vital to investigate whether all the assumed hypotheses about CC are also valid for SCC structures. In the present paper, the experimental results of short-term flexural load tests on eight reinforced SCC and FRSCC specimens slabs are presented. For this purpose, four SCC mixes - two plain SCC, two steel, two polypropylene, and two hybrid FRSCC slab specimens - are considered in the test program. The tests are conducted to study the development of SCC and FRSCC flexural cracking under increasing short-term loads from first cracking through to flexural failure. The achieved experimental results give the SCC and FRSCC slabs bond shear stresses for short-term crack width calculation. Therefore, the adopted bond shear stress for each mix slab is presented in this study. Crack width, crack patterns, deflections at mid-span, steel strains and concrete surface strains at the steel levels were recorded at each load increment in the post-cracking range. Copyright © 2014 Techno-Press, Ltd.

Atabani, AE, Mofijur, M, Masjuki, HH, Badruddin, IA, Chong, WT, Cheng, SF & Gouk, SW 2014, 'A study of production and characterization of Manketti (Ricinodendron rautonemii) methyl ester and its blends as a potential biodiesel feedstock', Biofuel Research Journal, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 139-146.
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Globally, more than 350 oil-bearing crops are known as potential biodiesel feedstocks. This study reports on production and characterization of Manketti (Ricinodendron rautonemii) methyl ester and its blends with diesel. The effect of Manketti biodiesel (B5) on engine and emissions performance was also investigated. The cloud, pour and cold filter plugging points of the produced biodiesel were measured at 1, 3 and 5 °C, respectively. However, the kinematic viscosity of the biodiesel generated was found to be 8.34 mm /s which was higher than the limit described by ASTM D6751 and EN 14214. This can be attributed to the high kinematic viscosity of the parent oil (132.75 mm /s). Nevertheless, blending with diesel improved this attribute. Moreover, it is observed that at all engine speeds, B5 produced lower brake power (1.18%) and higher brake specific fuel consumption (2.26%) compared to B0 (neat diesel). B5 increased the CO and HC emissions by 32.27% and 37.5%, respectively, compared to B0. However, B0 produced 5.26% higher NO emissions than B5. 2 2

Atabani, AE, Mofijur, M, Masjuki, HH, Badruddin, IA, Kalam, MA & Chong, WT 2014, 'Effect of Croton megalocarpus, Calophyllum inophyllum, Moringa oleifera, palm and coconut biodiesel–diesel blending on their physico-chemical properties', Industrial Crops and Products, vol. 60, pp. 130-137.
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Belhaj, D, Jaabiri, I, Ayadi, H, Kallel, M & Zhou, JL 2014, 'Occurrence and removal of steroidal estrogens in Centre Eastern Tunisia municipal sewage treatment plant', Desalination and Water Treatment, vol. 52, no. 10-12, pp. 2330-2339.
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Occurrence and removal efficiencies of both natural estrogens, estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3), and a synthetic estrogen, 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), were investigated in sewage treatment plant in Centre Eastern Tunisia employing simple activated sludge process. Concentrations of target estrogens were determined in both wastewater and sludge phases by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer. Among the estrogens studied, E3 was found as the dominant compound detected in wastewater samples with average concentration up to 300 ± 4 ng/L in influent and up to 36 ± 2 in effluent. High aqueous phase removals (>85%) were achieved for E3, while only low to moderate removals for E1, E2, and EE2 (<75%). Based on the mass balance analysis, sorption onto sludge played a dominant role in the removal of estrogens in warm season, especially for E1 and E2 (69.5 and 66.3%, respectively), while biological degradation played a significant role in hot season (61%). © 2013 Balaban Desalination Publications. All rights reserved.

Billa, L, Pradhan, B & Yakuup, A 2014, 'GIS routing and modelling of residential waste collection for operational management and cost optimization', Pertanika Journal of Science and Technology, vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 193-212.
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In this paper, optimum routing was developed based on the travel salesman method and integrated in ArcInfo GIS using linear programming. The results of the optimized travel distances and times for residential waste collection and routing to disposal site were used to calculate the number and type of required track collection, labour requirement, costing of waste collection and to determine the overall solid waste management efficiency through waste management operation research methods. The objective of the study was to optimize residential collection and hauling to disposal site through operation cost minimization for Petaling Jaya Municipality in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. The study determined that with optimized routes and recycling possibilities, the total cost of waste collections could be reduced from RM90,372 to RM20,967, with a reduction of 76.8%. It was also revealed that optimum routes might not necessarily be the shortest distance from point A to point B as travel time maybe high on short distances due to traffic congestion and the presence of many traffic lights. Techniques and methods developed using general GIS have proven effective in route optimization and allowed management of data to suit local conditions and limitations of waste management for the studied area. Thus, scenarios of travel distances, time and waste quantity value generated from the GIS enabled appropriate determination of the number of waste trucks and labour requirements for the operation and the overall calculation of costs of waste management based on the operation research methods used in the study.

Bjarnadottir, S, Li, Y & Stewart, MG 2014, 'Regional loss estimation due to hurricane wind and hurricane-induced surge considering climate variability', Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, vol. 10, no. 11, pp. 1369-1384.
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This paper presents a framework to assess the potential hurricane damage risks to residential construction. Studies show that hurricane wind, frequency and/or hurricane-induced surge may change as a result of climate change; therefore, hurricane risk assessments should be capable of accounting for the impacts climate change. The framework includes a hurricane wind field model, hurricane-induced surge height model and hurricane vulnerability models. Three case study locations (Miami-Dade County, FL; New Hanover County, NC and Galveston County, TX) are presented for two types of analyses: annual regional loss estimation and event-based regional loss estimation. Demographic information, such as median house value and changes in house numbers, and distribution of houses for different exposures, is used to estimate the time-dependent probability of damage with or without possible climate change-induced change in wind speed, frequency and/or surge height. Through both analyses, it was found that climate change may have a significant impact on regional hurricane damage losses.

Bjarnadottir, S, Li, Y & Stewart, MG 2014, 'Risk-based economic assessment of mitigation strategies for power distribution poles subjected to hurricanes', Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 740-752.
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This paper presents a risk-based framework to assess the hurricane damage risks to distribution poles, and investigates the risks, costs and benefit of different mitigation strategies. It is estimated that power outages due to storms cause approximately $270 million in repair/replacement costs annually in the USA. Hurricane Irene alone left approximately 6 million residents without power along the east coast of the USA in 2011, causing an estimated $5-$7 billion in damages. These high repair/replacement costs warrant an investigation of mitigation strategies that may aid in reducing replacement and damage costs. This paper describes the reliability analysis of typical timber distribution poles and probabilistic wind models to determine failure probabilities for specific locations. Furthermore, in order to more accurately portray the behaviour of distribution poles, the proposed framework includes the degradation and service-proven reliability of timber distribution poles. Four mitigation strategies are developed, and the cost effectiveness of each strategy is evaluated. In order to assess the cost effectiveness, a life cycle cost analysis is conducted for each mitigation strategy. This paper finds that appropriate mitigation strategies can reduce replacement costs of distribution poles associated with hurricane wind by 2060. © 2013 © 2013 Taylor & Francis.

Bundschuh, J, Yusaf, T, Maity, JP, Nelson, E, Mamat, R & Indra Mahlia, TM 2014, 'Algae-biomass for fuel, electricity and agriculture', Energy, vol. 78, pp. 1-3.
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Burton, GJ, Sheng, D & Airey, D 2014, 'Experimental study on volumetric behaviour of Maryland clay and the role of degree of saturation', Canadian Geotechnical Journal, vol. 51, no. 12, pp. 1449-1455.
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In this paper, the volume change behaviour of Maryland clay compacted on the wet side of standard Proctor optimum water content (with lower compaction energy) is studied in reference to the saturated reconstituted state. Oedometer tests over a range of suctions and vertical stresses have been carried out, and the results have shown that the compression index reaches a peak (approximately twice that of the reconstituted material) and then gradually reduces to the reconstituted value as the stress level is increased. The results are analyzed in a framework where the degree of saturation is treated as a state parameter and controls the slope of the unsaturated normal compression line. Tests conducted under constant suction and constant water content have been used to demonstrate the effectiveness of using the degree of saturation as a state variable.

Burton, GJ, Sheng, D & Campbell, C 2014, 'Bimodal pore size distribution of a high-plasticity compacted clay', Géotechnique Letters, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 88-93.
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The microstructure of compacted clay plays an important role in its hydraulic and mechanical behaviour. However, little experimental evidence is available for high-plasticity clay compacted on the wet side of the standard Proctor optimum water content. The results of an oedometric and microstructural investigation (mercury intrusion porosimetry) on reconstituted and compacted high-plasticity clay are presented. The microstructural results indicate that a bimodal pore size density function is not limited to clays compacted on the dry side of the standard Proctor optimum. The compacted clay prepared on the wet side can display a bimodal pore size distribution dependent on the level of compaction, current void ratio and degree of saturation. The bimodal distribution of the compacted clay can be lost by compression to high vertical stress accompanied by an increase in the degree of saturation. In this case the compression path ultimately approaches the normal compression line of the reconstituted saturated material. The results demonstrate that the observed behaviour of the compacted clay can be interpreted with reference to the reconstituted clay.

Cassidy, MJ, Gaudin, C, Bates, L, Indraratna, B, Nimbalkar, S, O'Loughlin, CD, White, DJ & Sloan, SW 2014, 'Advancing Australia's facilities for physical modelling in geotechnics', Australian Geomechanics Journal, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 3-12.
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This paper presents details of the advancements of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Geotechnical Science and Engineering to the apparatus, facilities and methods for physical modelling in geotechnics. This advancement includes (i) the launch of a National Geotechnical Centrifuge Facility with a new 10 m diameter fixed beam centrifuge that will be capable of spinning 2.4 tonnes of soil at 100 gravities, (ii) a new mobile soft soil in situ testing laboratory, (iii) a new national facility for the cyclic testing of high-speed rail and (iv) three recirculating flumes, called O-tubes, which are presented in another paper of this special issue. This paper provides an overview of this new equipment and the aims of the research that it will underpin. The equipment will provide enhanced possibilities for Australia to conduct project specific testing for future energy and transportation infrastructure developments, nationally and internationally.

Castel, A & Gilbert, RI 2014, 'Influence of time‐dependent effects on the crack spacing in reinforced concrete beams', Structural Concrete, vol. 15, no. 3, pp. 373-379.
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AbstractThis paper aims to put into perspective the influence of long‐term effects, such as concrete creep and shrinkage, on concrete cracking. Long‐term experimental results obtained at the Centre for Infrastructure Engineering & Safety (CIES) are reported and compared to design estimates made using the fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010. The influence of factors such as stirrup spacing and concrete cover are discussed. Results show that time‐dependent shrinkage‐induced cracking can considerably modify the cracking patterns obtained in short‐term tests. For crack control in real structures and for the development of models for inclusion in codes of practice, it is strongly recommended that account be taken of time‐dependent effects. Limiting observations to those made in short‐term tests may lead to erroneous conclusions that are simply not applicable for structures that are more than a few weeks old.

Castel, A & Nasser, A 2014, 'Microcell versus galvanic corrosion currents in carbonated concrete', Magazine of Concrete Research, vol. 66, no. 14, pp. 697-707.
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This paper presents specific experiments developed to assess galvanic corrosion currents in carbonated concrete. The work investigated the influence of both the steel–concrete interface condition and the cathodic to anodic surface ratio. Galvanic corrosion currents were compared with microcell corrosion currents. In the quasi-saturated condition, galvanic corrosion currents were systematically found to be much higher than microcell corrosion currents. Moreover, the presence of defects at the interface between the anodic steel surface and concrete leads to a significant increase in the macrocell driving potential and, therefore, in the galvanic corrosion current. Furthermore, the galvanic current density strongly increased with increasing cathodic to anodic surface ratio. The coupling of a high cathodic to anodic surface ratio and the presence of steel–concrete interface defects at the anodic surface leads to huge galvanic corrosion current densities.

Castel, A, Gilbert, RI & Ranzi, G 2014, 'Instantaneous Stiffness of Cracked Reinforced Concrete Including Steel-Concrete Interface Damage and Long-Term Effects', Journal of Structural Engineering, vol. 140, no. 6, pp. 04014021-04014021.
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Castel, A, Gilbert, RI, Ranzi, G & Foster, S 2014, 'A non-linear steel-concrete interface damage model for reinforced concrete after cracking', Australian Journal of Structural Engineering, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 221-230.
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© Institution of Engineers Australia, 2014. In reinforced concrete construction, deflection control is an important performance criterion for its serviceability and sustainability. In this paper, a finite element model dedicated to the calculation of the overall stiffness of reinforced concrete beams is extended in order to take into account steel-concrete interface damage due to excessive live loading resulting from cover-controlled cracking. The effect of cover-controlled cracking is taken into account by implementing a damage variable to reduce the bond at the steel-concrete interface. In addition, a criterion for the initiation of cover-control cracks based on a peak value of the steel stress at the crack location is also defined.

Castel, A, Gilbert, RI, Ranzi, G & Foster, S 2014, 'A non-linear steel-concrete interface damage model for reinforced concrete after cracking', AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 221-229.
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Chambers, J, Awad, R & Jupp, J 2014, 'Bringing 'Active Learning' Modules into Design Education: A Manifesto for a Socially Engaged Architecture', The International Journal of Diversity in Education, vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 55-64.
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In post-disaster settings and in countries undergoing economic transition, architects have largely been disassociated from social development and the wider concerns of reconstruction. In these situations, equity and diversity concerns have been too frequently overshadowed by private sector interests. Researchers of architecture and architecture education have noted these failings and have called for architects to engage more strongly with epistemological and ethical questions in education and practice. This paper argues for the inclusion of `active learning' modules within the architecture discipline which integrate the technical and practical education of undergraduate students in post-disaster risk management and reconstruction. The growth of university-community service-based learning modules that link architecture schools with NGOs in post-disaster and development settings offer educational opportunities that can equip young architects with the skills they need to operate as global citizens. This paper provides practical recommendations for a more socially engaged architecture, placing the emphasis on architects as future mediators and educators. It offers an effective means of rethinking architectural practice and education, challenging the master narrative of architecture and raising important questions about the relevance of architectural design in a development context.

Chanan, A, Vigneswaran, V, Kandasamy, J & Singh, G 2014, 'Beverley Park water reuse plant: getting the salt just right', Desalination and Water Treatment, vol. 52, no. 25-27, pp. 4656-4663.
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The extraction type wastewater recycling systems are those where wastewater is taken from the collection system en route to the central treatment plant. This paper discusses a case study of Sydneys first ever extraction type scheme, the Beverley Park water reuse scheme. Primary applications of recycled water from this case study site include: parks and ovals, green-belt and golf course irrigation. Given the plants location on a major interceptor sewer along Kogarah Bay, tidal influx posed a significant challenge due to high salt levels. Salt sensitive grass on golf course greens meant that treated water had to meet stringent quality requirements with regards to salt. The design involved modelling the process of diurnal fluctuations in salt levels and to provide an optimised process design. A non-membrane, design based solution was also chosen to resolve this high salinity challenge. This Case Study highlights the significant challenges in planning, design and commissioning of water reuse plant intercepting sewer carriers prone to salt water intrusion. The study provides valuable knowledge that will assist in providing viable extraction type water reuse schemes for tidal impacted areas.

Chekli, L, Phuntsho, S, Tijing, LD, Zhou, JL, Kim, J-H & Shon, HK 2014, 'Stability of Fe-oxide nanoparticles coated with natural organic matter under relevant environmental conditions', WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, vol. 70, no. 12, pp. 2040-2046.
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© IWA Publishing 2014 Manufactured nanoparticles (MNPs) are increasingly released into the environment and thus research on their fate and behaviour in complex environmental samples is urgently needed. The fate of MNPs in the aquatic environment will mainly depend on the physico-chemical characteristics of the medium. The presence and concentration of natural organic matter (NOM) will play a significant role on the stability of MNPs by either decreasing or exacerbating the aggregation phenomenon. In this study, we firstly investigated the effect of NOM concentration on the aggregation behaviour of manufactured Fe-oxide nanoparticles. Then, the stability of the coated nanoparticles was assessed under relevant environmental conditions. Flow field-flow fractionation, an emerging method which is gaining popularity in the field of nanotechnology, has been employed and results have been compared to another size-measurement technique to provide increased confidence in the outcomes. Results showed enhanced stability when the nanoparticles are coated with NOM, which was due to electrosteric stabilisation. However, the presence of divalent cations, even at low concentration (i.e. less than 1 mM) was found to induce aggregation of NOM-coated nanoparticles via bridging mechanisms between NOM and Ca²⁺.

Chen, K & Zhou, JL 2014, 'Occurrence and behavior of antibiotics in water and sediments from the Huangpu River, Shanghai, China', Chemosphere, vol. 95, pp. 604-612.
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Chen, M, Willgoose, GR & Saco, PM 2014, 'Spatial prediction of temporal soil moisture dynamics using HYDRUS-1D', Hydrological Processes, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 171-185.
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Chen, Q, Indraratna, B, Carter, J & Rujikiatkamjorn, C 2014, 'A theoretical and experimental study on the behaviour of lignosulfonate-treated sandy silt', Computers and Geotechnics, vol. 61, pp. 316-327.
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Chen, X, Guo, J, Shi, Y, Hu, S, Yuan, Z & Ni, B-J 2014, 'Modeling of Simultaneous Anaerobic Methane and Ammonium Oxidation in a Membrane Biofilm Reactor', Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 48, no. 16, pp. 9540-9547.
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Nitrogen removal by using the synergy of denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation (DAMO) and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (Anammox) microorganisms in a membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) has previously been demonstrated experimentally. In this work, a mathematical model is developed to describe the simultaneous anaerobic methane and ammonium oxidation by DAMO and Anammox microorganisms in an MBfR for the first time. In this model, DAMO archaea convert nitrate, both externally fed and/or produced by Anammox, to nitrite, with methane as the electron donor. Anammox and DAMO bacteria jointly remove the nitrite fed/produced, with ammonium and methane as the electron donor, respectively. The model is successfully calibrated and validated using the long-term (over 400 days) dynamic experimental data from the MBfR, as well as two independent batch tests at different operational stages of the MBfR. The model satisfactorily describes the methane oxidation and nitrogen conversion data from the system. Modeling results show the concentration gradients of methane and nitrogen would cause stratification of the biofilm, where Anammox bacteria mainly grow in the biofilm layer close to the bulk liquid and DAMO organisms attach close to the membrane surface. The low surface methane loadings result in a low fraction of DAMO microorganisms, but the high surface methane loadings would lead to overgrowth of DAMO bacteria, which would compete with Anammox for nitrite and decrease the fraction of Anammox bacteria. The results suggest an optimal methane supply under the given condition should be applied not only to benefit the nitrogen removal but also to avoid potential methane emissions.

Chen, X, Liu, Y, Alexander, A, Gallucci, JC, Hwang, S, Lingam, HK, Huang, Z, Wang, C, Li, H, Zhao, Q, Ozkan, US, Shore, SG & Zhao, J 2014, 'Desolvation and Dehydrogenation of Solvated Magnesium Salts of Dodecahydrododecaborate: Relationship between Structure and Thermal Decomposition', Chemistry – A European Journal, vol. 20, no. 24, pp. 7325-7333.
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AbstractAttempts to synthesize solvent‐free MgB12H12 by heating various solvated forms (H2O, NH3, and CH3OH) of the salt failed because of the competition between desolvation and dehydrogenation. This competition has been studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and temperature‐programmed desorption (TPD). Products were characterized by IR, solution‐ and solid‐state NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single‐crystal or powder X‐ray diffraction analysis. For hydrated salts, thermal decomposition proceeded in three stages, loss of water to form first hexahydrated then trihydrated, and finally loss of water and hydrogen to form polyhydroxylated complexes. For partially ammoniated salts, two stages of thermal decomposition were observed as ammonia and hydrogen were released with weight loss first of 14 % and then 5.5 %. Thermal decomposition of methanolated salts proceeded through a single step with a total weight loss of 32 % with the release of methanol, methane, and hydrogen. All the gaseous products of thermal decomposition were characterized by using mass spectrometry. Residual solid materials were characterized by solid‐state 11B magic‐angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy and X‐ray powder diffraction analysis by which the molecular structures of hexahydrated and trihydrated complexes were solved. Both hydrogen and dihydrogen bonds were observed in structures of [Mg(H2O)6B12H12]⋅6 H2O and [Mg(CH3OH)6B12H12]⋅6 CH3OH, which were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. The structural factors influen...

Chen, Z, Ngo, HH, Guo, W, Lim, R, Wang, XC, O'Halloran, K, Listowski, A, Corby, N & Miechel, C 2014, 'A comprehensive framework for the assessment of new end uses in recycled water schemes', SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, vol. 470, pp. 44-52.
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Nowadays, recycled water has provided sufficient flexibility to satisfy short-term freshwater needs and increase the reliability of long-term water supplies in many water scarce areas, which becomes an essential component of integrated water resources management. However, the current applications of recycled water are still quite limited that are mainly associated with non-potable purposes such as irrigation, industrial uses, toilet flushing and car washing. There is a large potential to exploit and develop new end uses of recycled water in both urban and rural areas. This can greatly contribute to freshwater savings, wastewater reduction and water sustainability. Consequently, the paper identified the potentials for the development of three recycled water new end uses, household laundry, livestock feeding and servicing, and swimming pool, in future water use market. To validate the strengths of these new applications, a conceptual decision analytic framework was proposed. This can be able to facilitate the optional management strategy selection process and thereafter provide guidance on the future end use studies within a larger context of the community, processes, and models in decision-making. Moreover, as complex evaluation criteria were selected and taken into account to narrow down the multiple management alternatives, the methodology can successfully add transparency, objectivity and comprehensiveness to the assessment. Meanwhile, the proposed approach could also allow flexibility to adapt to particular circumstances of each case under study. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Chen, Z, Ngo, HH, Guo, W, Pham, TTN, Lim, R, Wang, XC, Miechel, C, O' Halloran, K, Listowski, A & Corby, N 2014, 'A new optional recycled water pre-treatment system prior to use in the household laundry', SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, vol. 476, pp. 513-521.
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With a constantly growing population, water scarcity becomes the limiting factor for further social and economic growth. To achieve a partial reduction in current freshwater demands and lessen the environmental loadings, an increasing trend in the water market tends to adopt recycled water for household laundries as a new recycled water application. The installation of a small pre-treatment unit for water purification can not only further improve the recycled water quality, but also be viable to enhance the public confidence and acceptance level on recycled water consumption. Specifically, this paper describes column experiments conducted using a 550. mm length bed of zeolite media as a one-dimensional flow reactor. The results show that the zeolite filter system could be a simple low-cost pre-treatment option which is able to significantly reduce the total hardness level of recycled water via effective ion exchange. Additionally, depending on the quality of recycled water required by end users, a new by-pass controller using a three-level operation switching mechanism is introduced. This approach provides householders sufficient flexibility to respond to different levels of desired recycled water quality and increase the reliability of long-term system operation. These findings could be beneficial to the smooth implementation of new end uses and expansion of the potential recycled water market. The information could also offer sound suggestions for future research on sustainable water management and governance. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.

Chong, WT, Hew, WP, Yip, SY, Fazlizan, A, Poh, SC, Tan, CJ & Ong, HC 2014, 'The experimental study on the wind turbine’s guide-vanes and diffuser of an exhaust air energy recovery system integrated with the cooling tower', Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 87, pp. 145-155.
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Chu, J, Indraratna, B, Yan, S & Rujikiatkamjorn, C 2014, 'Overview of preloading methods for soil improvement', Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Ground Improvement, vol. 167, no. 3, pp. 173-185.
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A review of the recent developments in soft soil improvement through consolidation or preloading is presented in this paper. The topics covered range from fundamental analysis to methods of implementation. Various methods and processes related to vertical drains, vacuum preloading or combined vacuum and fill surcharge, and dynamic consolidation with enhanced drainage or vacuum are compared and discussed. Factors affecting the design and analyses for the methods discussed are also elaborated.

Coad, P, Cathers, B, Ball, JE & Kadluczka, R 2014, 'Proactive management of estuarine algal blooms using an automated monitoring buoy coupled with an artificial neural network', ENVIRONMENTAL MODELLING & SOFTWARE, vol. 61, pp. 393-409.
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© 2014. Algae proliferate when favourable biological, chemical and physical conditions are present. Algal blooms within the Hawkesbury River, NSW, are a regular feature of seasonal cycles and develop in response to non-periodic disturbances. To improve the understanding of processes that lead to algal blooms, an autonomous buoy has been deployed (since 2002) which has generated a high resolution, temporal data set. Parameters monitored at 15min intervals include Chlorophyll-a, temperature (water and air), salinity and photosynthetically available radiation. This data set is used to configure an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to predict (one, three and seven days in advance) the mean, 10th and 90th percentile, daily Chlorophyll-a concentrations. The prediction accuracy of the ANNs progressively decreased from one to seven days in advance. Incorporating predictive models coupled with near real time data sourced from automated, telemetered monitoring buoys enables environmental managers to implement proactive algal bloom management strategies.

Consoli, NC, da Rocha, CG & Silvani, C 2014, 'Devising dosages for soil–fly ash–lime blends based on tensile strength controlling equations', Construction and Building Materials, vol. 55, pp. 238-245.
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Consoli, NC, Rocha, CGD & Saldanha, RB 2014, 'Coal fly ash–carbide lime bricks: An environment friendly building product', Construction and Building Materials, vol. 69, pp. 301-309.
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Coorey, BP & Jupp, JR 2014, 'Generative spatial performance design system', AI EDAM-ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR ENGINEERING DESIGN ANALYSIS AND MANUFACTURING, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 277-283.
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Architectural spatial design is a wicked problem that can have a multitude of solutions for any given brief. The information needed to resolve architectural design problems is often not readily available during the early conceptual stages, requiring proposals to be evaluated only after an initial solution is reached. This 'solution-driven' design approach focuses on the generation of designs as a means to explore the solution space. Generative design can be achieved computationally through parametric and algorithmic processes. However, utilizing a large repertoire of organiational patterns and design precedent knowledge together with the precise criteria of spatial evaluation can present design challenges even to an experienced architect. In the implementation of a parametric design process lies an opportunity to supplement the designer's knowledge with computational decision support that provides real-time spatial feedback during conceptual design. This paper presents an approach based on a generative multiperformance framework, configured for generating and optimising architectural designs based on a precedent design. The system is constructed using a parametric modeling environment enabling the capture of precedent designs, extraction of spatial analytics, and demonstration of how populations can be used to drive the generation and optimization of alternate spatial solutions. A pilot study implementing the complete workflow of the system is used to illustrate the benefits of coupling parametric modeling with structured precedent analysis and design generation.

da Rocha, CG, Consoli, NC & Dalla Rosa Johann, A 2014, 'Greening stabilized rammed earth: devising more sustainable dosages based on strength controlling equations', Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 66, pp. 19-26.
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Dackermann, U, Crews, K, Kasal, B, Li, J, Riggio, M, Rinn, F & Tannert, T 2014, 'In situ assessment of structural timber using stress-wave measurements', MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, vol. 47, no. 5, pp. 787-803.
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This paper summarizes the test recommendations for in situ assessment of structural timber using stress wave measurements as developed by members of the RILEM Technical Committee AST 215 ``In-situ assessment of structural timber. In the first part, the basic principles, the equipment, and the practical application of stress-wave-based testing using the time-of-flight method are described. A detailed testing procedure provides hands-on information on the execution of in-field stress wave testing. A typical example is given to demonstrate step-by step on how to evaluate stress wave readings and the health state of the inspected timber member. The latter part of the paper gives a short overview of the use of acoustic tomography and ultrasonic echo methods.

Dadras, M, Mohd Shafri, HZ, Ahmad, N, Pradhan, B & Safarpour, S 2014, 'A COMBINED FUZZY MCDM APPROACH FOR IDENTIFYING THE SUITABLE LANDS FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT: AN EXAMPLE FROM BANDAR ABBAS, IRAN', Journal of Urban and Environmental Engineering, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 11-27.
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This study aims at identifying the suitable lands for urban development in Bandar Abbas city based on its real world use regarding specific criteria and sub-criteria. The city of Bandar Abbas is considered as the most important commercial and economic city of Iran. It is also considered as one of the major cities of Iran which has played a pivotal role in the country's development and progress in recent years especially after the end of Iran-Iraq war owing to its embracing the country's main commercial ports. This process has caused the immigration rate into the city to rise significantly over the past 20 years. Thus, the development of the city is meanwhile considered as a high priority. Bandar Abbas city does not have a rich capacity for growth and development due to its special geographical situation being located in coastal border. Among the limitations placed in the city's development way, natural limitations (heights and sea shore) in the northern and southern parts of the city and structural limitations (military centers) in the east and west sides of the city may be referred. Therefore, identifying the suitable lands for urban development within Bandar Abbas city limits is becoming an essential priority. Therefore, different quantitative and qualitative criteria have been studied in order to select and identify these lands. The structures of qualitative criteria for most parts involve ambiguities and vagueness. This leads us to use Fuzzy logic in this study as a natural method for determining the solutions for problems of Multi-criteria decision making (MCDM). In the current research, a combination of MCDM methods has been presented for analysis. To assignee weights of the criteria Fuzzy AHP (analytic hierarchy process) is used for land selection and Fuzzy TOPSIS (method for order priority by similarity to ideal solution) is utilized to choose the alternative that is the most appropriate through these criteria weights. The sensitivity an...

Dadras, M, Mohd Shafri, HZ, Ahmad, N, Pradhan, B & Safarpour, S 2014, 'A COMBINED FUZZY MCDM APPROACH FOR IDENTIFYING THE SUITABLE LANDS FOR URBAN DEVELOPMENT: AN EXAMPLE FROM BANDAR ABBAS, IRAN', Journal of Urban and Environmental Engineering, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 11-27.
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This study aims at identifying the suitable lands for urban development in Bandar Abbas city based on its real world use regarding specific criteria and sub-criteria. The city of Bandar Abbas is considered as the most important commercial and economic city of Iran. It is also considered as one of the major cities of Iran which has played a pivotal role in the country's development and progress in recent years especially after the end of Iran-Iraq war owing to its embracing the country's main commercial ports. This process has caused the immigration rate into the city to rise significantly over the past 20 years. Thus, the development of the city is meanwhile considered as a high priority. Bandar Abbas city does not have a rich capacity for growth and development due to its special geographical situation being located in coastal border. Among the limitations placed in the city's development way, natural limitations (heights and sea shore) in the northern and southern parts of the city and structural limitations (military centers) in the east and west sides of the city may be referred. Therefore, identifying the suitable lands for urban development within Bandar Abbas city limits is becoming an essential priority. Therefore, different quantitative and qualitative criteria have been studied in order to select and identify these lands. The structures of qualitative criteria for most parts involve ambiguities and vagueness. This leads us to use Fuzzy logic in this study as a natural method for determining the solutions for problems of Multi-criteria decision making (MCDM). In the current research, a combination of MCDM methods has been presented for analysis. To assignee weights of the criteria Fuzzy AHP (analytic hierarchy process) is used for land selection and Fuzzy TOPSIS (method for order priority by similarity to ideal solution) is utilized to choose the alternative that is the most appropriate through these criteria weights. The sensitivity an...

Dadras, M, Mohd Shafri, HZ, Ahmad, N, Pradhan, B & Safarpour, S 2014, 'Land Use/Cover Change Detection and Urban Sprawl Analysis in Bandar Abbas City, Iran', The Scientific World Journal, vol. 2014, pp. 1-12.
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The process of land use change and urban sprawl has been considered as a prominent characteristic of urban development. This study aims to investigate urban growth process in Bandar Abbas city, Iran, focusing on urban sprawl and land use change during 1956–2012. To calculate urban sprawl and land use changes, aerial photos and satellite images are utilized in different time spans. The results demonstrate that urban region area has changed from 403.77 to 4959.59 hectares between 1956 and 2012. Moreover, the population has increased more than 30 times in last six decades. The major part of population growth is related to migration from other parts the country to Bandar Abbas city. Considering the speed of urban sprawl growth rate, the scale and the role of the city have changed from medium and regional to large scale and transregional. Due to natural and structural limitations, more than 80% of barren lands, stone cliffs, beach zone, and agricultural lands are occupied by built-up areas. Our results revealed that the irregular expansion of Bandar Abbas city must be controlled so that sustainable development could be achieved.

Dang, HQ, Price, WE & Nghiem, LD 2014, 'The effects of feed solution temperature on pore size and trace organic contaminant rejection by the nanofiltration membrane NF270', Separation and Purification Technology, vol. 125, pp. 43-51.
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Deng, L, Guo, W, Ngo, HH, Zhang, J, Liang, S, Xia, S, Zhang, Z & Li, J 2014, 'A comparison study on membrane fouling in a sponge-submerged membrane bioreactor and a conventional membrane bioreactor', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 165, pp. 69-74.
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This study compared membrane fouling in a sponge-submerged membrane bioreactor (SSMBR) and a conventional membrane bioreactor (CMBR) based on sludge properties when treating synthetic domestic wastewater. In the CMBR, soluble microbial products (SMP) in activated sludge were a major contributor for initial membrane fouling and presented higher concentration in membrane cake layer. Afterwards, membrane fouling was mainly governed by bound extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in activated sludge, containing lower proteins but significantly higher polysaccharides. Sponge addition could prevent cake formation on membrane surface and pore blocking inside membrane, thereby alleviating membrane fouling. The SSMBR exhibited not only less growth of the biomass and filamentous bacteria, but also lower cake layer and pore blocking resistance due to lower bound EPS concentrations in activated sludge. Less membrane fouling in SSMBR were also attributed to larger particle size, higher zeta potential and relative hydrophobicity of sludge flocs.

Deshmukh, P, Gopinadhan, M, Choo, Y, Ahn, S-K, Majewski, PW, Yoon, SY, Bakajin, O, Elimelech, M, Osuji, CO & Kasi, RM 2014, 'Molecular Design of Liquid Crystalline Brush-Like Block Copolymers for Magnetic Field Directed Self-Assembly: A Platform for Functional Materials', ACS Macro Letters, vol. 3, no. 5, pp. 462-466.
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Ding, A, Liang, H, Qu, F, Bai, L, Li, G, Ngo, HH & Guo, W 2014, 'Effect of granular activated carbon addition on the effluent properties and fouling potentials of membrane-coupled expanded granular sludge bed process', Bioresource Technology, vol. 171, pp. 240-246.
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To mitigate membrane fouling of membrane-coupled anaerobic process, granular activated carbon (GAC: 50 g/L) was added into an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB). A short-term ultrafiltration test was investigated for analyzing membrane fouling potential and underlying fouling mechanisms. The results showed that adding GAC into the EGSB not only improved the COD removal efficiency, but also alleviated membrane fouling efficiently because GAC could help to reduce soluble microbial products, polysaccharides and proteins by 26.8%, 27.8% and 24.7%, respectively, compared with the control system. Furthermore, excitation emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy analysis revealed that GAC addition mainly reduced tryptophan protein-like, aromatic protein-like and fulvic-like substances. In addition, the resistance distribution analysis demonstrated that adding GAC primarily decreased the cake layer resistance by 53.5%. The classic filtration mode analysis showed that cake filtration was the major fouling mechanism for membrane-coupled EGSB process regardless of the GAC addition.

Diyaljee, V 2014, 'Discussion of “Deformation of Coal Fouled Ballast Stabilized with Geogrid under Cyclic Load” by Buddhima Indraratna, Ngoc Trung Ngo, and Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn', Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, vol. 140, no. 6, pp. 07014010-07014010.
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Dragos, J & Wu, C 2014, 'Application of Normalized Pressure Impulse Diagrams for Vented and Unvented Confined Blasts', Journal of Engineering Mechanics, vol. 140, no. 3, pp. 593-603.
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Dragos, J & Wu, C 2014, 'Interaction between direct shear and flexural responses for blast loaded one-way reinforced concrete slabs using a finite element model', Engineering Structures, vol. 72, pp. 193-202.
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In this paper, both the moment-curvature flexural behavior and the direct shear behavior are incorporated into a numerically efficient one dimensional finite element model, utilizing Timoshenko Beam Theory, to determine the member and direct shear response of one-way reinforced concrete slabs subjected to blasts. The model is used to undertake a case study to demonstrate the flexural member response behavior during the direct shear response and is then used to carry out a parametric study to better understand the interaction of the flexural member response and the direct shear response. This is done by comparing pressure impulse curves corresponding to direct shear failure for one-way reinforced concrete slabs with varying depth, span and support conditions. The results aim to provide insight to facilitate the development of more accurate simplified methods for determining the direct shear response of blast loaded reinforced concrete members, such as the single degree of freedom method. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Dragos, J, Visintin, P, Wu, C & Oehlers, DJ 2014, 'A Numerically Efficient Finite Element Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Members Subjected to Blasts', International Journal of Protective Structures, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 65-82.
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A common approach for predicting member response under blast loading is through the use of a finite element software package. Such an analysis typically requires the implementation of a three dimensional mesh and, therefore, requires significant computational effort. In this paper, it is shown how a displacement based segmental moment-rotation (M/θ) analysis can be used to simulate the cracking and softening behavior of reinforced concrete over a segment of a member using the mechanics of partial interaction and shear friction. It is then shown how the M/θ behavior extracted from the segmental analysis can be simplified into an equivalent one dimensional moment curvature relationship which can then be incorporated into a fast running one dimensional finite element approach to determine the response of reinforced concrete slabs subjected to blast loading. Then, results determined using the approach are compared against those obtained from blast experiments and the numerical efficiency of the model is discussed.

El Saliby, I, Erdei, L, McDonagh, A, Kim, J-B, Kim, J-H & Shon, HK 2014, 'Co-doped mesoporous titania photocatalysts prepared from a peroxo-titanium complex solution', MATERIALS RESEARCH BULLETIN, vol. 49, pp. 7-13.
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In this study, nitrogen doped and nitrogen/silver co-doped TiO2 photocatalsysts were fabricated using a sol–gel method at room temperature. The obtained gels were neutralized, washed with pure water, and calcined at 400 °C for 4 h. The photocatalysts were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and BET specific surface area. The results showed that spherical particles with anatase structure were produced after annealing at 400 °C. N 1s (400 eV) and Ag 3d (367.3 eV) states indicated that nitrogen doping and silver co-doping were in the form of NO bonds and AgO, respectively. The photocatalytic activity of photocatalysts was investigated using a batch reactor system exposed to artificial solar irradiation. Both nitrogen and silver/nitrogen co-doped materials were effective in the photocatalytic degradation of hexamethyl pararosaniline chloride.

Elbialy, S, Mahmoud, A, Pradhan, B & Buchroithner, M 2014, 'Application of spaceborne synthetic aperture radar data for extraction of soil moisture and its use in hydrological modelling at Gottleuba Catchment, Saxony, Germany', Journal of Flood Risk Management, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 159-175.
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AbstractHydrological modelling is a powerful tool for hydrologists and engineers involved in the planning and management of water resources. With the recent advent of computational power and the growing availability of spatial data, remote sensing and geographical information systems technologies can augment to a great extent the conventional methods used in rainfall run‐off studies. That means it is possible to accurately describe the characteristics of watershed in particularly when determining the run‐off response to rainfall inputs. The main objective of this study is to apply the potential application of spaceborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data (i.e. TerraSAR‐X and Advanced Land Observing Satellite/Phased Array type L‐band Synthetic Aperture Radar (ALOS PALSAR) for soil moisture retrieval) and to improve the spatial input parameters required for hydrological modelling. For the spatial database creation, a high‐resolution 2‐m aerial laser scanning digital terrain model, soil map, and land use map were used. Rainfall records were transformed into a run‐off through hydrological parameterisation of the watershed using Hydro...

Fam, W, Phuntsho, S, Lee, JH, Cho, J & Shon, HK 2014, 'Boron transport through polyamide-based thin film composite forward osmosis membranes', DESALINATION, vol. 340, no. 1, pp. 11-17.
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The boron transport in forward osmosis (FO) process using thin film composite (TFC) membranes has been investigated. Two common fertilizers were used as draw solutes and a model seawater as the feed. The influence of several physical and chemical operating conditions on boron solute flux and boron rejection rates was investigated. The examined factors include draw solution types, membrane orientation, feed and draw solution concentrations, boron feed concentration, crossflow rate, and feed solution pH. The key mechanisms that govern boron transports are reverse draw solute flux and internal concentration polarization experienced by the membrane during the FO process. Results show that the use of draw solute with small hydrated radius could improve boron rejection hindered by the higher reverse diffusion of draw solutes. The osmotic process operated in the pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) mode results in lower boron rejection. However, the most effective boron removal was achieved by operating the feed solution at high pH (pH=11) because boron in the solution contains larger-size borate species, and thus increases boron rejection rate up to 94% by electrostatic repulsion. This study mainly focused on the performance of TFC membrane in boron removal. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.

Fang, J, Gao, Y, Sun, G, Zhang, Y & Li, Q 2014, 'Parametric analysis and multiobjective optimization for functionally graded foam-filled thin-wall tube under lateral impact', Computational Materials Science, vol. 90, pp. 265-275.
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Foam-filled thin-walled tubes have proven an ideal energy absorber in automotive industry for its extraordinary energy-absorbing ability and lightweight potential. Unlike existing uniform foam (UF), this paper introduces functionally graded foam (FGF) to fill into the thin-walled structure subjected to lateral impact loading, where different configurations of foam grading (axial FGF and two transverse FGFs) are considered. To systematically investigate the bending behavior of this novel structure, numerical model is established using nonlinear finite element analysis code LS-DYNA and then is validated against the experiment. Through parametric study, it is found that the FGF tube absorbs more energy but may produce larger force than the UF counterpart. In addition, various parameters have a considerable effect on the crashworthiness performance of the FGF filled tube. Finally, multiobjective optimizations of UF and FGF filled columns are conducted, aiming to improve the specific energy absorption (SEA) and reduce the maximum impact force simultaneously, based upon the multiobjective particle optimization (MOPSO) algorithm and Kriging modeling technique. The optimization results show that all the FGF filled tubes can produce better Pareto solutions than the ordinary UF counterpart. Furthermore, the axial FGF tube provides better energy absorption characteristics than the two types of transverse FGF tubes.

Fatahi, B & Tabatabaiefar, SHR 2014, 'Effects of Soil Plasticity on Seismic Performance of Mid-Rise Building Frames Resting on Soft Soils', Advances in Structural Engineering, vol. 17, no. 10, pp. 1387-1402.
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In this study, the effects of Plasticity Index (PI) variation on the seismic response of mid-rise building frames resting on soft soil deposits are investigated. To achieve this goal, three structural models including 5, 10, and 15 storey buildings are simulated in conjunction with a clayey soil representing soil class Eeaccording to the classification of AS1170.4–2007 (Earthquake actions in Australia) and then varying the Plasticity Index. Structural sections of the selected frames were designed according to AS3600–2009 (Australian Standard for Concrete Structures) after undertaking dynamic analysis under the influence of four different earthquake ground motions. The frame sections are modelled and analysed, employing finite difference method adopting FLAC 2D software under two different boundary conditions: (i) fixed base (no Soil-Structure Interaction), and (ii) flexible base considering soil-structure interaction. Fully nonlinear dynamic analyses under the influence of different earthquake records are conducted and the results in terms of maximum lateral displacements and inter-storey drifts for the above mentioned boundary conditions are obtained, compared, and discussed. Base on the results of the numerical investigations, it becomes apparent that as the Plasticity Index of the subsoil increases, the base shears of mid-rise building frames resting on soft soil deposits increase, while the lateral deflections and corresponding inter-storey drifts decrease. It is concluded that reduction of the Plasticity Index could noticeably amplify the effects of soil-structure interaction on the seismic response of mid-rise building frames.

Fatahi, B & Tabatabaiefar, SHR 2014, 'Fully Nonlinear versus Equivalent Linear Computation Method for Seismic Analysis of Midrise Buildings on Soft Soils', International Journal of Geomechanics, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 04014016-04014016.
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In this study, the accuracy of a fully nonlinear method against an equivalent linear method for dynamic analysis of soil-structure interaction is investigated comparing the predicted results of both numerical procedures. Three structural models, including 5-story, 10-story, and 15-story buildings, are simulated in conjunction with two soil types with shear-wave velocities less than 600?m/s. The aforementioned frames were analyzed under three different conditions: (1) fixed-base model performing conventional time history dynamic analysis under the influence of earthquake records, (2) flexible-base model (considering full soil-structure interaction) conducting equivalent linear dynamic analysis of soil-structure interaction under seismic loads, and (3) flexible-base model performing fully nonlinear dynamic analysis of soil-structure interaction under the influence of earthquake records. The results of these three cases in terms of average lateral story deflections and interstory drifts are determined, compared, and discussed. It is concluded that the equivalent linear method of the dynamic analysis underestimates the inelastic seismic response of midrise moment resisting building frames resting on soft soils in comparison with the fully nonlinear dynamic analysis method. Therefore, a design procedure using the equivalent linear method cannot adequately guarantee the structural safety for midrise building frames resting on soft soils.

Fatahi, B, Basack, S, Ryan, P, Zhou, W-H & Khabbaz, H 2014, 'Performance of laterally loaded piles considering soil and interface parameters', GEOMECHANICS AND ENGINEERING, vol. 7, no. 5, pp. 495-524.
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© 2014 Techno-Press, Ltd. To investigate the soil-pile interactive performance under lateral loads, a set of laboratory model tests was conducted on remoulded test bed of soft clay and medium dense sand. Then, a simplified boundary element analysis had been carried out assuming floating pile. In case of soft clay, it has been observed that lateral loads on piles can initiate the formation of a gap, soil heave and the tension crack in the vicinity of the soil surface and the interface, whereas in medium dense sand, a semi-elliptical depression zone can develop. Comparison of test and boundary element results indicates the accuracy of the solution developed. However, in the boundary element analysis, the possible shear stresses likely to be developed at the interface are ignored in order to simplify the existing complex equations. Moreover, it is unable to capture the influence of base restraint in case of a socketed pile. To bridge up this gap and to study the influence of the initial stress state and interface parameters, a field based case-study of laterally-loaded pile in layered soil with socketed tip is explored and modelled using the finite element method. The results of the model have been verified against known field measurements from a case-study. Parametric studies have been conducted to investigate the influence of the coefficient of lateral earth pressure and the interface strength reduction factor on the results of the model.

Fatahi, B, Khabbaz, H & Indraratna, B 2014, 'Modelling of unsaturated ground behaviour influenced by vegetation transpiration', Geomechanics and Geoengineering, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 187-207.
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Vegetation contributes to weak soil stabilisation through reinforcement of the soil, dissipation of excess pore pressure and increasing the shear strength by induced matric suction. This paper describes the way vegetation influences soil matric suction, shrinkage and ground settlement in the vadose zone through transpiration. A mathematical model for the rate of root water uptake, including the root growth rate considering ground conditions, type of vegetation and climatic parameters, has been developed. A finite element approach is employed to solve the transient coupled flow-deformation equations. The finite element mesh is built using partially saturated soil elements capable of representing the salient aspects of unsaturated permeability and the soil water characteristic curve. The model formulation is based on the effective stress theory of unsaturated soils. Based on this proposed model, the distribution of the ground matric suction profile adjacent to the tree is numerically analysed. Current field measurements of soil matric suction and moisture content collected from Miram site located in Victoria State, Australia by the authors are compared with the numerical predictions. The results indicate that the proposed root water uptake model incorporated in the numerical analysis can be used for prediction of ground properties influenced by tree roots. © 2014 Taylor & Francis.

Fatahi, B, Tabatabaiefar, SHR & Samali, B 2014, 'Soil-structure interaction vs Site effect for seismic design of tall buildings on soft soil', GEOMECHANICS AND ENGINEERING, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 293-320.
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In this study, in order to evaluate adequacy of considering local site effect, excluding soil-structure interaction (SSI) effects in inelastic dynamic analysis and design of mid-rise moment resisting building frames, three structural models including 5, 10, and 15 storey buildings are simulated in conjunction with two soil types with the shear wave velocities less than 600 m/s, representing soil classes De and Ee according to the classification of AS1170.4-2007 (Earthquake actions in Australia) having 30 m bedrock depth. Structural sections of the selected frames were designed according to AS3600:2009 (Australian Standard for Concrete Structures) after undertaking inelastic dynamic analysis under the influence of four different earthquake ground motions. Then the above mentioned frames were analysed under three different boundary conditions: (i) fixed base under direct influence of earthquake records; (ii) fixed base considering local site effect modifying the earthquake record only; and (iii) flexible-base (considering full soil-structure interaction). The results of the analyses in terms of base shears and structural drifts for the above mentioned boundary conditions are compared and discussed. It is concluded that the conventional inelastic design procedure by only including the local site effect excluding SSI cannot adequately guarantee the structural safety for mid-rise moment resisting buildings higher than 5 storeys resting on soft soil deposits.

Fauzi, H, Metselaar, HSC, Mahlia, TMI & Silakhori, M 2014, 'Sodium laurate enhancements the thermal properties and thermal conductivity of eutectic fatty acid as phase change material (PCM)', Solar Energy, vol. 102, pp. 333-337.
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Fauzi, H, Metselaar, HSC, Mahlia, TMI & Silakhori, M 2014, 'Thermo-physical stability of fatty acid eutectic mixtures subjected to accelerated aging for thermal energy storage (TES) application', Applied Thermal Engineering, vol. 66, no. 1-2, pp. 328-334.
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Feng, X, Tousley, ME, Cowan, MG, Wiesenauer, BR, Nejati, S, Choo, Y, Noble, RD, Elimelech, M, Gin, DL & Osuji, CO 2014, 'Scalable Fabrication of Polymer Membranes with Vertically Aligned 1 nm Pores by Magnetic Field Directed Self-Assembly', ACS Nano, vol. 8, no. 12, pp. 11977-11986.
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Forsythe, P & Ding, G 2014, 'Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Excavation on Residential Construction Sites', Construction Economics and Building, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 1-10.
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Despite considerable research concerning the manifestation of greenhouse gases in the usage of buildings, little has been done concerning emissions arising from the construction process itself. This paper specifically examines emissions arising from cut and fill excavation on residential construction sites. Even though such excavation is often seen as being economical in terms of providing a flat base for concrete raft slab construction, the environmental consequences of this approach need to be considered more fully in terms of impact on the environment. This is particularly important when steeply sloping sites are involved and for different soil types. The paper undertakes a study that quantitatively assesses the cumulative greenhouse gas emissions caused by cut and fill excavation on 52 residential projects in Australia for a range of slope and soil types. The paper presents results from the study and concludes that greenhouse gas emissions increase as site slope increases; the building footprint area (as distinct from Gross Floor Area), exposes the need to reduce the area of the building to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; excavation of rock soils creates higher emissions than other soil types; and cut and fill excavation on steeply slope sites increase emissions. Potential alternative construction includes suspended floor construction systems which involve less excavation. 

Fu, Q, Wong, EHH, Kim, J, Scofield, JMP, Gurr, PA, Kentish, SE & Qiao, GG 2014, 'The effect of soft nanoparticles morphologies on thin film composite membrane performance', J. Mater. Chem. A, vol. 2, no. 42, pp. 17751-17756.
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Novel soft nanoparticles with tunable morphologies were incorporated into thin film composite membrane system for efficient CO₂ capture applications.

Fujioka, T, Khan, SJ, McDonald, JA, Roux, A, Poussade, Y, Drewes, JE & Nghiem, LD 2014, 'N-nitrosamine rejection by reverse osmosis: Effects of membrane exposure to chemical cleaning reagents', Desalination, vol. 343, pp. 60-66.
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Fukumoto, T, Thomas, PS, Simon, P, Dubaj, T & Stuart, BH 2014, 'Estimation of the curing rate of acrylamide used as a consolidant in heritage sandstone conservation', JOURNAL OF THERMAL ANALYSIS AND CALORIMETRY, vol. 116, no. 2, pp. 619-624.
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Ganandran, GSB, Mahlia, TMI, Ong, HC, Rismanchi, B & Chong, WT 2014, 'Cost-Benefit Analysis and Emission Reduction of Energy Efficient Lighting at the Universiti Tenaga Nasional', The Scientific World Journal, vol. 2014, pp. 1-11.
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This paper reports the result of an investigation on the potential energy saving of the lighting systems at selected buildings of the Universiti Tenaga Nasional. The scope of this project includes evaluation of the lighting system in the Library, Admin Building, College of Engineering, College of Information Technology, Apartments, and COE Food court of the university. The main objectives of this project are to design the proper retrofit scenario and to calculate the potential electricity saving, the payback period, and the potential environmental benefits. In this survey the policy for retrofitting the old lighting system with the new energy saving LEDs starts with 10% for the first year and continues constantly for 10 years until all the lighting systems have been replaced. The result of the life cycle analysis reveals that after four years, the selected buildings will bring profit for the investment.

Ganasen, P, Khan, MR, Kalam, MA & Mahmud, MS 2014, 'Effect of visible light on catalytic hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl palmitate by the Pseudomonas cepacia lipase immobilized on sol–gel support', Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering, vol. 37, no. 11, pp. 2353-2359.
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Gopinadhan, M, Deshmukh, P, Choo, Y, Majewski, PW, Bakajin, O, Elimelech, M, Kasi, RM & Osuji, CO 2014, 'Thermally Switchable Aligned Nanopores by Magnetic‐Field Directed Self‐Assembly of Block Copolymers', Advanced Materials, vol. 26, no. 30, pp. 5148-5154.
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Gray, J, Williams, J, Hagare, P, Lopes, A & Sankaran, S 2014, 'Lessons Learnt from Educating University Students through a Trans-Disciplinary Project for Sustainable Sanitation Using a Systems Approach and Problem-Based Learning', Systems, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 243-272.
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This article discusses how a Systems Thinking (ST) approach to student learning, employing Problem-Based Learning (PBL) interventions, at several different universities in Sydney, Australia was incorporated into a broader trans-disciplinary research project, the aim of which was to examine how urine diversion in an urban, institutional setting might form the basis of phosphorus collection-0phosphorus being a non-renewable resource used in agricultural fertilizers. The article explores how the ST approach employed by the researchers themselves was adapted to embrace student engagement opportunities and how it permitted opportunities for Problem-Based Learning interventions. Five academics forming part of the research team consider the effectiveness of ST-styled student engagement via Problem-Based Learning in three action research cycles used in the research project. In sharing their experiences they provide an honest, 'no-holds barred' review of what worked and what could be done more effectively with the benefits of hindsight.

Guadie, A, Xia, S, Zhang, Z, Zeleke, J, Guo, W, Ngo, HH & Hermanowicz, SW 2014, 'Effect of intermittent aeration cycle on nutrient removal and microbial community in a fluidized bed reactor-membrane bioreactor combo system', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 156, pp. 195-205.
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Effect of intermittent aeration cycle (IAC = 15/4560/60 min) on nutrient removal and microbial community structure was investigated using a novel fluidized bed reactormembrane bioreactor (FBRMBR) combo system. FBR alone was found more efficient for removing PO4-P (>85%) than NH4-N (<40%) and chemical oxygen demand (COD < 35%). However, in the combo system, COD and NH4-N removals were almost complete (>98%). Efficient nitrification, stable mixed liquor suspended solid and reduced transmembrane pressure was also achieved. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction results of total bacteria 16S rRNA gene copies per mL of mixed-liquor varied from (2.48 ± 0.42) × 109 initial to (2.74 ± 0.10) × 108, (6.27 ± 0.16) × 109 and (9.17 ± 1.78) × 109 for 15/45, 45/15 and 60/60 min of IACs, respectively. The results of clone library analysis revealed that Proteobacteria (59%), Firmicutes (12%) and Bacteroidetes (11%) were the dominant bacterial group in all samples. Overall, the combo system performs optimum nutrient removal and host stable microbial communities at 45/15 min of IAC.

Gurr, PA, Scofield, JMP, Kim, J, Fu, Q, Kentish, SE & Qiao, GG 2014, 'Polyimide polydimethylsiloxane triblock copolymers for thin film composite gas separation membranes', Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, vol. 52, no. 23, pp. 3372-3382.
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ABSTRACTThis article demonstrates the successful fabrication of thin‐film‐composite (TFC) membranes containing well‐defined soft‐hard‐soft triblock copolymers. Based on “hard” polyimide (PI) and “soft” polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), these triblock copolymers (PDMS‐b‐PI‐b‐PDMS), were prepared via condensation polymerization, and end‐group allylic functionalization to prepare the polyimide component and subsequent “click” coupling with the soft azido functionalized PDMS component. The selective layer consisted of pure PDMS‐b‐PI‐b‐PDMS copolymers which were cast onto a precast crosslinked‐PDMS gutter layer which in turn was cast onto a porous polyacrylonitrile coated substrate. The TFC membranes' gas transport properties, primarily for the separation of carbon dioxide (CO2) from nitrogen (N2), were determined at 35 °C and at a feed pressure of 2 atm. The TFC membranes showed improvements in gas permselectivity with increasing PDMS weight fraction. These results demonstrate the ability for glassy, hard polymer components to be coated onto otherwise incompatible surfaces of highly permeable soft TFC substrates through covalent coupling. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 3372–3382

Habibullah, M, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Rizwanul Fattah, IM, Ashraful, AM & Mobarak, HM 2014, 'Biodiesel production and performance evaluation of coconut, palm and their combined blend with diesel in a single-cylinder diesel engine', Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 87, pp. 250-257.
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Halim, A, Fu, Q, Yong, Q, Gurr, PA, Kentish, SE & Qiao, GG 2014, 'Soft polymeric nanoparticle additives for next generation gas separation membranes', Journal of Materials Chemistry A, vol. 2, no. 14, pp. 4999-4999.
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Halim, A, Reid, TD, Ren, JM, Fu, Q, Gurr, PA, Blencowe, A, Kentish, SE & Qiao, GG 2014, 'Soft nanoparticles assembled from linear poly(ethylene glycol) and linear brush polydimethylsiloxane diblock copolymers', Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry, vol. 52, no. 9, pp. 1251-1262.
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ABSTRACTA series of novel amphiphilic diblock copolymers composed of hydrophilic linear poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and linear brush hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) were synthesized. Three different molecular weights of monomethyl ether PEG were initially functionalized with 2‐bromoisobutyryl bromide to afford macroinitiators suitable for atom‐transfer radical polymerization. The macroinitiators were characterized by gel permeation chromatography, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectroscopy. The three different molecular weight macroinitiators were then chain extended with monomethacryloxypropyl‐terminated PDMS and photoactive 2‐(methylacyloyloxy)ethyl anthracene‐9‐carboxylate in different molar ratios to afford a series of photoresponsive amphiphilic diblock copolymers with high conversions. Self‐assembly of these linear–linear brush diblock copolymers in N,N‐dimethylformamide afforded nanoparticles with hydrodynamic diameters (dH) ranging from 41 to 268 nm, as determined by dynamic light scattering analysis. Crosslinking and stabilization of the nanoparticles was achieved via [4+4] photodimerization of the anthracene moieties upon exposure to UV radiation at 365 nm with the reverse reaction studied at a wavelength of 254 nm. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the self‐assembled nanoparticles and their crosslinked derivatives had spherical morphologies. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 1251–1262

Hanif, M, Mahlia, TMI, Zare, A, Saksahdan, TJ & Metselaar, HSC 2014, 'Potential energy savings by radiative cooling system for a building in tropical climate', Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 32, pp. 642-650.
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Hassaballa, AA, Althuwaynee, OF & Pradhan, B 2014, 'Extraction of soil moisture from RADARSAT-1 and its role in the formation of the 6 December 2008 landslide at Bukit Antarabangsa, Kuala Lumpur', Arabian Journal of Geosciences, vol. 7, no. 7, pp. 2831-2840.
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Hau, NT, Chen, S-S, Nguyen, NC, Huang, KZ, Ngo, HH & Guo, W 2014, 'Exploration of EDTA sodium salt as novel draw solution in forward osmosis process for dewatering of high nutrient sludge', JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE, vol. 455, pp. 305-311.
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In this study, a hybrid forward osmosisnanofiltration (FO/NF) process was designed for dewatering high nutrient containing sludge and recovering draw solution with minimum energy as well as low fouling. A novel draw solution - EDTA sodium salt - was also systematically studied for dewatering process. Results show that using EDTA sodium salt produced higher water flux and lower reverse salt flux when compared to conventional inorganic salt (NaCl) at pH 8. The final sludge concentration reached 32,000 mg/L after 16 h of operation. Moreover, nutrient compounds in sludge were successfully removed by the FO membrane with a removal efficiency of approximately 97% of NH4-N, 90% of NO3-N, 97% of NO2-N and 99% of PO4-P, which was attributed to the multi-barrier layers of sludge forming on membrane surface and the steric effect of the FO membrane. The NF recovery of EDTA sodium salt indicated that all NF membranes performed well and TS-80 was the best among the tested membranes.

Heitor, A, Indraratna, B & Rujikiatkamjorn, C 2014, 'Assessment of the post-compaction characteristics of a siltysand', Australian Geomechanics Journal, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 125-131.
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Conventional field compaction control methods are effective at the time of placement. However, the discrete nature of these measurements and a limited depth of investigation can render them unsuitable for post-construction compaction quality assessments of deeper fills or larger surface areas. In this situation, classical destructive geotechnical surveys (i.e. boreholes, cone penetration tests) are sought to evaluate the current fill conditions. Nevertheless, these methods often do not provide the required level of information because only certain locations are tested and they have tremendous implications in terms of cost. The use of available non-destructive methodologies, such as shear wave velocity surveys (i.e. SASW, spectral analysis of surface waves or HVSR, horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio) together with electrical resistivity tomography surveys (e.g. evaluation of water content), offers a valuable alternative to efficiently control compaction over large areas during post-construction stages and locate areas within the existing formations where the soil was not sufficiently compacted. This study explores the performance of a cost effective method for evaluating the characteristics of compacted fills by measuring the shear wave velocity and matric suction to evaluate the void ratio or dry density of compacted soil. Laboratory studies of compacted specimens were used to evaluate this method and their performance under different isotropic confining pressures. The results showed that the shear wave velocity and matric suction can effectively predict how the soil is compacted, but its success requires field measurements of both shear wave velocity and matric suction. The application of this relationship would enable practitioners to efficiently control compaction over large areas during post-construction stages, and locate areas within the existing formations where the soil was not sufficiently compacted.

Hentschke, C, Formoso, C, Rocha, C & Echeveste, M 2014, 'A Method for Proposing Valued-Adding Attributes in Customized Housing', Sustainability, vol. 6, no. 12, pp. 9244-9267.
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Ho, DP, Ngo, HH & Guo, W 2014, 'A mini review on renewable sources for biofuel', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 169, pp. 742-749.
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Rapid growth in both global energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions associated with the use of fossil fuels has driven the search for alternative sources which are renewable and have a lower environmental impact. This paper reviews the availability and bioenergy potentials of the current biomass feedstocks. These include (i) food crops such as sugarcane, corn and vegetable oils, classified as the first generation feedstocks, and (ii) lignocellulosic biomass derived from agricultural and forestry residues and municipal waste, as second generation feedstocks. The environmental and socioeconomic limitations of the first generation feedstocks have placed greater emphasis on the lignocellulosic biomass, of which the conversion technologies still faces major constraints to full commercial deployment. Key technical challenges and opportunities of the lignocellulosic biomass-to-bioenergy production are discussed in comparison with the first generation technologies. The potential of the emerging third generation biofuel from algal biomass is also reviewed. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Ho, L, Fatahi, B & Khabbaz, H 2014, 'Analytical solution for one-dimensional consolidation of unsaturated soils using eigenfunction expansion method', INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL AND ANALYTICAL METHODS IN GEOMECHANICS, vol. 38, no. 10, pp. 1058-1077.
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This paper introduces an exact analytical solution for governing flow equations for one-dimensional consolidation in unsaturated soil stratum using the techniques of eigenfunction expansion and Laplace transformation. The homogeneous boundary conditions adopted in this study are as follows: (i) a one-way drainage system of homogenous soils, in which the top surface is considered as permeable to air and water, whereas the base is an impervious bedrock; and (ii) a two-way drainage system where both soil ends allow free dissipation of pore-air and pore-water pressures. In addition, the analytical development adopts initial conditions capturing both uniform and linear distributions of the initial excess pore pressures within the soil stratum. Eigenfunctions and eigenvalues are parts of the general solution and can be obtained based on the proposed boundary conditions. Besides, the Laplace transform method is adopted to solve the first-order differential equations. Once equations with transformed domain are all obtained, the final solutions, which are proposed to be functions of time and depth, can be achieved by taking an inverse Laplace transform. To verify the proposed solution, two worked examples are provided to present the consolidation characteristics of unsaturated soils based on the proposed method. The validation of the recent results against other existing analytical solutions is graphically demonstrated. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Hokmabadi, AS, Fatahi, B & Samali, B 2014, 'Assessment of soil-pile-structure interaction influencing seismic response of mid-rise buildings sitting on floating pile foundations', COMPUTERS AND GEOTECHNICS, vol. 55, no. 1, pp. 172-186.
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The role of the seismic soil-pile-structure interaction (SSPSI) is usually considered beneficial to the structural system under seismic loading since it lengthens the lateral fundamental period and leads to higher damping of the system in comparison with the fixed-base assumption. Lessons learned from recent earthquakes show that fixed-base assumption could be misleading, and neglecting the influence of SSPSI could lead to unsafe design particularly for structures founded on soft soils. In this study, in order to better understand the SSPSI phenomena, a series of shaking table tests have been conducted for three different cases, namely: (i) fixed-base structure representing the situation excluding the soil-structure interaction; (ii) structure supported by shallow foundation on soft soil; and (iii) structure supported by floating (frictional) pile foundation in soft soil. A laminar soil container has been designed and constructed to simulate the free field soil response by minimising boundary effects during shaking table tests. In addition, a fully nonlinear three dimensional numerical model employing FLAC3D has been adopted to perform time-history analysis on the mentioned three cases. The numerical model adopts hysteretic damping algorithm representing the variation of the shear modulus and damping ratio of the soil with the cyclic shear strain capturing the energy absorbing characteristics of the soil. Results are presented in terms of the structural response parameters most significant for the damage such as foundation rocking, base shear, floor deformation, and inter-storey drifts. Comparison of the numerical predictions and the experimental data shows a good agreement confirming the reliability of the numerical model. Both experimental and numerical results indicate that soil-structure interaction amplifies the lateral deflections and inter-storey drifts of the structures supported by floating pile foundations in comparison to the fixed base struc...

Holloway, RW, Regnery, J, Nghiem, LD & Cath, TY 2014, 'Removal of Trace Organic Chemicals and Performance of a Novel Hybrid Ultrafiltration-Osmotic Membrane Bioreactor', Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 48, no. 18, pp. 10859-10868.
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Hossain, MA, Ngo, HH, Guo, W, Zhang, J & Liang, S 2014, 'A laboratory study using maple leaves as a biosorbent for lead removal from aqueous solutions', WATER QUALITY RESEARCH JOURNAL OF CANADA, vol. 49, no. 3, pp. 195-209.
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This study tested the ability of maple leaf powder (MLP) to reduce the level of Pb(II) ions in aqueous solutions. As a biosorbent, MLP has a larger specific surface area (10.94 m2/g) and contains Pb(II) binding functional groups. The highest Pb(II) removals were achieved at pH of 6.2, particle size of less than 75 µm, dose of 0.5 g, initial concentration of 10 mg/l and equilibrium time of >15 minutes. Thermodynamic results indicated that the Pb(II) adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic. MLP biosorbent could be reused for five cycles after successfully recovery by 0.1N H2SO4. Both adsorption and desorption data fit well with Langmuir and Sips isotherm models (R2 0.9611.00). The Pb(II) adsorption and desorption capacities (qm) of MLP were up to 50.27 mg/g and 40.06 mg/g, respectively, for a 1 g dose at room temperature. Kinetics processes were rate controlling step and showed good fitness with the pseudo-second order and intraparticle diffusion models. Results suggest that multiple mechanisms (chelating bond, physisorption and chemisorption) are involved to adsorb the Pb(II) ions on to MLP. Higher Pb(II) removal revealed the practical applicability of MLP in water and wastewater treatment systems.

Hossain, MA, Ngo, HH, Guo, WS, Nghiem, LD, Hai, FI, Vigneswaran, S & Nguyen, TV 2014, 'Competitive adsorption of metals on cabbage waste from multi-metal solutions', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 160, pp. 79-88.
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This study assessed the adsorption capacity of the agro-waste 'cabbage' as a biosorbent in single, binary, ternary and quaternary sorption systems with Cu(II), Pb(II), Zn(II) and Cd(II) ions. Dried and ground powder of cabbage waste (CW) was used for the sorption of metals ions. Carboxylic, hydroxyl, and amine groups in cabbage waste were found to be the key functional groups for metal sorption. The adsorption isotherms obtained could be well fitted to both the mono- and multi-metal models. In the competitive adsorption systems, cabbage waste adsorbed larger amount of Pb(II) than the other three metals. However, the presence of the competing ions suppressed the sorption of the target metal ions. Except the case of binary system of Cd(II)-Zn(II) and Cd(II)-Cu(II), there was a linear inverse dependency between the sorption capacities and number of different types of competitive metal ions. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Hossain, MA, Ngo, HH, Guo, WS, Nguyen, TV & Vigneswaran, S 2014, 'Performance of cabbage and cauliflower wastes for heavy metals removal', DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT, vol. 52, no. 4-6, pp. 844-860.
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From this study, the cabbage and cauliflower, a well-known agro-waste were used as biosorbents for removing toxic lead(II) and cadmium(II) from water. A batch of experiments for both biosorbents indicated that the lead(II) and cadmium(II) sorption depended on pH (5.0-6.5), doses of biosorbents (3-8 g/L) and contact time (15-45 min). The adsorption processes were fast, and equilibrium time was reached at 45 and 15 min for lead(II) and 45 and 30 min for cadmium(II) adsorption onto cabbage and cauliflower biosorbents, respectively. Both biosorbents showed higher preferences for lead(II) than cadmium(II) towards adsorption from a binary solution. Langmuir model was the best-predicted model, but three-parameter models (Redlich-Peterson, Koble Corrigan, Khan and SIPS) were shown good fitness with equilibrium data, and the adsorption coefficients indicate favourable adsorption. The maximum monolayer capacities for lead(II) were 60.57 and 47.63 mg/g onto cabbage and cauliflower biosorbents, respectively, which is higher than cadmium(II) adsorption (20.57 and 21.32 mg/g). Adsorption kinetic was multi-order and steps as it is followed the pseudo-second order and Avrami model. As a low-cost adsorbent, cabbage and cauliflower biosorbents could be preferable for the removal of heavy metals from water and wastewaters. © 2013 © 2013 Balaban Desalination Publications. All rights reserved.

How, HG, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA & Teoh, YH 2014, 'Engine Performance, Emission and Combustion Characteristics of a Common-rail Diesel Engine Fuelled with Bioethanol as a Fuel Additive in Coconut Oil Biodiesel Blends', Energy Procedia, vol. 61, pp. 1655-1659.
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Huang, Y, Huang, S, Deng, P, Huang, R & Hong, G 2014, 'The Effect of Fuel Temperature on the Ethanol Direct Injection Spray Characteristics of a Multi-hole Injector', SAE International Journal of Fuels and Lubricants, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 792-802.
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Copyright © 2014 SAE International. Ethanol direct injection (EDI) is a new technology to use ethanol fuel more efficiently in spark ignition engines. Fuel temperature is one of the key factors which determine the evaporation process of liquid fuel spray, and consequently influence the combustion and emission generation of the engine. To better understand the mixture formation process of the EDI spray and provide experimental data for engine modelling, experiments were conducted in a constant volume chamber in engine-like conditions. The high speed Shadowgraphy imaging technique was used to capture the ethanol spray behaviours. The experiments covered a wide range of fuel temperature, ranged from 275 K (non-evaporating) to 400 K (flash-boiling). Particularly the transition of the ethanol spray from normal-evaporating to flash-boiling was investigated. The temporal Shadowgraphy spray images, spray tip penetration, angle and projected area were applied to evaluate the evaporation of EDI spray under different fuel temperature conditions. The results showed that the non-evaporating spray's characteristics were similar to the normal-evaporating sprays' in terms of spray tip penetration, angle and projected area. When the fuel temperature increased from 350 K to flash-boiling spray, the spray angle and projected area reduced significantly, but the spray tip penetration increased. Increasing the fuel temperature from 275 K to 325 K did not cause significant increase of the evaporating rate, but with further increase of the fuel temperature, the ethanol spray's evaporation became faster. The transition temperature at which the ethanol spray collapsed at atmospheric pressure was between 355 K and 360 K.

Imtenan, S, Varman, M, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Sajjad, H, Arbab, MI & Rizwanul Fattah, IM 2014, 'Impact of low temperature combustion attaining strategies on diesel engine emissions for diesel and biodiesels: A review', Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 80, pp. 329-356.
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Indraratna, B & Rujikiatkamjorn, C 2014, 'Geotechnical Engineering Journal of the Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society & Association of Geotechnical Societies in Southeast Asia PREFACE', GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING, vol. 45, no. 1.

Indraratna, B & Rujikiatkamjorn, C 2014, 'Preface', Geotechnical Engineering, vol. 45, no. 1.

Indraratna, B & Vinod, JS 2014, 'Editorial', Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Ground Improvement, vol. 167, no. 1, pp. 1-1.
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Indraratna, B, Kianfar, K, Rujikiatkamjorn, C & Perera, D 2014, 'Soft clay properties for non-Darcian radial drainage with vacuum preloading, based on Rowe cell testing', Australian Geomechanics Journal, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 183-190.
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Application of vacuum pressure with prefabricated vertical drains in soft clays is a popular and effective ground improvement method. Application of vacuum pressure via vertical drains generates a negative excess pore water pressure (PWP) resulting in an immediate increase in effective stress. This paper summarises the recent advancements in vacuum preloading based on laboratory studies, using the conventional and modified Rowe cells. Location and the magnitude of the average PWP and degree of consolidation during vacuum preloading are investigated. Based on the laboratory experiments a new radial consolidation model is proposed for vacuum preloading incorporating non-Darcian flow.

Indraratna, B, Navaratnarajah, SK, Nimbalkar, S & Rujikiatkamjorn, C 2014, 'Use of shock mats for enhanced stability of railroad track foundation', Australian Geomechanics Journal, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 101-111.
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Increasing demand for High Speed Rail (HSR) and fast heavy haul poses a serious challenge for stability of tracks on problematic ground. Ballast is a key track foundation material placed underneath the sleepers which provides structural support against high cyclic and impact stresses caused by moving trains. Degradation of ballast contributes to a large percentage of track maintenance costs apart from affecting longevity and stability. In recent years, use of elastometric soft pads underneath sleepers has become increasingly popular as means of reducing track damage. The 'shock mat' placed under the sleeper is traditionally called Under Sleeper Pad (USP), and when it is placed under ballast, the term Under Ballast Mat (UBM) is often used. Currently there is lack of comprehensive assessment on the geotechnical behaviour of ballast using these artificial inclusions under impact and cyclic loading. In this study, a series of largescale laboratory tests were conducted to understand the performance of these energy absorbing 'shock mats' in the attenuation of impact and cyclic stresses and subsequent mitigation of ballast degradation. Impact loads were simulated using a high-capacity drop-weight impact testing equipment, while the cyclic loads were simulated using a large-scale prismoidal process simulation test apparatus. This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of laboratory studies and field trials demonstrating the benefits of USPs and UBMs in rail industry.

Indraratna, B, Ngo, NT & Rujikiatkamjorn, C 2014, 'Closure to “Deformation of Coal Fouled Ballast Stabilized with Geogrid under Cyclic Load” by Buddhima Indraratna, Ngoc Trung Ngo, and Cholachat Rujikiatkamjorn', Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, vol. 140, no. 6, pp. 07014011-07014011.
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Indraratna, B, Ngo, NT, Rujikiatkamjorn, C & Vinod, JS 2014, 'Behavior of Fresh and Fouled Railway Ballast Subjected to Direct Shear Testing: Discrete Element Simulation', International Journal of Geomechanics, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 34-44.
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This paper presents the three-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) that was used to study the shear behavior of fresh and coal fouled ballast in direct shear testing. The volumetric changes and stress-strain behavior of fresh and fouled ballast were simulated and compared with the experimental results. Clump logic in particle flow code in three dimensions (PFC3D) incorporated in a subroutine was used to simulate irregular-shaped particles in which groups of 10-20 spherical balls were clumped together in appropriate sizes to simulate ballast particles. Fouled ballast with a various void contaminant index (VCI) ranging from 20 to 70% VCI was modeled by injecting a specified number of miniature spherical particles into the voids of fresh ballast. The DEM simulation captures the behavior of fresh and fouled ballast as observed in the laboratory, showing that the peak shear stress of the ballast assembly decreases and the dilation of fouled ballast increases with an increasing VCI. Furthermore, the DEM also provides insight to the distribution of contact force chains and particle displacement vectors, which cannot be determined experimentally. These micromechanical observations clearly justify the formation of a shear band and the evolution of volumetric changes during shearing. The reduced maximum contact force associated with increased particle contact area due to fouling explains the decreased breakage of fouled ballast. An acceptable agreement was found between the DEM model predictions and laboratory data. © 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.

Indraratna, B, Nimbalkar, S & Neville, T 2014, 'Performance assessment of reinforced ballasted rail track', Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Ground Improvement, vol. 167, no. 1, pp. 24-34.
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In coastal Australia, high population density and increased traffic volumes have promoted rapid expansion of urban transportation infrastructure including railways. Coastal soft clays pose significant construction challenges. Therefore, the search for innovative ground improvement techniques imperative for more resilient and sustainable transport infrastructure has become an obvious priority in research and development. Use of artificial inclusions such as polymeric geosynthetics and energy-absorbing shock mats is described in this paper as a suitable alternative for reducing unacceptable track degradation and for ensuring sustainable track alignment. An extensive monitoring programme was undertaken on fully instrumented track sections constructed near Singleton, New South Wales, Australia. Four types of geosynthetics were installed at the ballast–capping interface of track sections located on different types of subgrades. It was found that geogrids could decrease the vertical settlement of the ballast layer with the obvious benefits of improved track stability and decreased cost of maintenance. It was also found that the effectiveness of reinforcing geogrids is greater when the subgrade is soft.

Indraratna, B, Nimbalkar, S & Rujikiatkamjorn, C 2014, 'Enhancement of rail track performance through utilisation of geosynthetic inclusions', Geotechnical Engineering, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 17-27.
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In coastal regions of Australia, high population density and increased traffic volumes have led to rapid expansion of rail transport. Use of artificial inclusions such as polymeric geosynthetics for enhanced soil-structure interaction and rubber shock mats for absorbing energy with the aim of reducing particle breakage is described in this paper as a cost-effective option. This paper highlights the results of a laboratory study on the deformation of coal fouled ballast stabilised with geogrids, at various degrees of fouling. A novel Track Process Simulation Apparatus (TPSA) was employed to reproduce realistic rail track conditions under cyclic loading, and the Void contaminant index (VCI) was used to assess the level of ballast fouling. The beneficial aspects of the geogrid inclusion are discussed in the paper. Laboratory results showed that biaxial geogrids can reduce the deformation of fresh ballast, but their effectiveness diminishes with an increase of VCI. A threshold value of VCI was proposed in view of track maintenance. Comprehensive field trials were executed on two fullscale rail tracks in the towns of Bulli and Singleton in New South Wales. These trials facilitated the evaluation of the relative performance of different types of geogrids, geocomposites and shock mats installed in fully instrumented track sections. Field trials showed that the use of recycled ballasted in rail tracks was a feasible and effective alternative. The performance of geogrids and geocomposite was found to be associated with their geometrical and mechanical properties as well as with the type of subgrade. The distributions of vertical and lateral stresses in the track were also assessed. In addition, effects of magnitude of axle load and train speed on stress distributions were studied. Copyright © 2014 Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society (SEAGS). All Rights Reserved.

Indraratna, B, Nimbalkar, S & Rujikiatkamjorn, C 2014, 'From theory to practice in track geomechanics – Australian perspective for synthetic inclusions', Transportation Geotechnics, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 171-187.
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© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. The adoption of heavier axle loads and high speed rails have posed serious geotechnical issues with ballasted railway tracks. These issues include poor drainage of soft coastal soils, ballast degradation under cyclic and impact loads, differential settlement of track and misalignment due to lateral movements, and inadequate bearing capacity of some compacted ballast. The mechanisms of ballast degradation and deformation, the need for effective track confinement, understanding of interface behaviour, determining dynamic bearing capacity and use of energy absorbing shock mats and synthetic grids require further insight to improve the existing design guidelines for future high speed commuter and heavier freight trains. In this paper, the current state-of-the-art knowledge of rail track geomechanics is discussed, with particular emphasis on the effects of geosynthetic applications on ballast degradation, and track performance. The stress-strain response and volumetric changes of ballast stabilised with geosynthetics observed in the laboratory experiments were captured through discrete element and finite element models. Installing shock mats and geosynthetics in the track substructure led to the attenuation of high cyclic and impact forces, thereby mitigating ballast degradation. Comprehensive field studies on instrumented tracks at Bulli (near Wollongong) and Singleton (near Newcastle) supported by Sydney Trains and ARTC, were carried out to measure the in situ stresses and deformation of ballast embankments. The paper focuses primarily on research conducted at University of Wollongong for enhanced track performance, highlighting some examples of innovation from theory to practice.

Indraratna, B, Nimbalkar, S & Rujikiatkamjorn, C 2014, 'Preface', Transportation Geotechnics, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 145-146.
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Indraratna, B, Nimbalkar, S, Coop, M & Sloan, SW 2014, 'A constitutive model for coal-fouled ballast capturing the effects of particle degradation', Computers and Geotechnics, vol. 61, pp. 96-107.
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Rail tracks undergo degradation owing to particle breakage and fouling of ballast by various fines including coal and subgrade soil. As the ballast becomes fouled, its strength and drainage capacity are compromised, sometimes resulting in differential settlement and reduced track stability. This paper demonstrates a continuum mechanics based framework to evaluate the detrimental effect of fines on the strength, deformation and degradation of coal-fouled ballast under monotonic loading. An elastoplastic constitutive model that considers the effect of fines content and energy consumption associated with particle breakage during shearing is presented. This multiphase constitutive model is developed within a critical state framework based on a kinematic-type yield locus and a modified stress-dilatancy approach. A general formulation for the rate of ballast breakage and coal particle breakage during triaxial shearing is presented and incorporated into the plastic flow rule to accurately predict the stress-strain response of coal-fouled ballast at various confining pressures. The behaviour of ballast at various levels of fouling is analysed and validated by experimental data. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Indraratna, B, Pathirage, PU, Rowe, RK & Banasiak, L 2014, 'Coupled hydro-geochemical modelling of a permeable reactive barrier for treating acidic groundwater', Computers and Geotechnics, vol. 55, pp. 429-439.
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Indraratna, B, Premadasa, W, Brown, ET, Gens, A & Heitor, A 2014, 'Shear strength of rock joints influenced by compacted infill', International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, vol. 70, pp. 296-307.
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Indraratna, B, Thirukumaran, S, Brown, ET, Premadasa, W & Gale, W 2014, 'A technique for three-dimensional characterisation of asperity deformation on the surface of sheared rock joints', International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, vol. 70, pp. 483-495.
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Indraratna, PB & Vinod, DJS 2014, 'Editorial', Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Ground Improvement, vol. 167, no. 3, pp. 147-148.
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Ismail, MS, Moghavvemi, M & Mahlia, TMI 2014, 'Genetic algorithm based optimization on modeling and design of hybrid renewable energy systems', Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 85, pp. 120-130.
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Jebur, MN, Mohd Shafri, HZ, Pradhan, B & Tehrany, MS 2014, 'Per-pixel and object-oriented classification methods for mapping urban land cover extraction using SPOT 5 imagery', Geocarto International, vol. 29, no. 7, pp. 792-806.
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Jebur, MN, Pradhan, B & Tehrany, MS 2014, 'Detection of vertical slope movement in highly vegetated tropical area of Gunung pass landslide, Malaysia, using L-band InSAR technique', Geosciences Journal, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 61-68.
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Jebur, MN, Pradhan, B & Tehrany, MS 2014, 'Optimization of landslide conditioning factors using very high-resolution airborne laser scanning (LiDAR) data at catchment scale', Remote Sensing of Environment, vol. 152, pp. 150-165.
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Jeyakumar, P, Loganathan, P, Anderson, CWN, Sivakumaran, S & McLaren, RG 2014, 'Comparative tolerance of Pinus radiata and microbial activity to copper and zinc in a soil treated with metal-amended biosolids', ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH, vol. 21, no. 5, pp. 3254-3263.
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A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of elevated concentrations of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in a soil treated with biosolids previously spiked with these metals on Pinus radiata during a 312-day glasshouse pot trial. The total soil metal concentrations in the treatments were 16, 48, 146 and 232 mg Cu/kg or 36, 141, 430 and 668 mg Zn/kg. Increased total soil Cu concentration increased the soil solution Cu concentration (0.03-0.54 mg/L) but had no effect on leaf and root dry matter production. Increased total soil Zn concentration also increased the soil solution Zn concentration (0.9-362 mg/L). Decreased leaf and root dry matter were recorded above the total soil Zn concentration of 141 mg/kg (soil solution Zn concentration, >4.4 mg/L). A lower percentage of Cu in the soil soluble + exchangeable fraction (5-12 %) and lower Cu2+ concentration in soil solution (0.001-0.06 μM) relative to Zn (soil soluble + exchangeable fraction, 12-66 %; soil solution Zn2+ concentration, 4.5-4,419 μM) indicated lower bioavailability of Cu. Soil dehydrogenase activity decreased with every successive level of Cu and Zn applied, but the reduction was higher for Zn than for Cu addition. Dehydrogenase activity was reduced by 40 % (EC40) at the total solution-phase and solid-phase soluble + exchangeable Cu concentrations of 0.5 mg/L and 14.5 mg/kg, respectively. For Zn the corresponding EC50 were 9 mg/L and 55 mg/kg, respectively. Based on our findings, we propose that current New Zealand soil guidelines values for Cu and Zn (100 mg/kg for Cu; 300 mg/kg for Zn) should be revised downwards based on apparent toxicity to soil biological activity (Cu and Zn) and radiata pine (Zn only) at the threshold concentration. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Jiang, X, Li, Y, Li, J, Wang, J & Yao, J 2014, 'Piezoelectric energy harvesting from traffic-induced pavement vibrations', JOURNAL OF RENEWABLE AND SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, vol. 6, no. 4.
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This paper focuses on the development and experimental testing of a potential clean energy source for powering the remote equipment used in transportation infrastructure. Traditional power sources (i.e., power cables and batteries) are excessively expensive or infeasible in this type of application. A compression-based roadway energy harvester has been developed that can be embedded into pavement to scavenge electrical energy from traffic-induced vibrations. The proposed roadway harvester employs a group of piezoelectric harvesting units to convert traffic-induced vibrations into electrical energy, and each single harvesting unit contains three piezoelectric multilayer stacks. According to the linear theory of piezoelasticity, a two-degree-of-freedom electromechanical model of the piezoelectric harvesting unit was developed to characterize its performance in generating electrical energy under external excitations. Experimental testing in the laboratory was conducted to investigate the output power properties of the harvesting unit and shows good agreement with the theoretical analysis. Based on the testing results of the harvesting unit, the capability of the proposed roadway harvester has been theoretically evaluated and demonstrated that it has the ability to generate sufficient energy for driving common electrical equipment used in transportation infrastructure. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.

Jiang, X, Wang, J, Li, Y & Li, J 2014, 'Design and modelling of a novel linear electromagnetic vibration energy harvester', INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPLIED ELECTROMAGNETICS AND MECHANICS, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 165-183.
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This paper presents the design and evaluation of a novel permanent magnet (PM) energy harvesting system for scavenging electrical energy from ambient vibrations. A two-phase tubular linear PM vibration energy harvester consisting of a mover attached with permanent magnets and a slotted stator with built-in two-phase electromagnetic coils is proposed to convert vibrational kinetic energy into electrical energy. Aiming at maximizing the efficiency of vibration-to-electrical energy conversion under designated vibration and limited space requirement, a systematic research, including innovative device design, theoretical modelling and analysis, and finite element evaluation on the PM vibration energy harvester will be presented in this paper. In addition, the methodology of winding the two-phase coils in slotted stator is explicated in order to fully utilize the harvested electrical energy. A two-phase rectifier circuit is developed to convert the alternative voltage generated by the PM harvester into DC voltage that can be used directly by the external resistive load. Simulation results indicate that the proposed linear PM vibration energy harvesting system is able to generate about 100 watt DC electrical power under the vibration with the velocity of 0.4 m/s and the output electrical power is proportional to the levels of vibration excitations.

Jiang, XZ, Li, YC, Wang, J & Li, JC 2014, 'Electromechanical modeling and experimental analysis of a compression-based piezoelectric vibration energy harvester', International Journal of Smart and Nano Materials, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 152-168.
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Over the past few decades, wireless sensor networks have been widely used in the field of structure health monitoring of civil, mechanical, and aerospace systems. Currently, most wireless sensor networks are battery-powered and it is costly and unsustainable for maintenance because of the requirement for frequent battery replacements. As an attempt to address such issue, this article theoretically and experimentally studies a compression-based piezoelectric energy harvester using a multilayer stack configuration, which is suitable for civil infrastructure system applications where large compressive loads occur, such as heavily vehicular loading acting on pavements. In this article, we firstly present analytical and numerical modeling of the piezoelectric multilayer stack under axial compressive loading, which is based on the linear theory of piezoelectricity. A two-degree-of-freedom electromechanical model, considering both the mechanical and electrical aspects of the proposed harvester, was developed to characterize the harvested electrical power under the external electrical load. Exact closed-form expressions of the electromechanical models have been derived to analyze the mechanical and electrical properties of the proposed harvester. The theoretical analyses are validated through several experiments for a test prototype under harmonic excitations. The test results exhibit very good agreement with the analytical analyses and numerical simulations for a range of resistive loads and input excitation levels. © 2014 The Author(s).

Kandasamy, J, Sounthararajah, D, Sivabalan, P, Chanan, A, Vigneswaran, S & Sivapalan, M 2014, 'Socio-hydrologic drivers of the pendulum swing between agricultural development and environmental health: a case study from Murrumbidgee River basin, Australia', HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 1027-1041.
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Kazner, C, Jamil, S, Phuntsho, S, Shon, HK, Wintgens, T & Vigneswaran, S 2014, 'Forward osmosis for the treatment of reverse osmosis concentrate from water reclamation: process performance and fouling control', WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, vol. 69, no. 12, pp. 2431-2437.
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While high quality water reuse based on dual membrane filtration (membrane filtration or ultrafiltration, followed by reverse osmosis) is expected to be progressively applied, treatment and sustainable management of the produced reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) are still important issues. Forward osmosis (FO) is a promising technology for maximising water recovery and further dewatering ROC so that zero liquid discharge is produced. Elevated concentrations of organic and inorganic compounds may act as potential foulants of the concentrate desalting system, in that they consist of, for example, FO and a subsequent crystallizer. The present study investigated conditions under which the FO system can serve as concentration phase with the focus on its fouling propensity using model foulants and real ROC. Bulk organics from ROC consisted mainly of humic acids (HA) and building blocks since wastewater-derived biopolymers were retained by membrane filtration or ultrafiltration. Organic fouling of the FO system by ROC-derived bulk organics was low. HA was only adsorbed moderately at about 7% of the initial concentration, causing a minor flux decline of about 2-4%. However, scaling was a major impediment to this process if not properly controlled, for instance by pH adjustment or softening. © IWA Publishing 2014.

Keshavarzi, A & Ball, J 2014, 'DISCHARGE COEFFICIENT OF SHARP‐CRESTED SIDE WEIR IN TRAPEZOIDAL CHANNEL WITH DIFFERENT SIDE‐WALL SLOPES UNDER SUBCRITICAL FLOW CONDITIONS', Irrigation and Drainage, vol. 63, no. 4, pp. 512-522.
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ABSTRACTIn this study, a comprehensive experimental study was performed to find an equation for the estimation of flow discharge over a sharp‐crested side weir in a trapezoidal channel. A physical model with side slopes of 1.5, 1, 0.5 and 0 was used and sharp‐crested side weirs with different lengths and heights were tested under different flow conditions. In this study, 212 laboratory tests were performed with different side‐wall slopes under subcritical flow conditions since the Froude number = 0.08–0.80. As a result, using statistical analysis, a linear relationship is proposed here for estimation of the side‐weir discharge coefficient in a trapezoidal channel. The new equation is a function of the upstream Froude number, weir height and side‐wall slope. The new equation enables estimation of flow discharge over the side weir with consideration of different side slopes. Furthermore, previously proposed discharge relationships for estimation of the discharge coefficient over sharp‐crested side weirs were compared with the new equation and experimental data from this study and this comparison is also reported in this paper. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Keshavarzi, A, Melville, B & Ball, J 2014, 'Three-dimensional analysis of coherent turbulent flow structure around a single circular bridge pier', Environmental Fluid Mechanics, vol. 14, no. 4, pp. 821-847.
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The coherent turbulent flow around a single circular bridge pier and its effects on the bed scouring pattern is investigated in this study. The coherent turbulent flow and associated shear stresses play a major role in sediment entrainment from the bed particularly around a bridge pier where complex vortex structures exist. The conventional two-dimensional quadrant analysis of the bursting process is unable to define sediment entrainment, particularly where fully three-dimensional flow structures exist. In this paper, three-dimensional octant analysis was used to improve understanding of the role of bursting events in the process of particle entrainment. In this study, the three-dimensional velocity of flow was measured at 102 points near the bed of an open channel using an Acoustic Doppler Velocity meter (Micro-ADV). The pattern of bed scouring was measured during the experiment. The velocity data were analysed using the Markov process to investigate the sequential occurrence of bursting events and to determine the transition probability of the bursting events. The results showed that external sweep and internal ejection events were an effective mechanism for sediment entrainment around a single circular bridge pier. The results are useful in understanding scour patterns around bridge piers. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Khabbaz, H & Fatahi, B 2014, 'How to overcome geotechnical challenges in implementing high speed rail systems in Australia', Geotechnical Engineering, vol. 45, no. 1, pp. 39-47.
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Although there are a few medium speed rail systems in Australia, there is not a passenger rail transport with the high transit speed, seen in other countries. This paper firstly summarises lessons learnt from other countries, experienced high speed rail (HRS) for many years. Then, the challenges associated with implementing HSR systems in Australia are explained. The main challenges include selection and design of proper tracks, geographical issues, environmental concerns, economics and project costs and construction procedures. The second part of the paper presents the effective solutions to the geotechnical challenges associated with HSR systems. Various approaches are presented to improve the ballast layer properties and enhance the track formation bearing strength, stiffness, resiliency and dynamic properties. Employing concrete slab (ballast-less) tracks is also taken into consideration for HSR systems, and their performance is compared to ballasted tracks. Copyright © 2014 Southeast Asian Geotechnical Society (SEAGS). All Rights Reserved.

Khalil, A, Ishita, K, Ali, T, Tiwari, R, Riachy, R, Toppino, A, Hasabelnaby, S, Sayfullin, N, Oliver, AG, Gallucci, J, Huang, Z & Tjarks, W 2014, 'Iodine Monochloride Facilitated Deglycosylation, Anomerization, and Isomerization of 3-Substituted Thymidine Analogues', Nucleosides, Nucleotides & Nucleic Acids, vol. 33, no. 12, pp. 786-799.
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Khan, I, François, R & Castel, A 2014, 'Experimental and analytical study of corroded shear-critical reinforced concrete beams', Materials and Structures, vol. 47, no. 9, pp. 1467-1481.
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Khan, I, François, R & Castel, A 2014, 'Prediction of reinforcement corrosion using corrosion induced cracks width in corroded reinforced concrete beams', Cement and Concrete Research, vol. 56, pp. 84-96.
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Khorsandnia, N, Schaenzlin, J, Valipour, H & Crews, K 2014, 'Time-dependent behaviour of timber-concrete composite members: Numerical verification, sensitivity and influence of material properties', CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS, vol. 66, pp. 192-208.
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Khorsandnia, N, Valipour, H & Crews, K 2014, 'Structural Response of Timber-Concrete Composite Beams Predicted by Finite Element Models and Manual Calculations', ADVANCES IN STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, vol. 17, no. 11, pp. 1601-1621.
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This paper presents the structural response of timber-concrete composite (TCC) beams predicted by finite element models (i.e. continuum-based and 1D frame) and manual calculations. Details of constitutive laws adopted for modelling timber and concrete are provided and application of the Hashin damage model in conjunction with continuum-based FE for capturing failure of timber under bi-axial stress state is discussed. A simplified strategy for modelling the TCC connection is proposed in which the connection is modelled by a nonlinear spring and the full load-slip behaviour of each TCC connection is expressed with a formula that can be directly implemented in the general purpose FE codes and used for nonlinear analysis of TCC beams. The developed FE models are verified by examples taken from the literature. Furthermore, the load-displacement response and ultimate loading capacity of the TCC beams are determined according to Eurocode 5 method and compared with FE model predictions.

Khorsandnia, N, Valipour, H, Foster, S & Crews, K 2014, 'A force-based frame finite element formulation for analysis of two- and three-layered composite beams with material non-linearity', INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NON-LINEAR MECHANICS, vol. 62, pp. 12-22.
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Khorsandnia, N, Valipour, HR & Crews, K 2014, 'Nonlinear Long-Term Analysis of Timber-Concrete Composite Structures with Finite Element-Finite Difference Scheme', Applied Mechanics and Materials, vol. 553, pp. 618-624.
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Long-term analysis of timber-concrete composite (TCC) structures is a challenging task owing to the time-dependent behaviour of timber, concrete and connections which are highly nonlinear under variable environmental conditions (i.e. temperature, humidity). In this paper an efficient numerical method that takes advantage of a finite element-finite difference (FE-FD) scheme is presented. The differential equations governing the long-term behaviour of TCC section under variable humidity are solved using the FD scheme and the differential equations governing the mechanical behaviour of the composite beam are solved by a FE formulation recast in the framework of force-interpolation concept. The comparison between experimental data and numerical results shows the sufficient accuracy of the proposed FE-FD model for capturing long-term behaviour of TCC members.

Khosrokhani, M & Pradhan, B 2014, 'Spatio-temporal assessment of soil erosion at Kuala Lumpur metropolitan city using remote sensing data and GIS', Geomatics, Natural Hazards and Risk, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 252-270.
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Kim, Y, Elimelech, M, Shon, HK & Hong, S 2014, 'Combined organic and colloidal fouling in forward osmosis: Fouling reversibility and the role of applied pressure', Journal of Membrane Science, vol. 460, pp. 206-212.
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In this study, we systematically investigated the propensity and reversibility of combined organic-colloidal fouling in forward osmosis (FO) under various solution chemistries (pH and calcium ion concentrations) and applied hydraulic pressure on the feed side. Alginate, silica colloids, and their mixture (i.e., combined organic-colloidal) were used as model foulants. Our findings demonstrate that combined organic-colloidal foulants caused more rapid flux decline than the individual foulants due to the synergistic effect of alginate and silica colloids. As a result, much lower flux recovery was achieved by physical cleaning induced by increasing the cross-flow rate, in contrast to single foulants of which the fouling layer was easily removed under all solution conditions. Interestingly, less flux decline was observed at neutral pH for combined fouling, while acidic conditions were favorable for alginate fouling and basic solutions caused more silica fouling, thereby providing clear evidence for the combined fouling effect. It was also found that calcium ions enhanced water flux decline and induced the formation of less reversible combined organic-colloidal fouling layers. Lastly, the role of applied hydraulic pressure on the feed side in FO was examined to elucidate the mechanism of fouling layer formation, fouling reversibility, and water flux recovery. Higher fouling propensity and lower fouling reversibility of combined organic-colloidal fouling were observed in the presence of applied hydraulic pressure on the feed side. This observation suggests that the lower fouling propensity and greater fouling reversibility in FO compared to reverse osmosis (RO), are attributable to unpressurized operating conditions in FO. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.

Kong, J, Yue, Q, Gao, B, Li, Q, Wang, Y, Ngo, HH & Guo, W 2014, 'Porous structure and adsorptive properties of hide waste activated carbons prepared via potassium silicate activation', Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, vol. 109, pp. 311-314.
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Bioremediation is widely used in organic pollutants disposal. However, very little has been known on its application in constructed wetlands contaminated with organochlorine pesticide, endosulfan in particular. To evaluate the effect of bioremediation on endosulfan removal and clarify the fate, bioaugmentation and biostimulation were studied in laboratory-scale vertical-flow constructed wetlands. After 20 days’ experiment, endosulfan isomers removal efficiencies were increased to 89.24–97.62 % through bioremediation. In bacteria bioaugmentation (E-in) and sucrose biostimulation (E-C), peak concentrations of endosulfan in sediment were reduced by 31.02–76.77 %, and plant absorption were 347.45–576.65 μg kg−1. By contrast, plant absorption in KH2PO4 biostimulation (E-P) was increased to 811.64 and 1,067.68 μg kg−1. Degradation process was probably promoted in E-in and E-C, while plant absorption was enhanced in EP. Consequently, E-in and E-C were effective for endosulfan removal in constructed wetlands, while adding KH2PO4 had potential to cause air pollution. Additionally, combined bioremediation was not recommended.

Kong, Q, Ngo, HH, Shu, L, Fu, R-S, Jiang, C-H & Miao, M-S 2014, 'Enhancement of aerobic granulation by zero-valent iron in sequencing batch airlift reactor', Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 279, pp. 511-517.
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This study elucidates the enhancement of aerobic granulation by zero-valent iron (ZVI). A reactor aug-mented with ZVI had a start-up time of aerobic granulation (43 days) that was notably less than that fora reactor without augmentation (64 days). The former reactor also had better removal efficiencies forchemical oxygen demand and ammonium. Moreover, the mature granules augmented with ZVI had bet-ter physical characteristics and produced more extracellular polymeric substances (especially of protein).Three-dimensional-excitation emission matrix fluorescence showed that ZVI enhanced organic materialdiversity. Additionally, ZVI enhanced the diversity of the microbial community. Fe2+dissolution fromZVI helped reduce the start-up time of aerobic granulation and increased the extracellular polymericsubstance content. Conclusively, the use of ZVI effectively enhanced aerobic granulation.

Lee, HU, Lee, Y-C, Lee, SC, Park, SY, Son, B, Lee, JW, Lim, C-H, Choi, C-J, Choi, M-H, Lee, SY, Oh, Y-K & Lee, J 2014, 'Visible-light-responsive bicrystalline (anatase/brookite) nanoporous nitrogen-doped TiO2 photocatalysts by plasma treatment', Chemical Engineering Journal, vol. 254, no. 1, pp. 268-275.
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Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is one of the most researched semiconductor oxides that has revolutionised technologies in the field of environmental purification and energy generation. It has found extensive applications in heterogenous photocatalysis for removing organic pollutants from air and water and also in hydrogen production from photocatalytic water-splitting. Its use is popular because of its low cost, low toxicity, high chemical and thermal stability, But one of the critical limitations of TiO 2 as photocatalyst is its poor response to visible light. Several attempts have been made to modify the surface and electronic structures of TiO2 to enhance its activity in the visible light region such as noble metal deposition, metal ion loading, cationic and anionic doping and sensitisation, Most of the results improved photocatalytic performance under visible light irradiation. This paper attempts to review and update some of the information on the TiO2 photocatalytic technology and its accomplishment towards visible light region.

Lee, KT, Lim, S, Pang, YL, Ong, HC & Chong, WT 2014, 'Integration of reactive extraction with supercritical fluids for process intensification of biodiesel production: Prospects and recent advances', Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, vol. 45, pp. 54-78.
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Leong, KY & Ong, HC 2014, 'Entropy generation analysis of nanofluids flow in various shapes of cross section ducts', International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 57, pp. 72-78.
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Leung, AHM, Prime, EL, Tran, DNH, Fu, Q, Christofferson, AJ, Yiapanis, G, Yarovsky, I, Qiao, GG & Solomon, DH 2014, 'Dynamic Performance of Duolayers at the Air/Water Interface. 1. Experimental Analysis', The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, vol. 118, no. 37, pp. 10919-10926.
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Li, F, Lu, L, Zheng, X, Ngo, HH, Liang, S, Guo, W & Zhang, X 2014, 'Enhanced nitrogen removal in constructed wetlands: Effects of dissolved oxygen and step-feeding', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 169, pp. 395-402.
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Four horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands (HSFCWs), named HSFCW1 (three-stage, without step-feeding), HSFCW2 (three-stage, with step-feeding), HSFCW3 (five-stage, without step-feeding) and HSFCW4 (five-stage, with step-feeding) were designed to investigate the effects of dissolved oxygen (DO) and step-feeding on nitrogen removal. High removal of 90.9% COD, 99.1% ammonium nitrogen and 88.1% total nitrogen (TN) were obtained simultaneously in HSFCW4 compared with HSFCW13. The excellent TN removal of HSFCW4 was due to artificial aeration provided sufficient DO for nitrification and the favorable anoxic environment created for denitrification. Step-feeding was a crucial factor because it provided sufficient carbon source (high COD: nitrate ratio of 14.3) for the denitrification process. Microbial activities and microbial abundance in HSFCW4 was found to be influenced by DO distribution and step-feeding, and thus improve TN removal. These results suggest that artificial aeration combined with step-feeding could achieve high nitrogen removal in HSFCWs.

Li, J & Hao, H 2014, 'A Simplified Numerical Method for Blast Induced Structural Response Analysis', International Journal of Protective Structures, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 323-348.
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Efficiently and accurately predicting structural dynamic response and damage to external blast loading is a big challenge to both structural engineers and researchers. The conventional numerical treatment to this problem is proved being able to give reliable predictions, however at the cost of enormous computational time and resource. Simplified SDOF approach is popularly used in design as it is straightforward to use and also gives good structural response predictions if the response is governed by a global response mode (shear or bending) and the accurate dynamic deflection curve is available, but it cannot predict the detailed local structural damage. In this study, a new numerical approach that combines the recently proposed two-step method and the static condensation method is proposed to analyze structure response and collapse to blast loads. The two-step method divides the structural response into two phases, i.e. forced vibration phase (blast loading duration) and free vibration phase. Single- Degree-of-Freedom system approach is adopted to solve the structural element responses at the end of the forced vibration phase, and the structural free vibration simulation is carried out using the hydro-code LS-DYNA to calculate the detailed structural response and damage. The static condensation technique is utilized to condense structural components that are relatively away from the explosion center to further reduce the computational effort. To demonstrate the proposed method, the structural responses of a three story RC frame to blast loads are calculated by four approaches, i.e. the traditional detailed FE simulation, the two-step method, the model condensation method, and the new combined two-step and dynamic condensation method. Through the results comparison, the efficiency and accuracy of the proposed combined approach are demonstrated.

Li, J & Hao, H 2014, 'Numerical and Theoretical Study of Concrete Spall Damage under Blast Loads', Applied Mechanics and Materials, vol. 553, pp. 774-779.
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Spall damage is a typical failure mode of concrete structures under blast or high velocity impact loads. At the opposite side from which the structural element was impulsively loaded, spall will occur if the net primary stresses over an area exceed the dynamic tensile strength of concrete. Fragments of structural element could eject with large velocities, and this kind of damage can cause severe threats to equipment and personnel. In the present study, reinforced concrete columns subjected to the blast loading is investigated and the numerical study of concrete spall is conducted. The spall depth is recorded and compared with the theoretical results derived from wave propagation theory. The parameters that affect the concrete spall damage are investigated.

Li, J & Hao, H 2014, 'Numerical study of concrete spall damage to blast loads', International Journal of Impact Engineering, vol. 68, pp. 41-55.
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Spall damage is a typical damage mode of concrete structures under blast or high velocity impact loads. Blast and impact loads generate a stress wave propagating in the structure. At the opposite side from which the structural element is impulsively loaded, spall will occur if the net primary stresses over an area exceed the concrete dynamic tensile strength and the resistance force such as the material dynamic bond and interlock. Fragments of structural element generated from spall damage could eject with large velocities, and impose significant threats to equipment and personnel even it does not necessarily greatly reduce the load carrying capacity of the structural components. In the present study, spall damage of generic reinforced concrete columns subjected to blast loads is investigated numerically. Three-dimensional numerical models are developed to predict the concrete spalling under blast loads. The accuracy of the numerical simulations is verified with blast testing data reported by other researchers. Intensive numerical simulations are then carried out to investigate the influences of the column dimensions and reinforcement mesh on concrete spall damage. Based on numerical simulation data, empirical relations are suggested to predict concrete spall damage based on explosion scenarios, column dimensions and reinforcement conditions. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Li, J, Masia, MJ, Stewart, MG & Lawrence, SJ 2014, 'Spatial variability and stochastic strength prediction of unreinforced masonry walls in vertical bending', Engineering Structures, vol. 59, pp. 787-797.
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The flexural bond strength of unreinforced masonry (URM) is a key material property affecting wall out-of-plane lateral load capacity. It is well known that the unit flexural bond strength (defined here as the flexural strength of the bond between the brick and lower mortar bed joint associated with any given masonry unit (brick)) varies considerably between units, and that this spatial variability might significantly affect the structural performance and reliability of URM walls in flexure. The paper develops a computational method to predict the strength for non-load bearing single skin URM walls subject to one-way vertical bending considering unit-to-unit spatial variability of flexural bond strength. We characterise the probability distributions of wall strength and examine how spatial variability in unit flexural bond strength affects the variability of base cracking load, mid-height cracking load, peak load and behaviour of clay brick URM walls. This is done using 3-D non-linear Finite Element Analyses (FEA) and stochastic analysis in the form of Monte Carlo simulations. Varying COVs (0.1, 0.3 and 0.5) of unit flexural bond strength are considered. The mean and variance of wall strength are estimated to show the effect of spatial variability of flexural bond strength on wall strength. The failure modes of the wall are compared to show the significant differences between non-spatial and spatial analyses. © 2013.

Li, JC, Li, HB, Jiao, YY, Liu, YQ, Xia, X & Yu, C 2014, 'Analysis for oblique wave propagation across filled joints based on thin-layer interface model', Journal of Applied Geophysics, vol. 102, pp. 39-46.
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Li, X, Li, J, Wang, J, Wang, H, He, B, Zhang, H, Guo, W & Ngo, HH 2014, 'Experimental investigation of local flux distribution and fouling behavior in double-end and dead-end submerged hollow fiber membrane modules', JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE, vol. 453, pp. 18-26.
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A new experimental method was proposed to obtain local fluxes along the membrane fibers of double-end and dead-end submerged hollow fiber membrane modules (SHFMMs) and to investigate the impact of average operating flux, fiber length and filtration modes (dead-end and double-end filtration) on local flux distribution. The relationship between the local flux and fouling behavior was monitored through the development of local fouling during filtration of 5 g/L yeast suspension using the non-invasive ultrasonic technique. The experimental results showed that the local flux distribution in the double-end SHFMM was more uniform than that in the dead-end SHFMM at the same operating conditions. Furthermore, the local flux obtained near the upper suction end of the double-end SHFMM was higher than that near the lower suction end. The difference value between the maximum and minimum local fluxes decreased with the decrease of fiber length and average operating flux in the double-end SHFMM. In addition, the ultrasonic measurements revealed that the behavior of fouling deposition on the membrane surface was consistent with the local flux distribution, which led to the self-adjustment and redistribution of local flux during the operation.

Li, X-M, Zhao, B, Wang, Z, Xie, M, Song, J, Nghiem, LD, He, T, Yang, C, Li, C & Chen, G 2014, 'Water reclamation from shale gas drilling flow-back fluid using a novel forward osmosis-vacuum membrane distillation hybrid system', WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, vol. 69, no. 5, pp. 1036-1044.
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Li, Y & Jack Wang, J 2014, 'A Pedestrian Navigation System Based on Low Cost IMU', Journal of Navigation, vol. 67, no. 6, pp. 929-949.
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For indoor pedestrian navigation with a shoe-mounted inertial measurement unit (IMU), the zero velocity update (ZUPT) technique is implemented to constrain the sensors' error. ZUPT uses the fact that a stance phase appears in each step at zero velocity to correct IMU errors periodically. This paper introduces three main contributions we have achieved based on ZUPT. Since correct stance phase detection is critical for the success of applying ZUPT, we have developed a new approach to detect the stance phase of different gait styles, including walking, running and stair climbing. As the extension of ZUPT, we have proposed a new concept called constant velocity update (CUPT) to correct IMU errors on a moving platform with constant velocity, such as elevators or escalators where ZUPT is infeasible. A closed-loop step-wise smoothing algorithm has also been developed to eliminate discontinuities in the trajectory caused by sharp corrections. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.

Li, Y & Li, J 2014, 'Dynamic characteristics of a magnetorheological pin joint for civil structures', Frontiers of Mechanical Engineering, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 15-33.
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Magnetorheological (MR) pin joint is a novel device in which its joint moment resistance can be controlled in real-time by altering the applied magnetic field. The smart pin joint is intended to be used as a controllable connector between the columns and beams of a civil structure to instantaneously shift the structural natural frequencies in order to avoid resonance and therefore to reduce unwanted vibrations and hence prevent structural damage. As an intrinsically nonlinear device, modelling of this MR fluid based device is a challenging task and makes the design of a suitable control algorithm a cumbersome situation. Aimed at its application in civil structure, the main purpose of this paper is to test and characterise the hysteretic behaviour of MR pin joint. A test scheme is designed to obtain the dynamic performance of MR pin joint in the dominant earthquake frequency range. Some unique phenomena different from those of MR damper are observed through the experimental testing. A computationally-efficient model is proposed by introducing a hyperbolic element to accurately reproduce its dynamic behaviour and to further facilitate the design of a suitable control algorithm. Comprehensive investigations on the model accuracy and dependences of the proposed model on loading condition (frequency and amplitude) and input current level are reported in the last section of this paper. © 2014 Higher Education Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.

Li, Y, Li, J, Li, W & Du, H 2014, 'A state-of-the-art review on magnetorheological elastomer devices', SMART MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, vol. 23, no. 12.
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© 2014 IOP Publishing Ltd. During the last few decades, magnetorheological (MR) elastomers have attracted a significant amount of attention for their enormous potential in engineering applications. Because they are a solid counterpart to MR fluids, MR elastomers exhibit a unique field-dependent material property when exposed to a magnetic field, and they overcome major issues faced in magnetorheological fluids, e.g. the deposition of iron particles, sealing problems and environmental contamination. Such advantages offer great potential for designing intelligent devices to be used in various engineering fields, especially in fields that involve vibration reduction and isolation. This paper presents a state of the art review on the recent progress of MR elastomer technology, with special emphasis on the research and development of MR elastomer devices and their applications. To keep the integrity of the knowledge, this review includes a brief introduction of MR elastomer materials and follows with a discussion of critical issues involved in designing magnetorheological elastomer devices, i.e. operation modes, coil placements and principle fundamentals. A comprehensive review has been presented on the research and development of MR elastomer devices, including vibration absorbers, vibration isolators, base isolators, sensing devices, and so on. A summary of the research on the modeling mechanical behavior for both the material and the devices is presented. Finally, the challenges and the potential facing magnetorheological elastomer technology are discussed, and suggestions have been made based on the authors' knowledge and experience.

Li, Y, Li, J, Tian, T & Li, W 2014, 'A highly adjustable magnetorheological elastomer base isolator for applications of real-time adaptive control (vol 22, 095020, 2013)', SMART MATERIALS AND STRUCTURES, vol. 23, no. 12.
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Liang, D-F & He, X-Z 2014, 'A comparison of conventional and shear-rate dependent Mohr-Coulomb models for simulating landslides', Journal of Mountain Science, vol. 11, no. 6, pp. 1478-1490.
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Liaquat, AM, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA & Rizwanul Fattah, IM 2014, 'Impact of biodiesel blend on injector deposit formation', Energy, vol. 72, pp. 813-823.
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Liu, H, Liang, S, Gao, J, Ngo, HH, Guo, W, Guo, Z & Li, Y 2014, 'Development of biochars from pyrolysis of lotus stalks for Ni(II) sorption: Using zinc borate as flame retardant', JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL AND APPLIED PYROLYSIS, vol. 107, pp. 336-341.
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In this work, zinc borate (ZB) was employed as flame retardant for preparation of biochar (BC). A series of BC samples were generated by varying the ZB to lotus stalks (LS) ratio (0.25, 0.5 and 1.0) under different temperatures (300, 350 and 400 ?C) for 1 h. The BCs were analyzed for their surface morphologies, surface areas, surface elemental compositions and yields. The results indicated that, after charring, ZB kept the structures of the produced BCs as its starting material (LS), dramatically enhancing their yields, and promoting their surface oxygen content. The BCs were used as adsorbent for removal of Ni(II) from aqueous solutions. Sorption of Ni(II) on the BCs was enhanced about 310 times compared with that of BCs derived from pyrolysis of LS without adding ZB.

Liu, H, Liang, S, Gao, J, Ngo, HH, Guo, W, Guo, Z, Wang, J & Li, Y 2014, 'Enhancement of Cr(VI) removal by modifying activated carbon developed from Zizania caduciflora with tartaric acid during phosphoric acid activation', CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL, vol. 246, pp. 168-174.
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Tartaric acid (TA) was employed to modify Zizania caduciflora (ZC)-based activated carbon during phosphoric acid activation for improving its Cr(VI) removal from aqueous solutions. The original activated carbon (AC) and TA-modified activated carbon (ACTA) were characterized by N2 adsorption/desorption, Boehms titration and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The Cr(VI) removal abilities of AC and ACTA were evaluated by batch sorption experiments. The residual Cr(VI) and total Cr concentration were determined to investigated the ``Sorption-coupled reduction mechanism. Equilibrium data for the Cr(VI) removal on AC and ACTA were well described by the Freundlich model. The ACTA exhibited much higher Cr(VI) and total Cr sorption capacities than AC. After blocking of carboxyl and hydroxyl functional groups, the carbons showed obviously higher Cr(VI) and total Cr removal than the original AC and ACTA, indicating that electrostatic attraction played an important role on Cr(VI) removal. The higher Cr(VI) removal on ACTA was attributed to its higher amount of oxygen-containing functional groups, which provided more electrons for Cr(VI) reduction and more positive sites for the produced Cr(III) sorption.

Liu, K, Law, SS, Xia, Y & Zhu, XQ 2014, 'Singular spectrum analysis for enhancing the sensitivity in structural damage detection', Journal of Sound and Vibration, vol. 333, no. 2, pp. 392-417.
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Time domain structural condition assessment methods have been studied extensively in the last two decades due to their effectiveness in dealing with limited and short duration measurements from a structure under operational conditions. The sensitivity-based method is revisited in this paper with an enhancement in the sensitivity with respect to local damages via the singular spectrum analysis technique. The measured response of the structure is decomposed and the sensitivity vectors as well as the computed response vectors are projected into the corresponding decomposition subspace. The projected identification equations associate with components which contain the least measurement noise and the most damage information are then used to detect local damages in the structure. The enhanced sensitivity-based method is shown to be capable of yielding more accurate identified results with noisy measurement in a planar truss structure compared to conventional sensitivity-based method. A seven-storey steel frame test is performed in the laboratory, and the proposed method is checked to be able to identify the damage location and extend of this structure with an acceptable accuracy. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Liu, K, Law, SS, Zhu, XQ & Xia, Y 2014, 'Explicit form of an implicit method for inverse force identification', Journal of Sound and Vibration, vol. 333, no. 3, pp. 730-744.
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Most existing time domain force identification methods are based on the state space method, which has the disadvantage of large discretization error with a low sampling frequency or a long sampling duration. This work transforms the conventional implicit Newmark-β algorithm into an explicit form for the solution of the Ax=b equations, which is an equivalent transformation, and it exhibits the same characteristics of Newmark-β algorithm as an implicit method. The accuracy of this method for the dynamic force identification is illustrated with two shear-frame buildings and a planar truss structure. Numerical results are compared with reference analytical responses. The new method gives more accurate identified force time histories compared with those from the conventional state space method for multiple sinusoidal and white noise excitations with 10% measurement noise in the responses. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Liu, P, Gao, B, Shon, HK, Ma, D, Rong, H, Zhao, P, Zhao, S, Yue, Q & Li, Q 2014, 'Water flux behavior of blended solutions of ammonium bicarbonate mixed with eight salts respectively as draw solutions in forward osmosis', Desalination, vol. 353, pp. 39-47.
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Liu, Y, Li, H, Xiao, K, Li, J, Xia, X & Liu, B 2014, 'Seismic stability analysis of a layered rock slope', Computers and Geotechnics, vol. 55, pp. 474-481.
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Loganathan, P, Vigneswaran, S, Kandasamy, J & Bolan, NS 2014, 'Removal and Recovery of Phosphate From Water Using Sorption', CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, vol. 44, no. 8, pp. 847-907.
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Sorption is an effective, reliable, and environmentally friendly treatment process for the removal of phosphorus from wastewater sources which otherwise can cause eutrophication of receiving waters. Phosphorus in wastewater, if economically recovered, can partly overcome the future scarcity of phosphorus resulting from exhaustion of natural phosphate rock reserves. The authors present a comprehensive and critical review of the literature on the effectiveness of a number of sorbents, especially some novel ones that have recently emerged, in removing and recovering phosphate. Mechanisms and thermodynamics of sorption, as well as regeneration of sorbents for reuse using acids, bases, and salts, are critically examined. © 2014 Copyright Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

Lund, T, Francis, C, Pederson, K, Lieblein, G & Rahman, MH 2014, 'Translating Knowledge into Action at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB)', The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, vol. 20, no. 5, pp. 537-554.
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We often take the built environment for granted without realising the benefits it brings. It clearly influences our quality of life; well designed schools contribute to educational attainment, hospitals to patient outcomes, offices to productivity, public open space to recreation and well-being, while attractive towns and cities generate civic pride and tourism. The converse is also true; more policing and healthcare are needed where the built environment is poor. Alongside the issue of social outcomes is the increasingly important risk of environmental impact, including climate change. We urgently need to be providing facilities that minimise resource use in their construction, minimise energy and water requirements, and limit damage to the natural world. The Interdisciplinary Design for the Built Environment (IDBE) masters course aims to equip all its students with the skills needed to meet these challenges. An underlying principle of the course is that this demands effective interdisciplinary understanding and collaborative working. The course aims to help members of multi-disciplinary teams to work together effectively, harnessing their knowledge and expertise in the design and delivery of an integrated product.

Luo, W, Hai, FI, Price, WE, Guo, W, Ngo, HH, Yamamoto, K & Nghiem, LD 2014, 'High retention membrane bioreactors: Challenges and opportunities', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 167, pp. 539-546.
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Extensive research has focussed on the development of novel high retention membrane bioreactor (HRMBR) systems for wastewater reclamation in recent years. HR-MBR integrates high rejection membrane separation with conventional biological treatment in a single step. High rejection membrane separation processes currently used in HR-MBR applications include nanofiltration, forward osmosis, and membrane distillation. In these HR-MBR systems, organic contaminants can be effectively retained, prolonging their retention time in the bioreactor and thus enhancing their biodegradation. Therefore, HR-MBR can offer a reliable and elegant solution to produce high quality effluent. However, there are several technological challenges associated with the development of HR-MBR, including salinity build-up, low permeate flux, and membrane degradation. This paper provides a critical review on these challenges and potential opportunities of HR-MBR for wastewater treatment and water reclamation, and aims to guide and inform future research on HR-MBR for fast commercialisation of this innovative technology.

Luo, WH, Yuan, J, Luo, YM, Li, GX, Nghiem, LD & Price, WE 2014, 'Effects of mixing and covering with mature compost on gaseous emissions during composting', Chemosphere, vol. 117, pp. 14-19.
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Luo, Y, Guo, W, Ngo, HH, Nghiem, LD, Hai, FI, Kang, J, Xia, S, Zhang, Z & Price, WE 2014, 'Removal and fate of micropollutants in a sponge-based moving bed bioreactor', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 159, pp. 311-319.
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This study investigated the removal of micropollutants using polyurethane sponge as attached-growth carrier. Batch experiments demonstrated that micropollutants could adsorb to non-acclimatized sponge cubes to varying extents. Acclimatized sponge showed significantly enhanced removal of some less hydrophobic compounds (log. D<. 2.5), such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, naproxen, and estriol, as compared with non-acclimatized sponge. The results for bench-scale sponge-based moving bed bioreactor (MBBR) system elucidated compound-specific variation in removal, ranging from 25.9% (carbamazepine) to 96.8% (β-Estradiol 17-acetate) on average. In the MBBR system, biodegradation served as a major removal pathway for most compounds. However, sorption to sludge phase was also a notable removal mechanism of some persistent micropollutants. Particularly, carbamazepine, ketoprofen and pentachlorophenol were found at high concentrations (7.87, 6.05 and 5.55. μg/g, respectively) on suspended biosolids. As a whole, the effectiveness of MBBR for micropollutant removal was comparable with those of activated sludge processes and MBRs. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Luo, Y, Guo, W, Ngo, HH, Nghiem, LD, Hai, FI, Zhang, J, Liang, S & Wang, XC 2014, 'A review on the occurrence of micropollutants in the aquatic environment and their fate and removal during wastewater treatment', SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, vol. 473, pp. 619-641.
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Micropollutants are emerging as a new challenge to the scientific community. This review provides a summary of the recent occurrence of micropollutants in the aquatic environment including sewage, surface water, groundwater and drinking water. The discharge of treated effluent from WWTPs is a major pathway for the introduction of micropollutants to surface water. WWTPs act as primary barriers against the spread of micropollutants. WWTP removal efficiency of the selected micropollutants in 14 countries/regions depicts compound-specific variation in removal, ranging from 12.5 to 100%. Advanced treatment processes, such as activated carbon adsorption, advanced oxidation processes, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, and membrane bioreactors can achieve higher and more consistent micropollutant removal. However, regardless of what technology is employed, the removal of micropollutants depends on physico-chemical properties of micropollutants and treatment conditions. The evaluation of micropollutant removal from municipal wastewater should cover a series of aspects from sources to end uses. After the release of micropollutants, a better understanding and modeling of their fate in surface water is essential for effectively predicting their impacts on the receiving environment. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Ma, JL, Wu, CQ, Zhi, XD & Fan, F 2014, 'Prediction of Confined Blast Loading in Single-Layer Lattice Shells', Advances in Structural Engineering, vol. 17, no. 7, pp. 1029-1043.
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Single-layer lattice shells (also known as gridshells) are widely used for architecturally innovative structures. When an explosion occurs inside such a structure, confined blast loading on the structural components will be seriously affected by different factors, such as charge locations and weight, structural types and forms. Moreover, slight changes of blast loading perhaps result in various responses for such a complicated structure. In this paper, blast loads on single-layer lattice shell are calculated by AUTODYN software package. The effect of scaled distance, ratio of rise to span and ratio of height to span are investigated. Simplification of blast loading is studied, and the principles of equivalent loading process are validated with a 40 meters single-layer Kiewitt-8 reticulated dome. In order to predict the blast loading, a precise and simple model is derived from numerical results, which is suitable for a wide scope of single-layer lattice shells. Two applications with different charge weight, structural spans and forms are worked out by using the blast prediction model. Good agreements of comparisons are achieved between prediction model and numerical results.

Ma, XY, Wang, XC, Ngo, HH, Guo, W, Wu, MN & Wang, N 2014, 'Bioassay based luminescent bacteria: Interferences, improvements, and applications', SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, vol. 468, pp. 1-11.
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Due to the merits of being time-saving, cost effective and simple operation, the luminescent bacteria toxicity assay (LBTA) has been widely used for environmental pollution monitoring. Based on numerous studies since 2007, this critical review aims to give an overview on the mechanisms, developments and applications of LBTA. Firstly, based on the introduction of the mechanisms of LBTA, this review shows the interferences from the characteristics of testing samples (such as inorganic nutrients, color, turbidity) and summarizes the improvements on pretreatment method, test methods and test systems in recent years. Regarding the factors that affect the toxicity prediction of single chemicals, the correlation between the toxicity index expressed asmedian effective concentration (EC50) and characters (such as Kow, the alkyl chain length, the anion and the cation) of known chemicals, especially the emerging ionic liquids (ILs), were given an in-depth discussion. The models for predicting the joint effect of mixtures to luminescent bacteria were also presented. For the factors that affect the toxicity of actual waters, the correlation of toxicity of actual samples to luminescent bacteria and their conventional indexes were discussed. Comparing the sensitivity of the LBTA with other bioassays could indicate the feasibility of the LBTA applied on specific samples. The summary on the application of LBTA to environmental samples has been made to find the future research direction.

Mahlia, TMI, Saktisahdan, TJ, Jannifar, A, Hasan, MH & Matseelar, HSC 2014, 'A review of available methods and development on energy storage; technology update', Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 33, pp. 532-545.
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Mahlia, TMI, Wong, KV, Honnery, D & Hasan, MH 2014, 'Sensitivity analysis of potential fuel savings by implementation of fuel economy standards for motorcycle', Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 175-182.
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Mainali, B, Pham, TTN, Ngo, HH, Guo, W, Listowski, A, O'Halloran, K, Miechel, C, Muthukaruppan, M & Johnston, R 2014, 'Introduction and feasibility assessment of laundry use of recycled water in dual reticulation systems in Australia', SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, vol. 470, pp. 34-43.
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Laundry is a potential new end use of recycled water in dual reticulation systems. Generally, the community is willing to accept this new end use if it can meet the concerns on health issues, durability of washing machine, cloth quality and aesthetic appearance. This study addresses all these major concerns thereby assisting in the introduction and promotion of this new end use in the existing and proposed dual reticulation systems. Five representative cloth materials were selected for washing in tap water and in recycled water for up to 50 wash cycles for comparative studies. The tearing/tensile strength tests were used for the assessment of cloth durability. ANOVA one way test was applied for the significance analysis (Tukey's test p. <. 0.05) which indicated that there is no significant change in the tensile/tearing strengths of washed cloth samples. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the washed cloth samples found no distinct change in surface morphology. Textile colour analysis (CIEDE2000) analysed the variation in colour of the washed cloth samples and showed that the change in colour {increment}E ranges from 0-1 revealing no visible difference in colour of cloth samples. Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) was used as the indicator for predicting corrosive/scaling potential of recycled water. The LSI values ranged from +. 0.5 to - 0.5, indicating no corrosive or scaling potential of recycled water. The microbiological study of the cloth samples washed in recycled water indicated that there was no contamination with representative bacteria. As the recycled water has similar effects like tap water on cloth and washing machine, it is safe to use for laundry. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Makki Alamdari, M, Li, J & Samali, B 2014, 'FRF-based damage localization method with noise suppression approach', Journal of Sound and Vibration, vol. 333, no. 14, pp. 3305-3320.
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Manap, MA, Nampak, H, Pradhan, B, Lee, S, Sulaiman, WNA & Ramli, MF 2014, 'Application of probabilistic-based frequency ratio model in groundwater potential mapping using remote sensing data and GIS', Arabian Journal of Geosciences, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 711-724.
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Mansoury, B & Tabatabaiefar, HR 2014, 'Application Of Sustainable Design Principles To Increase Energy Efficiency Of Existing Buildings', Building Research Journal, vol. 61, no. 3, pp. 167-177.
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AbstractThis study investigates the effectiveness of different energy retrofitting techniques and examines the impact of employing those methods on energy consumption of existing residential buildings. Based on the research findings, the most effective and practical method of retrofitting has been proposed in order to improve energy efficiency of existing buildings. In order to achieve this goal, an existing residential building has been simulated in FirstRate 5 software so as to determine the existing thermal performance of the building. Afterwards, considering sustainable design principles, different insulation layers, glazing, and construction materials have been employed to conduct a comprehensive thermal performance study. Based on the research outcomes, the best technique for increasing energy efficiency of existing buildings and reducing their environmental impact and footprint has been identified and proposed for practical purposes.

Masum, BM, Kalam, MA, Masjuki, HH, Palash, SM & Fattah, IMR 2014, 'Performance and emission analysis of a multi cylinder gasoline engine operating at different alcohol–gasoline blends', RSC Adv., vol. 4, no. 53, pp. 27898-27904.
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Alcohols are potential renewable alternatives for gasoline because of their bio-based origin.

Masum, BM, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Palash, SM, Wakil, MA & Imtenan, S 2014, 'Tailoring the key fuel properties using different alcohols (C 2 –C 6 ) and their evaluation in gasoline engine', Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 88, pp. 382-390.
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McKenzie, TG, Wong, EHH, Fu, Q, Lam, SJ, Dunstan, DE & Qiao, GG 2014, 'Highly Efficient and Versatile Formation of Biocompatible Star Polymers in Pure Water and Their Stimuli-Responsive Self-Assembly', Macromolecules, vol. 47, no. 22, pp. 7869-7877.
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Mehrali, M, Tahan Latibari, S, Mehrali, M, Mahlia, TMI & Cornelis Metselaar, HS 2014, 'Effect of carbon nanospheres on shape stabilization and thermal behavior of phase change materials for thermal energy storage', Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 88, pp. 206-213.
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Mehrali, M, Tahan Latibari, S, Mehrali, M, Mahlia, TMI, Sadeghinezhad, E & Metselaar, HSC 2014, 'Preparation of nitrogen-doped graphene/palmitic acid shape stabilized composite phase change material with remarkable thermal properties for thermal energy storage', Applied Energy, vol. 135, pp. 339-349.
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Mobarak, HM, Masjuki, HH, Mohamad, EN, Kalam, MA, Rashedul, HK, Rashed, MM & Habibullah, M 2014, 'Tribological properties of amorphous hydrogenated (a-C:H) and hydrogen-free tetrahedral (ta-C) diamond-like carbon coatings under jatropha biodegradable lubricating oil at different temperatures', Applied Surface Science, vol. 317, pp. 581-592.
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Mobarak, HM, Niza Mohamad, E, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Al Mahmud, KAH, Habibullah, M & Ashraful, AM 2014, 'The prospects of biolubricants as alternatives in automotive applications', Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 33, pp. 34-43.
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Mofijur, M, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Atabani, AE, Arbab, MI, Cheng, SF & Gouk, SW 2014, 'Properties and use of Moringa oleifera biodiesel and diesel fuel blends in a multi-cylinder diesel engine', Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 82, pp. 169-176.
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Mofijur, M, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Atabani, AE, Fattah, IMR & Mobarak, HM 2014, 'Comparative evaluation of performance and emission characteristics of Moringa oleifera and Palm oil based biodiesel in a diesel engine', Industrial Crops and Products, vol. 53, pp. 78-84.
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Mohammed, OI, Saeidi, V, Pradhan, B & Yusuf, YA 2014, 'Advanced differential interferometry synthetic aperture radar techniques for deformation monitoring: a review on sensors and recent research development', Geocarto International, vol. 29, no. 5, pp. 536-553.
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Mohottige, NW, Wu, C & Hao, H 2014, 'Characteristics of Free Air Blast Loading Due to Simultaneously Detonated Multiple Charges', International Journal of Structural Stability and Dynamics, vol. 14, no. 04, pp. 1450002-1450002.
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Extensive research has been conducted to investigate the characteristics of blast load due to single charge explosion, including numerical simulations and experimental blast tests in both unconfined and confined environments. Further, available guidelines for blast resistant design such as UFC-3-340-02 (2008) and ASCE 59-11 (2011) provide details to predict blast loads on a structure subjected to single charge explosion. However, blast load characteristics due to multiple charge explosions are poorly discussed in available literature. In this paper, commercially available Hydrocode, AUTODYN is calibrated for single charge explosions. Based on a comparison between numerical simulation and UFC prediction, correction factors for peak reflected pressure and positive reflected impulse as a function of charge weight, scaled distance and mesh size of the numerical model are proposed to minimize the errors in simulations. The calibrated AUTODYN model is then used to conduct parametric studies to investigate the effects of charge weight, scaled distance, number of charges and distance between the charges on the characteristics of free air blast load due to simultaneous detonated multiple charges. Numerical simulation results are used to derive analytical formulas for predictions of peak reflected pressure ratio and positive reflected impulse ratio between single and multiple explosions. The discussion is made on characteristics of free air blast load due to simultaneous detonated multiple charges.

Mueller, J & Stewart, MG 2014, 'Evaluating Counterterrorism Spending', Journal of Economic Perspectives, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 237-248.
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In this article, we present a simple back-of-the-envelope approach for evaluating whether counterterrorism security measures reduce risk sufficiently to justify their costs. The approach uses only four variables: the consequences of a successful attack, the likelihood of a successful attack, the degree to which the security measure reduces risk, and the cost of the security measure. After measuring the cost of a counterterrorism measure, we explore a range of outcomes for the costs of terrorist attacks and a range of possible estimates for how much risk might be reduced by the measure. Then working from this mix of information and assumptions, we can calculate how many terrorist attacks (and of what size) would need to be averted to justify the cost of the counterterrorism measure in narrow cost–benefit terms. To illustrate this approach, we first apply it to the overall increases in domestic counterterrorism expenditures that have taken place since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and alternatively we apply it to just the FBI's counterterrorism efforts. We then evaluate evidence on the number and size of terrorist attacks that have actually been averted or might have been averted since 9/11.

Mueller, J & Stewart, MG 2014, 'Terrorism and counterterrorism in the US: the question of responsible policy-making', The International Journal of Human Rights, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 228-240.
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Officials serving the public are tasked at the most fundamental level to spend funds in a manner that most effectively and efficiently keeps people safe. To do otherwise is irresponsible and, because human lives are at stake, immoral. In the case of counterterrorism policy-making, it is important to evaluate the degree to which any gains in security afforded by counterterrorism measures have been great enough to justify their cost. Risk analysis is an aid to responsible decision-making that does exactly that. We deal with four issues central to this approach, applying them to the hazard presented by terrorism: the cost per saved life, acceptable risk, cost-benefit analysis, and risk communication. We also assess the degree to which risk analysis has been coherently applied to counterterrorism efforts in the US in making or evaluating decisions that have cost taxpayers many hundreds of billions of dollars over the past dozen years. © 2014 Taylor & Francis.

Mustapha, S, Lu, Y, Li, J & Ye, L 2014, 'Damage detection in rebar-reinforced concrete beams based on time reversal of guided waves', Structural Health Monitoring, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 347-358.
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The propagation properties of ultrasonic waves in rebar-reinforced concrete beams were investigated and their ability for damage identification was demonstrated. Rectangular piezoelectric ceramics were attached at the exposed ends of the rebar to monitor the wave transmission along the rebar with and without simulated corrosion, which was introduced in the form of partial removal of material from the rebar. Experimental testing demonstrated that the presence of concrete had a significant influence on the propagation characteristics of guided waves along the rebar. In consideration of the inevitable discrepancies in different concrete beams due to individual specimen preparation and sensor installation, the time-reversal process was applied to identify the damage. A damage index was defined based on the correlation coefficient between the actuated and the reconstructed wave signals. Wavelet transform was applied to overcome the wave conversion difficulty and to reduce the noise in the captured wave signals. Damage of different sizes was introduced and then was correlated with the damage index. Enlarging the damage size resulted in an increase in the level of distortion in the reconstructed wave signals, and consequently, a higher damage index was obtained. The results demonstrate the efficiency of the time-reversal process in identifying damage in rebar-reinforced concrete structures.

Naidu, G, Choi, Y, Jeong, S, Hwang, TM & Vigneswaran, S 2014, 'Experiments and modeling of a vacuum membrane distillation for high saline water', JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 2174-2183.
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Naidu, G, Jeong, S & Vigneswaran, S 2014, 'Influence of feed/permeate velocity on scaling development in a direct contact membrane distillation', Separation and Purification Technology, vol. 125, pp. 291-300.
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In this study the performance and scaling pattern of a direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) was investigated at different feed and permeate flow velocities (vf and vp). The results indicated that both vf and vp influenced DCMD performance and scaling development. A combination setting of vf = 0.8 m s−1 and vp = 1.1 m s−1 resulted in a similar permeate flux as vf and vp = 1.1 m s−1 with a 30% higher recovery ratio and 60% lower pumping energy membrane analysis demonstrated bulk crystallisation tendency at high flow velocity ranges (1.1–2.2 m s−1), while membrane surface crystallisation was dominant at lower flow velocities (0.5–0.8 m s−1). A combination setting (vf = 0.8 m s−1 and vp = 1.1 m s−1) showed beneficial outcome of reduced surface crystallisation tendency.

Naidu, G, Jeong, S, Choi, Y, Jang, E, Hwang, T-M & Vigneswaran, S 2014, 'Application of vacuum membrane distillation for small scale drinking water production', Desalination, vol. 354, pp. 53-61.
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Naidu, G, Jeong, S, Kim, S-J, Kim, IS & Vigneswaran, S 2014, 'Organic fouling behavior in direct contact membrane distillation', Desalination, vol. 347, pp. 230-239.
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Nam, E, Kim, J, Guntari, SN, Seyler, H, Fu, Q, Wong, EHH, Blencowe, A, Jones, DJ, Caruso, F & Qiao, GG 2014, 'Continuous assembly of polymers via solid phase reactions', Chem. Sci., vol. 5, no. 9, pp. 3374-3380.
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The formation of cross-linked polymer films, with tunable thickness, proceeds directionally from the substrate surface by controlled polymerization in the solid state.

Nampak, H, Pradhan, B & Manap, MA 2014, 'Application of GIS based data driven evidential belief function model to predict groundwater potential zonation', Journal of Hydrology, vol. 513, pp. 283-300.
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Nasir, MK, Md Noor, R, Kalam, MA & Masum, BM 2014, 'Reduction of Fuel Consumption and Exhaust Pollutant Using Intelligent Transport Systems', The Scientific World Journal, vol. 2014, pp. 1-13.
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Greenhouse gas emitted by the transport sector around the world is a serious issue of concern. To minimize such emission the automobile engineers have been working relentlessly. Researchers have been trying hard to switch fossil fuel to alternative fuels and attempting to various driving strategies to make traffic flow smooth and to reduce traffic congestion and emission of greenhouse gas. Automobile emits a massive amount of pollutants such as Carbon Monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), carbon dioxide (CO2), particulate matter (PM), and oxides of nitrogen (NOx). Intelligent transport system (ITS) technologies can be implemented to lower pollutant emissions and reduction of fuel consumption. This paper investigates the ITS techniques and technologies for the reduction of fuel consumption and minimization of the exhaust pollutant. It highlights the environmental impact of the ITS application to provide the state-of-art green solution. A case study also advocates that ITS technology reduces fuel consumption and exhaust pollutant in the urban environment.

Nateghi, F, Shon, HK & Khabbaz, H 2014, 'Development of a new poly silicate ferric coagulant and its application to coagulation- membrane filtration hybrid system in wastewater treatment', DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT, vol. 52, no. 4-6, pp. 663-669.
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Coagulation is one of the effective pretreatment stages in membrane filtration of wastewaters to produce clean water. Using a suitable coagulant, one can mitigate membrane fouling. Membrane fouling is a process where particles deposit onto a membrane surface or into membrane pores in a way that degrades the membrane's performance. Research in this area is currently being focused on development of improved coagulation reagents such as poly silicate ferric (PSiFe), which has a high molecular weight and large number of positive surface charges with high efficiency at low doses. In this paper, PSiFe was prepared by following two approaches: (a) acidification of water glass solution using HCl followed by FeCl3 addition (old-PSiFe); (b) acidification of water glass solution by passing it through an acidic ion exchange resin followed by fresh FeCl3 addition under different Fe/Si molar ratios (new-PSiFe). These coagulants were characterised by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. According to coagulation jar test results when Fe/Si = 1, the best performance was achieved in terms of turbidity, total organic carbon (TOC) and UV254 removals. Another aspect is the comparison of the old-PSiFe, FeCl3 and new-PSiFe which showed that in a membrane filtration system, using the new-PSiFe not only reduces the required transmembrane pressure (TMP) due to lower fouling, but also improves the TOC removal efficiency. © 2013 © 2013 Balaban Desalination Publications. All rights reserved.

Neshat, A, Pradhan, B & Dadras, M 2014, 'Groundwater vulnerability assessment using an improved DRASTIC method in GIS', Resources, Conservation and Recycling, vol. 86, pp. 74-86.
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Neshat, A, Pradhan, B & Shafri, HZM 2014, 'An Integrated GIS Based Statistical Model to Compute Groundwater Vulnerability Index for Decision Maker in Agricultural Area', Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, vol. 42, no. 4, pp. 777-788.
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Neshat, A, Pradhan, B, Pirasteh, S & Shafri, HZM 2014, 'Estimating groundwater vulnerability to pollution using a modified DRASTIC model in the Kerman agricultural area, Iran', Environmental Earth Sciences, vol. 71, no. 7, pp. 3119-3131.
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Nghiem, LD, Nguyen, TT, Manassa, P, Fitzgerald, SK, Dawson, M & Vierboom, S 2014, 'Co-digestion of sewage sludge and crude glycerol for on-demand biogas production', International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, vol. 95, pp. 160-166.
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Ngo, NT, Indraratna, B & Rujikiatkamjorn, C 2014, 'DEM simulation of the behaviour of geogrid stabilised ballast fouled with coal', Computers and Geotechnics, vol. 55, pp. 224-231.
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Geogrids are commonly used in railway construction for reinforcement and stabilisation. When railway ballast becomes fouled due to ballast breakage, infiltration of coal fines, dust and subgrade soil pumping, the reinforcement effect of geogrids decreases significantly. This paper presents results obtained from Discrete Element Method (DEM) to study the interface behaviour of coal-fouled ballast reinforced by geogrid subjected to direct shear testing. In this study, irregularly-shaped aggregates (ballast) were modelled by clumping together 10-20 spheres in appropriate sizes and positions. The geogrid was modelled by bonding a large number of small spheres together to form the desired grid geometry and apertures. Fouled ballast with 40% Void Contaminant Index (VCI) was modelled by injecting a predetermined number of miniature spheres into the voids of fresh ballast. A series of direct shear tests for fresh and fouled ballast reinforced by the geogrid subjected to normal shear stresses varying from 15. kPa to 75. kPa were then simulated in the DEM. The numerical results showed a good agreement the laboratory data, indicating that the DEM model is able to capture the behaviour of both fresh and coal-fouled ballast reinforced by the geogrid. The advantages of the proposed DEM model in terms of capturing the correct stress-displacement and volumetric behaviour of ballast, as well as the contact forces and strains developed in the geogrids are discussed. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Nguyen, DD, Ngo, HH & Yoon, YS 2014, 'A new hybrid treatment system of bioreactors and electrocoagulation for superior removal of organic and nutrient pollutants from municipal wastewater', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 153, pp. 116-125.
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This paper evaluated a novel pilot scale hybrid treatment system which combines rotating hanging media bioreactor (RHMBR), submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) along with electrocoagulation (EC) as post treatment to treat organic and nutrient pollutants from municipal wastewater. The results indicated that the highest removal efficiency was achieved at the internal recycling ratio as 400% of the influent flow rate which produced a superior effluent quality with 0.26 mgBOD5 L-1, 11.46 mgCODCr L-1, 0.00 mgNH4-N L-1, and 3.81 mgT-N L-1, 0.03 mgT-P L-1. During 16 months of operation, NH4-N was completely eliminated and T-P removal efficiency was also up to 100%. It was found that increasing in internal recycling ratio could improve the nitrate and nitrogen removal efficiencies. Moreover, the TSS and coliform bacteria concentration after treatment was less than 5 mg L-1 and 30 PN mL-1, respectively, regardless of internal recycling ratios and its influent concentration.

Nguyen, DD, Ngo, HH, Kim, SD & Yoon, YS 2014, 'A specific pilot-scale membrane hybrid treatment system for municipal wastewater treatment', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 169, pp. 52-61.
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A specifically designed pilot-scale hybrid wastewater treatment system integrating an innovative equalizing reactor (EQ), rotating hanging media bioreactor (RHMBR) and submerged flat sheet membrane bioreactor (SMBR) was evaluated for its effectiveness in practical, long-term, real-world applications. The pilot system was operated at a constant flux, but with different internal recycle flow rates (Q) over a long-term operating of 475 days. At 4Q internal recycle flow rate, BOD5, CODCr, NH4+-N, T-N, T-P and TSS was highly removed with efficiencies up to 99.88 ± 0.05%, 95.01 ± 1.62%, 100%, 90.42 ± 2.43%, 73.44 ± 6.03%, and 99.93 ± 0.28%, respectively. Furthermore, the effluent quality was also superior in terms of turbidity (<1 NTU), color (<15 TCU) and taste (inoffensive). The results indicated that with providing only chemically cleaned-in-place (CIP) during the entire period of operation, the membrane could continuously maintain a constant permeate flux of 22.77 ± 2.19 L/m2 h. In addition, the power consumption was also found to be reasonably low (0.921.62 kWh/m3).

Nguyen, LD, Fatahi, B & Khabbaz, H 2014, 'A constitutive model for cemented clays capturing cementation degradation', INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PLASTICITY, vol. 56, pp. 1-18.
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Laboratory experiments show that the effect of cementation on clays gradually diminishes as the confining pressure increases (particularly at high confining pressures) due to the degradation of cementation bonds. The main aim of this paper is to propose a constitutive model for cemented clays, referred to as the Cemented Cam Clay model (CCC), to simulate the cementation degradation during loading. The failure envelope of the proposed model is formulated to describe the behaviour of the cemented clay at a low pressure range similar to over-consolidated soils, while it merges with the Critical State Line of reconstituted sample gradually as the confining pressure continues to increase. In order to examine the stress-strain behaviour of cemented clays, an energy dissipation equation is developed inspired by the Modified Cam Clay model. The characteristics of the proposed model, including a non-associated plastic potential function and elasto-plastic stress-strain relationship, are presented in light of the Critical State concept. Validity of the proposed constitutive model derived from the modified energy equation is evaluated against triaxial test results for cemented clays available in literature. © 2014 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nguyen, LN, Hai, FI, Kang, J, Leusch, FDL, Roddick, F, Magram, SF, Price, WE & Nghiem, LD 2014, 'Enhancement of trace organic contaminant degradation by crude enzyme extract from Trametes versicolor culture: Effect of mediator type and concentration', Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers, vol. 45, no. 4, pp. 1855-1862.
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Nguyen, LN, Hai, FI, Price, WE, Leusch, FDL, Roddick, F, Ngo, HH, Guo, W, Magram, SF & Nghiem, LD 2014, 'The effects of mediator and granular activated carbon addition on degradation of trace organic contaminants by an enzymatic membrane reactor', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 167, pp. 169-177.
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The removal of four recalcitrant trace organic contaminants (TrOCs), namely carbamazepine, diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole and atrazine by laccase in an enzymatic membrane reactor (EMR) was studied. Laccases are not effective for degrading non-phenolic compounds; nevertheless, 2255% removal of these four TrOCs was achieved by the laccase EMR. Addition of the redox-mediator syringaldehyde (SA) to the EMR resulted in a notable dose-dependent improvement (1545%) of TrOC removal affected by inherent TrOC properties and loading rates. However, SA addition resulted in a concomitant increase in the toxicity of the treated effluent. A further 1425% improvement in aqueous phase removal of the TrOCs was consistently observed following a one-off dosing of 3 g/L granular activated carbon (GAC). Mass balance analysis reveals that this improvement was not due solely to adsorption but also enhanced biodegradation. GAC addition also reduced membrane fouling and the SA-induced toxicity of the effluent.

Nguyen, LN, Hai, FI, Yang, S, Kang, J, Leusch, FDL, Roddick, F, Price, WE & Nghiem, LD 2014, 'Removal of pharmaceuticals, steroid hormones, phytoestrogens, UV-filters, industrial chemicals and pesticides by Trametes versicolor: Role of biosorption and biodegradation', International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation, vol. 88, pp. 169-175.
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Nguyen, TAH, Ngo, HH, Guo, WS, Nguyen, TV, Zhang, J, Liang, S, Chen, SS & Nguyen, NC 2014, 'A comparative study on different metal loaded soybean milk by-product 'okara' for biosorption of phosphorus from aqueous solution', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 169, pp. 291-298.
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Cationization of agricultural by-products using metal salts is widely used to activate their phosphorous capture ability. This study developed three kinds ofnew metal loaded soybean milk by-product `okara for phosphorus biosorption. A comparative study among these biosorbents was carried out with respect to their performances in terms of affinity, stability and reusability. Zirconium loaded okara (ZLO) was found to have the highest affinity towards PO43- anions (47.88 mg/g), followed by iron/zirconium loaded okara IZLO (40.96 mg/g) and iron loaded okara ILO (16.39 mg/g). ZLO was successfully desorbed with 0.2 M NaOH and activated with 0.1 HCl prior to the next cycle. After five consecutive cycles, the efficiency of both adsorption and desorption of ZLO remained about 85% whilst no Zr(IV) leakage was observed. Conversely, IZLO and ILO suffered from vitalshortcomingssuch ashigh metal release and/or sharp reduction in PO43- sequestering capability after multi operation cycles.

Nguyen, TAH, Ngo, HH, Guo, WS, Zhang, J, Liang, S, Lee, DJ, Nguyen, PD & Bui, XT 2014, 'Modification of agricultural waste/by-products for enhanced phosphate removal and recovery: Potential and obstacles', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 169, pp. 750-762.
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There is a growing trend to employ agricultural waste/by-products (AWBs) as the substrates for the development of phosphate biosorbents. Nevertheless, due to the lack of anion binding sites, natural AWBs are usually inefficient in phosphate decontamination. Consequently, modification plays a vital role in improving phosphate sorption's property of raw AWBs. This review paper evaluates all existing methods of modification. The literatures indicate that modification can significantly improve phosphate removal ability of AWBs by retaining phosphate ion onto modified AWBs principally via ion exchange (electrostatic interaction) and ligand exchange mechanisms. So far, little work has been done on the beneficial use of modified AWBs for the phosphorus recovery from aqueous solutions. The poor recyclability of modified AWBs could be responsible for their limited application. Hence, further study is essential to search for novel, cost-effective, and green methods of modification. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Nguyen, TAH, Ngo, HH, Guo, WS, Zhou, JL, Wang, J, Liang, H & Li, G 2014, 'Phosphorus elimination from aqueous solution using 'zirconium loaded okara' as a biosorbent', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 170, pp. 30-37.
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This work deals with the capture of phosphorus from aqueous solutions by biosorption onto zirconium loaded okara (ZLO). The batch-mode experiments were conducted to examine the effect of pH, biosorbent dose, initial phosphorus concentration, contact time, and temperature on the process. It was found that, the adsorption was most favored in the pH range of 2-6. The optimal doses for the adsorption, at initial phosphorus concentrations of 5, 10, 25, 50mg/L were 2, 3, 7, 10g/L, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of ZLO was approximately 44.13mg PO4/g at 298K. The phosphate removal was rapid, reaching 95% in 30min. Freundlich model best fitted the equilibrium data, while Pseudo-second order model satisfactorily described the kinetic results. Thermodynamic analysis revealed feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic nature of the process. The research would be beneficial for developing a promising, eco-friendly phosphorus biosorbent from a plentiful AWB - okara. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Nguyen, TC, Loganathan, P, Nguyen, TV, Vigneswaran, S, Kandasamy, J, Slee, D, Stevenson, G & Naidu, R 2014, 'Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in road-deposited sediments, water sediments, and soils in Sydney, Australia: Comparisons of concentration distribution, sources and potential toxicity', ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY, vol. 104, no. 1, pp. 339-348.
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Sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) considered as priority environmental pollutants were analysed in surface natural soils (NS), road-deposited sediments (RDS), and water sediments (WS) at Kogarah in Sydney, Australia. Comparisons were made of their concentration distributions, likely sources and potential toxicities. The concentrations (mg/kg) in NS, RDS, and WS ranged from 0.40 to 7.49 (mean 2.80), 1.65 to 4.00 (mean 2.91), and 0.49 to 5.19 (mean 1.76), respectively. PAHs were dominated by relatively high molecular weight compounds with more than three fused benzene rings, indicating that high temperature combustion processes were their predominant sources. The proportions of high molecular weight PAHs with five or six fused benzene rings were higher in NS than in RDS, whereas the low molecular weight PAHs were higher in RDS. Concentrations of all PAHs compounds were observed to be the lowest in WS. The concentrations of most of the high molecular weight PAHs significantly correlated with each other in RDS and WS. All PAHs (except naphthalene) were significantly correlated in NS suggesting a common PAH source. Ratios for individual diagnostic PAHs demonstrated that the primary source of PAHs in WS and NS was of pyrogenic origin (combustion of petroleum (vehicle exhaust), grass, and wood) while in RDS it was petrogenic (i.e. unburned or leaked fuel and oil, road asphalt, and tyre particles) as well as pyrogenic. The potential toxicities of PAHs calculated using a toxicity equivalent quotient (TEQ) were all low but higher for NS compared to WS and RDS. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.

Nguyen, TV, Jeong, S, Pham, TTN, Kandasamy, J & Vigneswaran, S 2014, 'Effect of granular activated carbon filter on the subsequent flocculation in seawater treatment', Desalination, vol. 354, pp. 9-16.
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© 2014 Elsevier B.V. In this study, a granular activated carbon (GAC) filter was used to remove organics from seawater. The effect of GAC filtration on the subsequent treating of seawater by flocculation was evaluated through Jar test experiments and submerged membrane coagulation hybrid system (SMCHS). GAC filtration removed 70% of low molecular weight (LMW) neutrals and acids from seawater which helped to reduce the biofouling of membrane. GAC filtration also helped to reduce flocculant dose significantly. Relatively high doses of ferric chloride (FeCl3 3mg/L) and poly-ferric sulfate (PFS 2mg/L) were normally needed to obtain high organic removal when flocculation was used without the pretreatment of GAC filter adsorption. The use of GAC filtration prior to the application of SMCHS reduced the flocculant dosage to 1mg/L to achieve the same removal. The subsequent flocculation by different flocculants such as ferric chloride (FeCl3) and poly-ferric sulfate (PFS) was found to be able to remove biopolymers which were not effectively removed by the pretreatment (GAC filtration). The technical and cost analyses made showed that a combination of GAC filtration and flocculation with low flocculant dose can be a superior technical and economical solution for seawater pretreatment.

Nguyen, TV, Loganathan, P, Vigneswaran, S, Krupanidhi, S, Pham, TTN & Ngo, H-H 2014, 'Arsenic waste from water treatment systems: characteristics, treatments and its disposal', Water Science and Technology-Water Supply, vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 939-950.
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© IWA Publishing 2014. As with other water treatment systems, arsenic treatment creates not only quality water but arsenic waste as well. Management of arsenic waste is now becoming a major public concern due to its harmful effects on the surrounding environment, including serious health problems such as skin cancers and various internal carcinomas. The main aim of this paper is to review: (i) the characteristics of arsenic waste produced by arsenic treatment systems; and (ii) the treatment and disposal methods of this waste. Arsenic waste type or its characteristics play an important role in choosing the best method of treatment and disposal. Currently, encapsulation of arsenic waste through solidification/stabilization (S/S) techniques is considered to be the most attractive solution and this method is the focus of this review. A number of studies have used cement by itself and in combination with additives such as lime, iron, silicates, or fly ash in the S/S process. Although there is a lack of systematic investigations and differing procedures for testing the effectiveness of the treatment methods, it was agreed that incorporating additives could increase the effectiveness of the S/S process depending on the type and dose of additives.

Ni, B-J, Joss, A & Yuan, Z 2014, 'Modeling nitrogen removal with partial nitritation and anammox in one floc-based sequencing batch reactor', Water Research, vol. 67, pp. 321-329.
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Full-scale application of partial nitritation and anammox in a single floc-based sequencing batch reactor (SBR) has been achieved for high-rate nitrogen (N) removal, but mechanisms resulting in reliable operation are not well understood. In this work, a mathematical model was calibrated and validated to evaluate operating conditions that lead to out-competition of nitrite oxidizers (NOB) from the SBRs and allow to maintain high anammox activity during long-term operation. The validity of the model was tested using experimental data from two independent previously reported floc-based full-scale SBRs for N-removal via partial nitritation and anammox, with different aeration strategies at aeration phase (continuous vs. intermittent aeration). The model described the SBR cycle profiles and long-term dynamic data from the two SBR plants sufficiently and provided insights into the dynamics of microbial population fractions and N-removal performance. Ammonium oxidation and anammox reaction could occur simultaneously at DO range of 0.15-0.3 mg O2 L(-1) at aeration phase under continuous aeration condition, allowing simplified process control compared to intermittent aeration. The oxygen supply beyond prompt depletion by ammonium oxidizers (AOB) would lead to the growth of NOB competing with anammox for nitrite. NOB could also be washed out of the system and high anammox fractions could be maintained by controlling sludge age higher than 40 days and DO at around 0.2 mg O2 L(-1). Furthermore, the results suggest that N-removal in SBR occurs via both alternating nitritation/anammox and simultaneous nitritation/anammox, supporting an alternative strategy to improve N-removal in this promising treatment process, i.e., different anaerobic phases can be implemented in the SBR-cycle configuration.

Ni, B-J, Peng, L, Law, Y, Guo, J & Yuan, Z 2014, 'Modeling of Nitrous Oxide Production by Autotrophic Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacteria with Multiple Production Pathways', Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 48, no. 7, pp. 3916-3924.
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Autotrophic ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) have been recognized as a major contributor to N2O production in wastewater treatment systems. However, so far N2O models have been proposed based on a single N2O production pathway by AOB, and there is still a lack of effective approach for the integration of these models. In this work, an integrated mathematical model that considers multiple production pathways is developed to describe N2O production by AOB. The pathways considered include the nitrifier denitrification pathway (N2O as the final product of AOB denitrification with NO2(-) as the terminal electron acceptor) and the hydroxylamine (NH2OH) pathway (N2O as a byproduct of incomplete oxidation of NH2OH to NO2(-)). In this model, the oxidation and reduction processes are modeled separately, with intracellular electron carriers introduced to link the two types of processes. The model is calibrated and validated using experimental data obtained with two independent nitrifying cultures. The model satisfactorily describes the N2O data from both systems. The model also predicts shifts of the dominating pathway at various dissolved oxygen (DO) and nitrite levels, consistent with previous hypotheses. This unified model is expected to enhance our ability to predict N2O production by AOB in wastewater treatment systems under varying operational conditions.

Ni, J, Indraratna, B, Geng, XY, Chen, YL & Zhu, Y 2014, 'Experimental study of the combined effect of cyclic stress level and loading frequency on the performance of soft clays', Gongcheng Lixue/Engineering Mechanics, vol. 31, no. 10, pp. 167-173.
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Undrained cyclic triaxial tests were conducted on soft clay to investigate the combined effect of cyclic stress level and loading frequency on the generation of excess pore water pressures and axial strains with the number of loading cycles or time. The results indicate that for a given cyclic stress level, the soil properties under various loading frequencies are slightly different if an identical number of loading cycles is considered, whereas they do not deviate from each other if an identical time is considered. In addition, failure occurs when the cyclic stress level exceeds a critical value irrespective of the loading frequency. The combined effect of a cyclic stress level and a loading frequency was studied by analyzing the strain rate in this stress-controlled cyclic loading test. It is shown that for a given cyclic stress level, the strain rate at various loading frequencies are almost same, implying that the influence of a cyclic stress level on the soft clay behavior is stronger compared to a loading frequency.

Noraini, MY, Ong, HC, Badrul, MJ & Chong, WT 2014, 'A review on potential enzymatic reaction for biofuel production from algae', Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 39, pp. 24-34.
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Nourani, V, Pradhan, B, Ghaffari, H & Sharifi, SS 2014, 'Landslide susceptibility mapping at Zonouz Plain, Iran using genetic programming and comparison with frequency ratio, logistic regression, and artificial neural network models', Natural Hazards, vol. 71, no. 1, pp. 523-547.
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Noushini, A, Samali, B & Vessalas, K 2014, 'Static mechanical properties of polyvinyl alcohol fibre reinforced concrete (PVA-FRC)', MAGAZINE OF CONCRETE RESEARCH, vol. 66, no. 9, pp. 465-483.
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This investigation assessed the performance of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibres of 6 mm and 12 mm length in concrete. Based on total concrete volume, four fibre fractions (0.125, 0.25, 0.375 and 0.5%) were evaluated for their effect on fresh and hardened properties of PVA fibre reinforced concretes (PVA-FRCs). Fly ash was also used as partial replacement of Portland cement in all the mixes. By carrying out a comprehensive set of experiments (compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture and residual flexural strength), it was observed that PVA fibre significantly enhances the static mechanical properties of concrete as well as improving its post-peak response and ductile behaviour.

Noushini, A, Vessalas, K, Arabian, G & Samali, B 2014, 'Drying Shrinkage Behaviour of Fibre Reinforced Concrete Incorporating Polyvinyl Alcohol Fibres and Fly Ash', Advances in Civil Engineering, vol. 2014, pp. 1-10.
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The current study assesses the drying shrinkage behaviour of polyvinyl alcohol fibre reinforced concrete (PVA-FRC) containing short-length (6 mm) and long-length (12 mm) uncoated monofilament PVA fibres at 0.125%, 0.25%, 0.375%, and 0.5% volumetric fractions. Fly ash is also used as a partial replacement of Portland cement in all mixes. PVA-FRC mixes have been compared to length change of control concrete (devoid of fibres) at 3 storage intervals: early-age (0–7 days), short-term (0–28 days), and long-term (28–112 days) intervals. The shrinkage results of FRC and control concrete up to 112 days indicated that all PVA-FRC mixes exhibited higher drying shrinkage than control. The shrinkage exhibited by PVA-FRC mixes ranged from 449 to 480 microstrain, where this value was only 427 microstrain in the case of control. In addition, the longer fibres exhibited higher mass loss, thus potentially contributing to higher shrinkage.

Nur, T, Johir, MAH, Loganathan, P, Nguyen, T, Vigneswaran, S & Kandasamy, J 2014, 'Phosphate removal from water using an iron oxide impregnated strong base anion exchange resin', JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 1301-1307.
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Removing phosphate from water is important as it causes eutrophication, which in turn has a harmful effect on aquatic life, resulting in a reduction in biodiversity. On the other hand, recovery of phosphate from phosphorus containing wastewater is essential for developing an alternative source of phosphorus to overcome the global challenge of phosphorus scarcity. Phosphate removal from aqueous solutions was studied using an iron oxide impregnated strong base anion exchange resin, Purolite FerrIX A33E in batch and fixed-bed column experiments. Phosphate adsorption in the batch study satisfactorily fitted to the Langmuir isotherm with a maximum adsorption capacity of 48mgP/g. In the column study, increase in inlet phosphate concentration (5-30 mgP/L), and filtration velocity (2.5-10 m/h) resulted in faster breakthrough times and increase in breakthrough adsorption capacities. Increase in bed height (3-19 cm) also increased adsorption capacity but the breakthrough time was slower. The breakthrough data were reasonably well described using the empirical models of Bohart-Adams, Thomas, and Yoon-Nelson, except for high bed heights. Phosphate adsorbed was effectively desorbed using 1M NaOH and the adsorbent was regenerated after each of three adsorption/desorption cycles by maintaining the adsorption capacity at >90% of the original value. Greater than 99.5% of the desorbed P was recovered by precipitation using CaCl2. © 2013 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry.

Nur, T, Loganathan, P, Nguyen, TC, Vigneswaran, S, Singh, G & Kandasamy, J 2014, 'Batch and column adsorption and desorption of fluoride using hydrous ferric oxide: Solution chemistry and modeling', CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL, vol. 247, pp. 93-102.
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Elevated intake of fluoride (F), mainly through drinking water, is a major threat to human health worldwide. A study was conducted to remove F from aqueous solution by adsorption onto hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) in batch and fixed-bed column experiments. Of the seven adsorbents (four anion exchange resins, three multivalent metal oxides) tested, HFO had the highest adsorption capacity. Fluoride adsorption on HFO fitted well to Langmuir and Freundlich models with a Langmuir adsorption maximum of 6.71mg F/g at pH 6.5. Fluoride adsorption continuously decreased from pH 3 to 7. Point of zero charge of HFO was pH 5 which fell to pH 4 in the presence of 10mg F/L and 1g HFO/L, indicating that F was specifically adsorbed on HFO. Fluoride was not desorbed by 0.1M NaCl and 0.1M Na2SO4 but effectively desorbed by 0.1M NaOH. The F adsorption capacity in column experiments (10% or 20% HFO+90% or 80% anthracite) was progressively reduced with increasing number of adsorption/NaOH desorption cycles up to three cycles reaching a final value of 3.26mg F/g HFO. The breakthrough data from column studies at different bed heights, inlet concentrations, and pHs were fairly well described by Thomas model, but using an artificial neural network approach improved the model capability. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.

Nur, T, Shim, WG, Johir, MAH, Vigneswaran, S & Kandasamy, J 2014, 'Modelling of phosphorus removal by ion-exchange resin (Purolite FerrIX A33E) in fixed-bed column experiments', Desalination and Water Treatment, vol. 52, no. 4-6, pp. 784-790.
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Phosphorus removal is important as it causes eutrophication that in turn has a harmful effect on fish and other aquatic life, resulting in a reduction in biodiversity as well as unfavourable human environmental health. In this study, phosphorus removal from aqueous solutions was studied using an ion-exchange resin (Purolite FerrIX A33E) in fixed-bed column experiments. The effects of adsorbent bed height (3-19 cm) on the breakthrough characteristics of the adsorption system were studied. An increase in bed height (3-19 cm) increased adsorption capacity but the breakthrough time was shorter. As the bed height increased, the detention time increased and the phosphate was in contact with the purolite ion-exchange resin for a longer time, resulting in more efficient removal of phosphate. The shape of breakthrough curve was steeper for a shorter bed height. A mathematical model (advection-dispersion equation) was solved numerically to predict the dynamic behaviour of the columns. Finally, sensitivity analysis results apparently revealed that the dynamic adsorption behaviours of phosphate in Purolite FerrIX A33E were mainly controlled by the external mass transfer rather than the axial dispersion and the intra-particle diffusion. © 2013 © 2013 Balaban Desalination Publications. All rights reserved.

Ong, HC, Masjuki, HH, Mahlia, TMI, Silitonga, AS, Chong, WT & Leong, KY 2014, 'Optimization of biodiesel production and engine performance from high free fatty acid Calophyllum inophyllum oil in CI diesel engine', Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 81, pp. 30-40.
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Ong, HC, Masjuki, HH, Mahlia, TMI, Silitonga, AS, Chong, WT & Yusaf, T 2014, 'Engine performance and emissions using Jatropha curcas, Ceiba pentandra and Calophyllum inophyllum biodiesel in a CI diesel engine', Energy, vol. 69, pp. 427-445.
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Palash, SM, Kalam, MA, Masjuki, HH, Arbab, MI, Masum, BM & Sanjid, A 2014, 'Impacts of NOx reducing antioxidant additive on performance and emissions of a multi-cylinder diesel engine fueled with Jatropha biodiesel blends', Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 77, pp. 577-585.
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Pang, SC, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA & Hazrat, MA 2014, 'Transient simulation of coolant peak temperature due to prolonged fan and/or water pump operation after the vehicle is keyed-off', Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 39-56.
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Pang, YL, Lim, S, Ong, HC & Chong, WT 2014, 'A critical review on the recent progress of synthesizing techniques and fabrication of TiO2-based nanotubes photocatalysts', Applied Catalysis A: General, vol. 481, pp. 127-142.
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Park, C-H, Kim, EK, Tijing, LD, Amarjargal, A, Pant, HR, Kim, CS & Shon, HK 2014, 'Preparation and characterization of LA/PCL composite fibers containing beta tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) particles', Ceramics International, vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 5049-5054.
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Beta-TCP (β-TCP) particle-containing LA/PCL micro/nanofibers were fabricated via a one-step electrospinning process. The morphology and chemical structure of the composite nanofibers were characterized by FESEM, XRD, and FTIR. Rougher surfaces were observed for the LA/PCL micro/nanofibers containing β-TCP compared to the neat LA/PCL fibers, which could possibly provide extra sites for cell binding. XRD and FTIR confirmed the presence of β-TCP as being firmly deposited on the fibers. After an immersion in distilled water, we observed that the β-TCP-containing composite fibers were more degradable with many damaged and broken fibers compared to the LA/PCL fibers. MTT assay and immersion test showed better cell viability and proliferation, and improved mineralization ability compared to the LA/PCL only mat. Thus, the incorporation of β-TCP and the presence of LA in PCL micro/nanofibers could result to an improved biocompatibility and faster degradation of the composite fibers, which would possibly be useful for tissue scaffold application.

Park, CH, Tijing, LD, Kim, CS & Lee, K-M 2014, 'Needle-free transdermal delivery using PLGA nanoparticles: Effect of particle size, injection pressure and syringe orifice diameter', Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces, vol. 123, pp. 710-715.
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Park, CH, Tijing, LD, Shon, HK & Kim, CS 2014, 'Silicone-coatingof nitinol stent wires by electrospinning: Catheter deployment test', Digest Journal of Nanomaterials and Biostructures, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 1-6.
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In this study, we investigated the effect of silicone-coating of individual wires on the deployment force of a non-vascular stent. As a new strategy, we utilized an electrospinning technique to selectively coat the wires of the stent, not including the spaces between the intersecting stent wires. We characterized the stent coating and wires with various characterization techniques. The tensile properties of the silicone film at different drying temperatures were measured and catheter deployment test was carried out. Fully silicone film-encapsulated Nitinolwires were obtained after drying at 150 and 200°C. The siliconecoated stent showed lower deployment force compared to the bare stent. This is attributed to the smoother surface provided by the silicone coating. Furthermore, the coating enhances the bending ability of the stent. The facile coating technique could provide improve catheter stent deployment as well as improve the biocompatibility of the stent.

Parsa-Pajouh, A, Fatahi, B, Vincent, P & Khabbaz, H 2014, 'Analyzing consolidation data to predict smear zone characteristics induced by vertical drain installation for soft soil improvement', GEOMECHANICS AND ENGINEERING, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 105-131.
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In this paper, the effects of variability of smear zone characteristics induced by installation of prefabricated vertical drains on the preloading design are investigated employing analytical and numerical approaches. Conventional radial consolidation theory has been adopted to conduct analytical parametric studies considering variations of smear zone permeability and extent. FLAC 2D finite difference software has been employed to conduct the numerical simulations. The finite difference analyses have been verified using three case studies including two embankments and a large-scale laboratory consolidometer with a central geosynthetic vertical drain. A comprehensive numerical parametric study is conducted to investigate the influence of smear zone permeability and extent on the model predictions. Furthermore, the construction of the trial embankment is recommended as a reliable solution to estimate accurate smear zone properties and minimise the post construction settlement. A back-calculation procedure is employed to determine the minimum required waiting time after construction of the trial embankment to predict the smear zone characteristics precisely. Results of this study indicate that the accurate smear zone permeability and extent can be back-calculated when 30% degree of consolidation is obtained after construction of the trial embankment. © 2014 Techno-Press, Ltd.

Parsa-Pajouh, A, Fatahi, B, Vincent, P & Khabbaz, H 2014, 'Trial Embankment Analysis to Predict Smear Zone Characteristics Induced by Prefabricated Vertical Drain Installation', Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, vol. 32, no. 5, pp. 1187-1210.
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© 2014, Springer International Publishing Switzerland. In this study, FLAC finite difference software has been adopted to simulate the performance of the ground improved using prefabricated vertical drains assisted preloading, considering smear zone characteristics. The numerical code has been applied to predict smear zone properties employing a back calculation procedure using the results of several case studies. The construction of a trial embankment is proposed as a reliable method to predict the smear zone characteristics. The proposed back calculation method is applied to estimate the minimum required degree of consolidation and consequently the minimum required preloading time, resulting in a reliable estimation of the smear zone permeability and extent. Three preloading case studies considering both conventional preloading and vacuum assisted preloading have been simulated to verify the numerical code and to conduct the parametric study using the back calculation procedure. According to the results, the properties of the smear zone can be back-calculated reliably, when at least 33 % degree of consolidation due to trial embankment construction is achieved.

Peng, L & Stewart, MG 2014, 'Spatial time-dependent reliability analysis of corrosion damage to RC structures with climate change', Magazine of Concrete Research, vol. 66, no. 22, pp. 1154-1169.
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The environment around concrete structures may be influenced by a changing climate, especially in the long run, leading to an acceleration of deterioration. Therefore, the safety, serviceability and durability of concrete infrastructure may decline at a faster rate than expected. Carbonation-induced deterioration to concrete structures constructed in Sydney, Australia and Kunming, China under a changing climate is investigated in this paper. Two emissions scenarios are considered – RCP 8.5 and RCP 4.5, representing high and medium greenhouse gas emissions scenarios respectively. The spatial time-dependent reliability analysis includes time-dependent climate scenarios and deterioration processes, as well as a large number of random variables and spatial random fields of material properties and dimensions. The surface of concrete structures is discretised into a large number of elements and the likelihood and extent of corrosion damage is calculated by tracking the evolution of the corrosion process of each element using Monte Carlo simulations. The results show that a changing climate could cause the extent of damage to increase by up to 6% for reinforced concrete infrastructure in Kunming. The findings may be used to assess climate adaptation measures in the design stage, as well as a cost–benefit analysis of climate adaptation measures.

Peng, L, Ni, B-J, Erler, D, Ye, L & Yuan, Z 2014, 'The effect of dissolved oxygen on N 2 O production by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in an enriched nitrifying sludge', Water Research, vol. 66, pp. 12-21.
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Dissolved oxygen (DO) is commonly recognized as an important factor influencing nitrous oxide (N2O) production by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). However, it has been difficult to separate the true effect of DO from that of nitrite, as DO variation often affects nitrite accumulation. The effect of DO on N2O production by an enriched nitrifying sludge, consisting of both AOB and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB), was investigated in this study. Nitrite accumulation was minimised by augmenting nitrite oxidation through the addition of an enriched NOB sludge. It was demonstrated that the specific N2O production rate increased from 0 to 1.9 ± 0.09 (n = 3) mg N2O-N/hr/g VSS with an increase of DO concentration from 0 to 3.0 mg O2/L, whereas N2O emission factor (the ratio between N2O nitrogen emitted and the ammonium nitrogen converted) decreased from 10.6 ± 1.7% (n = 3) at DO = 0.2 mg O2/L to 2.4 ± 0.1% (n = 3) at DO = 3.0 mg O2/L. The site preference measurements indicated that both the AOB denitrification and hydroxylamine (NH2OH) oxidation pathways contributed to N2O production, and DO had an important effect on the relative contributions of the two pathways. This finding is supported by analysis of the process data using an N2O model describing both pathways. As DO increased from 0.2 to 3.0 mg O2/L, the contribution of AOB denitrification decreased from 92% - 95%-66% - 73%, accompanied by a corresponding increase in the contribution by the NH2OH oxidation pathway.

Phuntsho, S, Hong, S, Elimelech, M & Shon, HK 2014, 'Osmotic equilibrium in the forward osmosis process: Modelling, experiments and implications for process performance', JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE, vol. 453, pp. 240-252.
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Forward osmosis (FO) has gained significant research interest due to the wide range of potential applications in desalination and wastewater reuse. However, the FO process being concentration (osmosis) driven has its own intrinsic limitations. Net transfer of water across the membrane occurs until the point of osmotic equilibrium between the draw solution (DS) and the feed solution (FS). Without external intervention, it is impossible to dilute the DS beyond the point of osmotic equilibrium. In this study, the concept of osmotic equilibrium in the FO process is introduced by simulating conditions in a plate-and-frame FO membrane module using established mass transport models. The simulations evaluated the influence of various operating parameters on process performance, assessed in terms of water flux, feed recovery rate and the final concentration of the diluted DS. The counter-current crossflow mode of operation has been observed to be advantageous because it can achieve higher module average water flux, higher feed water recovery rates and higher DS final dilution. Based on the osmotic equilibrium concept and mass balance analysis, a modified equation for the water extraction capacity of a draw solute has been proposed. This study underscores the need for process optimisation for large-scale FO operations. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Phuntsho, S, Lotfi, F, Hong, S, Shaffer, DL, Elimelech, M & Shon, HK 2014, 'Membrane scaling and flux decline during fertiliser-drawn forward osmosis desalination of brackish groundwater', WATER RESEARCH, vol. 57, pp. 172-182.
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Fertiliser-drawn forward osmosis (FDFO) desalination has been recently studied as one feasible application of forward osmosis (FO) for irrigation. In this study, the potential of membrane scaling in the FDFO process has been investigated during the desalination of brackish groundwater (BGW). While most fertilisers containing monovalent ions did not result in any scaling when used as an FO draw solution (DS), diammonium phosphate (DAP or (NH4)2HPO4) resulted in significant scaling, which contributed to severe flux decline. Membrane autopsy using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that the reverse diffusion of DAP from the DS to the feed solution was primarily responsible for scale formation during the FDFO process. Physical cleaning of the membrane with deionised water at varying crossflow velocities was employed to evaluate the reversibility of membrane scaling and the extent of flux recovery. For the membrane scaled using DAP as DS, 80-90% of the original flux was recovered when the crossflow velocity for physical cleaning was the same as the crossflow velocity during FDFO desalination. However, when a higher crossflow velocity or Reynolds number was used, the flux was recovered almost completely, irrespective of the DS concentration used. This study underscores the importance of selecting a suitable fertiliser for FDFO desalination of brackish groundwater to avoid membrane scaling and severe flux decline. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Porter, SH, Huang, Z & Woodward, PM 2014, 'Study of Anion Order/Disorder in RTaN₂O (R = La, Ce, Pr) Perovskite Nitride Oxides', Crystal Growth & Design, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 117-125.
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Pourghasemi, HR, Moradi, HR, Fatemi Aghda, SM, Gokceoglu, C & Pradhan, B 2014, 'GIS-based landslide susceptibility mapping with probabilistic likelihood ratio and spatial multi-criteria evaluation models (North of Tehran, Iran)', Arabian Journal of Geosciences, vol. 7, no. 5, pp. 1857-1878.
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Pourghasemi, HR, Moradi, HR, Fatemi Aghda, SM, Sezer, EA, Goli Jirandeh, A & Pradhan, B 2014, 'Assessment of fractal dimension and geometrical characteristics of the landslides identified in North of Tehran, Iran', Environmental Earth Sciences, vol. 71, no. 8, pp. 3617-3626.
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Pradhan, B, Abokharima, MH, Jebur, MN & Tehrany, MS 2014, 'Land subsidence susceptibility mapping at Kinta Valley (Malaysia) using the evidential belief function model in GIS', Natural Hazards, vol. 73, no. 2, pp. 1019-1042.
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Pradhan, B, Hagemann, U, Shafapour Tehrany, M & Prechtel, N 2014, 'An easy to use ArcMap based texture analysis program for extraction of flooded areas from TerraSAR-X satellite image', Computers & Geosciences, vol. 63, pp. 34-43.
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Pradhan, M, Vigneswaran, S, Ben Aim, R & Kandasamy, J 2014, 'Modelling of particle deposition in a submerged membrane microfiltration system', DESALINATION, vol. 350, pp. 14-20.
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Rahman, MM, Hassan, MH, Kalam, MA, Atabani, AE, Memon, LA & Rahman, SMA 2014, 'Performance and emission analysis of Jatropha curcas and Moringa oleifera methyl ester fuel blends in a multi-cylinder diesel engine', Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 65, pp. 304-310.
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Rahman, SMA, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Abedin, MJ, Sanjid, A & Imtenan, S 2014, 'Effect of idling on fuel consumption and emissions of a diesel engine fueled by Jatropha biodiesel blends', Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 69, pp. 208-215.
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Rahman, SMA, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Abedin, MJ, Sanjid, A & Rahman, MM 2014, 'Assessing idling effects on a compression ignition engine fueled with Jatropha and Palm biodiesel blends', Renewable Energy, vol. 68, pp. 644-650.
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Rahman, SMA, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Varman, M, Sanjid, A & Abedin, MJ 2014, 'Assessing Effect of Idling on Compression Ignition Engine Operated with Palm, Jatropha and Calophyllum Biodiesel Blends', Journal of the Institute of Industrial Applications Engineers, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 122-126.
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Rashedul, HK, Kalam, MA, Masjuki, HH, Ashraful, AM, Imtenan, S, Sajjad, H & Wee, LK 2014, 'Numerical study on convective heat transfer of a spark ignition engine fueled with bioethanol', International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 58, pp. 33-39.
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Rashedul, HK, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Ashraful, AM, Ashrafur Rahman, SM & Shahir, SA 2014, 'The effect of additives on properties, performance and emission of biodiesel fuelled compression ignition engine', Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 88, pp. 348-364.
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Regmi, AD, Devkota, KC, Yoshida, K, Pradhan, B, Pourghasemi, HR, Kumamoto, T & Akgun, A 2014, 'Application of frequency ratio, statistical index, and weights-of-evidence models and their comparison in landslide susceptibility mapping in Central Nepal Himalaya', Arabian Journal of Geosciences, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 725-742.
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Regmi, AD, Yoshida, K, Dhital, MR & Pradhan, B 2014, 'Weathering and mineralogical variation in gneissic rocks and their effect in Sangrumba Landslide, East Nepal', Environmental Earth Sciences, vol. 71, no. 6, pp. 2711-2727.
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Regmi, AD, Yoshida, K, Nagata, H & Pradhan, B 2014, 'Rock toppling assessment at Mugling–Narayanghat road section: ‘A case study from Mauri Khola landslide’, Nepal', CATENA, vol. 114, pp. 67-77.
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Regmi, AD, Yoshida, K, Pourghasemi, HR, DhitaL, MR & Pradhan, B 2014, 'Landslide susceptibility mapping along Bhalubang — Shiwapur area of mid-Western Nepal using frequency ratio and conditional probability models', Journal of Mountain Science, vol. 11, no. 5, pp. 1266-1285.
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Remennikov, AM, Mutton, V, Nimbalkar, S & Ren, T 2014, 'Experimental and numerical investigation of high-yield grout ore pass plugs to resist impact loads', INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ROCK MECHANICS AND MINING SCIENCES, vol. 70, pp. 1-15.
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In the last fifteen years, Tekseal high yield foaming grout ore pass plugs that could later be easily removed, have been poured above chute maintenance areas providing protection from high energy rock impact and isolating workers from the hazard. Construction and removal methods will be briefly explained. Since it is not economically feasible to investigate the problem of ore pass plug impact response using full-scale experimental studies, this paper presents a combined four-stage approach that includes (1) laboratory testing to investigate the mechanical behaviour of the high-yield foaming grout; (2) high-precision impact testing of reduced-scale models of ore pass plugs; (3) high-fidelity physics-based numerical model calibration using experimental data; and (4) full-scale modelling of mine ore pass plugs using calibrated material models. To calibrate numerical models, three one-metre diameter steel pipes filled with Tekseal high yield foaming grout were tested with falling steel projectiles of different shapes. Impact tests provided data on the depth of penetration and size of the craters formed by the projectiles. Numerical models were calibrated by optimising the material parameters and modelling techniques to provide the best match with the experimental results. Full-scale numerical models of ore pass plugs were developed for typical ore pass dimensions and subjected to impact events by falling rock projectiles. The proposed approach has allowed investigating energy absorbing characteristics of ore pass plugs to further predict and increase understanding of their capacity to withstand high-speed impacts by large falling projectiles. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Rizwanul Fattah, IM, Hassan, MH, Kalam, MA, Atabani, AE & Abedin, MJ 2014, 'Synthetic phenolic antioxidants to biodiesel: path toward NOx reduction of an unmodified indirect injection diesel engine', Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 79, pp. 82-90.
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Rizwanul Fattah, IM, Kalam, MA, Masjuki, HH & Wakil, MA 2014, 'Biodiesel production, characterization, engine performance, and emission characteristics of Malaysian Alexandrian laurel oil', RSC Adv., vol. 4, no. 34, pp. 17787-17796.
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This article studies the production and characterization of Malaysian Alexandrian laurel oil and the effect of common blends on engine performance and emissions.

Rizwanul Fattah, IM, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA & Masum, BM 2014, 'Effect of synthetic antioxidants on storage stability of Calophyllum inophyllum biodiesel', Materials Research Innovations, vol. 18, no. sup6, pp. 90-94.
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Rizwanul Fattah, IM, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Hazrat, MA, Masum, BM, Imtenan, S & Ashraful, AM 2014, 'Effect of antioxidants on oxidation stability of biodiesel derived from vegetable and animal based feedstocks', Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 30, pp. 356-370.
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Rizwanul Fattah, IM, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Mofijur, M & Abedin, MJ 2014, 'Effect of antioxidant on the performance and emission characteristics of a diesel engine fueled with palm biodiesel blends', Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 79, pp. 265-272.
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Rizwanul Fattah, IM, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Wakil, MA, Ashraful, AM & Shahir, SA 2014, 'Experimental investigation of performance and regulated emissions of a diesel engine with Calophyllum inophyllum biodiesel blends accompanied by oxidation inhibitors', Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 83, pp. 232-240.
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Rizwanul Fattah, IM, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Wakil, MA, Rashedul, HK & Abedin, MJ 2014, 'Performance and emission characteristics of a CI engine fueled with Cocos nucifera and Jatropha curcas B20 blends accompanying antioxidants', Industrial Crops and Products, vol. 57, pp. 132-140.
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Ruscalleda, M, Seredynska-Sobecka, B, Ni, B-J, Arvin, E, Balaguer, MD, Colprim, J & Smets, BF 2014, 'Spectrometric characterization of the effluent dissolved organic matter from an anammox reactor shows correlation between the EEM signature and anammox growth', Chemosphere, vol. 117, no. 1, pp. 271-277.
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Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) is a cost-effective process to treat high-strength nitrogenous wastewater. Even without organic carbon input, the effluent contains bioproducts from autotrophic and heterotrophic bacteria. In this work, excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy was used to characterize the effluent dissolved organic matter (EfOM) from an anammox reactor treating synthetic wastewater. Two dominant EEM components were identified as humic acid-like (component 1) and protein-like (component 2) substances with excitation/emission peaks at <240, 355, 420/464 nm and <240, 280, 330/346 nm, respectively. The presence of both compounds in the effluent was tracked during an activity recovery period (nitrogen load increased from 0.2 to 1.3 kg Nm(-3)d(-1)). The effluent concentration of both components increased during this period, indicating correlation between production and bacterial activity. The dynamics of these bioproducts during both substrate consumption and starvation phases was analyzed in batch experiments. Component 1 was only formed during substrate consumption in a rate proportional to ammonium removal and was considered an up-take associated product characteristic of anammox activity. The results show that the composition of the EfOM was qualitatively and quantitatively influenced by process performance. Monitoring the EfOM could, therefore, offer a useful approach to assess anammox process performance and must be further explored.

Ryan, PC, Stewart, MG, Spencer, N & Li, Y 2014, 'Reliability assessment of power pole infrastructure incorporating deterioration and network maintenance', Reliability Engineering & System Safety, vol. 132, pp. 261-273.
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There is considerable investment in timber utility poles worldwide, and there is a need to examine the structural reliability and probability based management optimisation of these power distribution infrastructure elements. The work presented in this paper builds on the existing studies in this area through assessment of both treated and untreated timber power poles, with the effects of deterioration and network maintenance incorporated in the analysis. This more realistic assessment approach, with deterioration and maintenance considered, was achieved using event-based Monte Carlo simulation. The output from the probabilistic model is used to illustrate the importance of considering network maintenance in the time-dependent structural reliability assessment of timber power poles. Under wind load, treated and untreated poles designed and maintained in accordance with existing Australian standards were found to have similar failure rates. However, untreated pole networks required approximately twice as many maintenance based pole replacements to sustain the same level of reliability. The effect of four different network maintenance strategies on infrastructure performance was also investigated herein. This assessment highlighted the fact that slight alterations to network maintenance practices can lead to significant changes in performance of timber power pole networks.

Saeidi, V, Pradhan, B, Idrees, MO & Abd Latif, Z 2014, 'Fusion of Airborne LiDAR With Multispectral SPOT 5 Image for Enhancement of Feature Extraction Using Dempster–Shafer Theory', IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, vol. 52, no. 10, pp. 6017-6025.
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Sajjad, H, Masjuki, HH, Varman, M, Kalam, MA, Arbab, MI, Imtenan, S & Rahman, SMA 2014, 'Engine combustion, performance and emission characteristics of gas to liquid (GTL) fuels and its blends with diesel and bio-diesel', Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 30, pp. 961-986.
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Salleh, SA, Latif, ZA, Pradhan, B, Wan Mohd, WMN & Chan, A 2014, 'Functional relation of land surface albedo with climatological variables: a review on remote sensing techniques and recent research developments', Geocarto International, vol. 29, no. 2, pp. 147-163.
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Sanjid, A, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Rahman, SMA, Abedin, MJ & Palash, SM 2014, 'Production of palm and jatropha based biodiesel and investigation of palm-jatropha combined blend properties, performance, exhaust emission and noise in an unmodified diesel engine', Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 65, pp. 295-303.
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Semblante, GU, Hai, FI, Ngo, HH, Guo, W, You, S-J, Price, WE & Nghiem, LD 2014, 'Sludge cycling between aerobic, anoxic and anaerobic regimes to reduce sludge production during wastewater treatment: Performance, mechanisms, and implications', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 155, pp. 395-409.
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Alternate cycling of sludge in aerobic, anoxic, and anaerobic regimes is a promising strategy that can reduce the sludge yield of conventional activated sludge (CAS) by up to 50% with potentially lower capital and operating cost than physical- and/or chemical-based sludge minimisation techniques. The mechanisms responsible for reducing sludge yield include alterations to cellular metabolism and feeding behaviour (metabolic uncoupling, feasting/fasting, and endogenous decay), biological floc destruction, and predation on bacteria by higher organisms. Though discrepancies across various studies are recognisable, it is apparent that sludge retention time, oxygen-reduction potential of the anaerobic tank, temperature, sludge return ratio and loading mode are relevant to sludge minimisation by sludge cycling approaches. The impact of sludge minimisation on CAS operation (e.g., organics and nutrient removal efficiency and sludge settleability) is highlighted, and key areas requiring further research are also identified.

Shabib-asl, A, Ayoub, MA, Alta\'ee, AF, Bin Mohd Saaid, I & Paulo Jose Valentim, P 2014, 'Comprehensive Review of Foam Application during Foam Assisted Water Alternating Gas (FAWAG) Method', Research Journal of Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology, vol. 8, no. 17, pp. 1896-1904.
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© Maxwell Scientific Organization, 2014. In the last few decades, much focus has been placed on enhancing oil recovery from existing fields. This is accomplished by the study and application of various methods. As for recent cases, the Study of fluid mobility control and sweep efficiency in gas injection process as well as Water Alternating Gas (WAG) method have demonstrated positive results on oil recovery and thus gained wide interest in petroleum industry. WAG injection application results in an increased oil recovery. Its mechanism consists in reduction of Gas Oil Ratio (GOR). However, there are some problems associated with this which includes poor volumetric sweep efficiency due to its low density and high mobility when compared with oil. This has led to the introduction of Foam Assisted Water Alternating Gas (FAWAG) technique, which in contrast with WAG injection, acts in improving the sweep efficiency and reducing the gas oil ration therefore maximizing the production rate from the producer wells. This study presents a comprehensive review of FAWAG process from perspective of Snorre field experience. In addition some comparative results between FAWAG and the other EOR methods are presented including their setbacks. The main aim is to provide a solid background for future laboratory research and successful field application-extend.

Shafie, SM, Masjuki, HH & Mahlia, TMI 2014, 'Life cycle assessment of rice straw-based power generation in Malaysia', Energy, vol. 70, pp. 401-410.
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Shahid, M, El Saliby, I, McDonagh, A, Tijing, LD, Kim, J-H & Shon, HK 2014, 'Synthesis and characterisation of potassium polytitanate for photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet', Journal of Environmental Sciences, vol. 26, no. 11, pp. 2348-2354.
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Potassium titanate nanostructures were synthesised by hydrothermal treatment of TiO2 (P25) in KOH and H2O2. As-produced powders were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption methods. Longitudinally-oriented-wire-like structures with a length up to several micrometres and diameters ranging from 10 to 30 nm were obtained. Larger size fibrous nanowires resulting from the hydrothermal treatment showed high affinity in adsorbing crystal violet (CV), which was mainly due to their high surface area. The photocatalytic bleaching of CV solution revealed that the wires are photoactive under ultraviolet light irradiation. Macroporous nanowires are considered as effective adsorbents of CV, capable of photocatalytic degradation, and they can be easily separated from the solution by settling.

Shahid, M, Saliby, IE, McDonagh, A, Kim, J-H & Shon, HK 2014, 'Photodesorption of specific organic compounds from titanium dioxide particles in aqueous media', Desalination and Water Treatment, vol. 52, no. 4-6, pp. 867-872.
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This study investigates the photodesorption of organic compounds (beef extract, peptone, humic acid, tannic acid, sodium lignin sulphonate, sodium lauryl sulphate, arabic gum powder and arabic acid) from TiO2 (1 g/L in water, pH 7). After a period to reach adsorption equilibrium, photodesorption experiments were conducted in a recirculated reactor at a constant flow rate of 150 mL/min with a UV light intensity of 24 W. Photodesorption was observed only for sodium lauryl sulphate (50%), sodium lignin sulphonate (43.47%), beef extract (20.35%) and tannic acid (10.5%) indicating that photodesorption is specific to some organic compounds but not to all. Using liquid chromatography-organic carbon detection, untreated beef extract and sodium lignin sulphonate were found to contain significant amounts of humic substances (∼1,000 g/mol), which decreased in concentration after dark phase adsorption, while a significant increase in low molecular weight (<350 g/mol) concentrations was observed after photodesorption. UV-treated sodium lauryl sulphate photodesorbed to give both higher molecular weight (HMW) and lower molecular weight (LMW) organics. Thus, the HMW fractions of organic compounds decomposed into smaller compounds after UV irradiation, which subsequently desorbed from TiO2 surface. However, untreated tannic acid contained a larger proportion of LMW acids, which shows a high adsorption affinity to TiO2 during adsorption and poorly desorbs upon irradiation.

Shahir, SA, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Imran, A, Fattah, IMR & Sanjid, A 2014, 'Feasibility of diesel–biodiesel–ethanol/bioethanol blend as existing CI engine fuel: An assessment of properties, material compatibility, safety and combustion', Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 32, pp. 379-395.
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Shancita, I, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Rizwanul Fattah, IM, Rashed, MM & Rashedul, HK 2014, 'A review on idling reduction strategies to improve fuel economy and reduce exhaust emissions of transport vehicles', Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 88, pp. 794-807.
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Shanmuganathan, S, Nguyen, TV, Shim, WG, Kandasamy, J & Vigneswaran, S 2014, 'Performance of submerged membrane - Ion exchange hybrid system with Purolite A502PS in treating reverse osmosis feed', SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY, vol. 122, pp. 24-31.
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The performance of ion exchanger Purolite A502PS in treating biologically treated sewage effluent (Reverse Osmosis feed) was evaluated in a submerged membrane ion exchange hybrid system (SMIHS). The experimental results showed that adding a small amount of Purolite A502PS of 0.5 g/L increased the organic removal of the submerged membrane reactor from less than 10% to above 40%. The homogeneous surface diffusion model (HSDM) could predict the adsorption kinetics of Purolite A502PS. A higher dose of Purolite A502PS in SMIHS led to better organic removal as well as reduced membrane resistance. After one hour of operation at a flux of 36 LMH, the amount of organic matter retained on the membrane surface decreased from 2.11E-9 kg/m2 s to 8.25E-10 kg/m 2 s when 1 g/L of Purolite A502PS was added into the submerged membrane reactor. Although the increase of membrane flux from 36 L/m2 h (LMH) to 60 LMH did not have much effect on organic removal, more organics were adsorbed onto the membrane surface. This led to a higher transmembrane pressure (TMP) of 12 kPa in the SMIHS after eight hours operation at a flux 60 LMH. The increase in TMP was approximately four times higher than that at a flux of 36 LMH.© 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Shanmuganathan, S, Nguyen, TV, Shim, WG, Kandasamy, J, Listowski, A & Vigneswaran, S 2014, 'Effluent organic matter removal from reverse osmosis feed by granular activated carbon and purolite A502PS fluidized beds', JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY, vol. 20, no. 6, pp. 4499-4508.
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© 2014 The Korean Society of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry. Applying pre-treatments to remove dissolved organic matter from reverse osmosis (RO) feed can help to reduce organic fouling of the RO membrane. In this study the performance of granular activated carbon (GAC), a popular adsorbent, and purolite A502PS, an anion exchange resin, in removing effluent organic matter (EfOM) from RO feed collected from a water reclamation plant located at Sydney Olympic Park, Australia were evaluated and compared through adsorption equilibrium, kinetics and fluidized bed experiments. The maximum adsorption capacity (Qmax) of GAC calculated from the Langmuir model with RO feed was 13.4mg/g GAC. The operational conditions of fluidized bed columns packed with GAC and purolite A502PS strongly affected the removal of EfOM. GAC fluidized bed with a bed height of 10cm and fluidization velocity of 5.7m/h removed more than 80% of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) during a 7h experiment. The average DOC removal was 60% when the bed height was reduced to 7cm. When comparing GAC with purolite A502PS, more of the later was required to remove the same amount of DOC. The poorer performance of purolite A502PS can be explained by the competition provided by other inorganic anions present in RO feed. A plug flow model can be used to predict the impact of the amount of adsorbent and of the flow rate on removal of organic matter from the fluidized bed column.

Sharma, RK, Ganesan, P, Sahu, JN, Metselaar, HSC & Mahlia, TMI 2014, 'Numerical study for enhancement of solidification of phase change materials using trapezoidal cavity', Powder Technology, vol. 268, pp. 38-47.
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Shi, H, Yang, Y, Liu, M, Yan, C, Yue, H & Zhou, J 2014, 'Occurrence and distribution of antibiotics in the surface sediments of the Yangtze Estuary and nearby coastal areas', Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 83, no. 1, pp. 317-323.
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The occurrence and distribution of five groups of antibiotics were investigated in the surface sediments of the Yangtze Estuary over four seasons. Four tetracyclines (TCs), sulfaquinoxaline (SQ), enrofloxacin (EFC) and thiamphenicol (TAP) were detected in all the samples, while sulfamerazine (SM) and sulfathiazole (ST) showed the lowest detection frequency. The detection frequencies and antibiotic concentrations were generally higher in January and May, indicating that low flow conditions and low temperature might enhance the persistence of antibiotics in sediment. Antibiotic levels varied with location, with the highest concentrations being observed around river discharges and sewage outfalls. Furthermore, a positive correlation between the concentration of quinolones and TOC revealed the significant role played by TOC. The concentration of quinolones at Wusongkou exceeded the trigger value (0.10 mg kg(-1)) of the Steering Committee of the Veterinary International Committee on Harmonization (VICH), which should be paid attention to in future studies.

Shoa, TZ, Nateghi, S, Nohegar, A, Amiri, F & Pradhan, B 2014, 'Sediment yield assessment at basin scale using geospatial technique', Arabian Journal of Geosciences, vol. 7, no. 7, pp. 2841-2850.
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Shon, HK, Nghiem, LD, Kim, S, Chiemchaisri, C, Aravinthan, V, Virkutyte, J, Shu, L & Jegatheesan, V 2014, 'Special issue on the Challenges in Environmental Science and Engineering—CESE-2012 9–13 September 2012, RACV City Club, Melbourne, Australia', Desalination and Water Treatment, vol. 52, no. 4-6, pp. 555-555.
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Shrestha, A, Jeong, S, Vigneswaran, S & Kandasamy, J 2014, 'Seawater biofiltration pre-treatment system: comparison of filter media performance', Desalination and Water Treatment, vol. 52, no. 34-36, pp. 6325-6332.
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© 2013, © 2013 Balaban Desalination Publications. All rights reserved. Abstract: Biological filtration is an effective pre-treatment method to remove organic matter and particulate matter from seawater. Three biofilter columns were operated packed with granular-activated carbon (GAC), anthracite and sand as a filter media. The biofilters were run for 120 d at a slow filtration velocity of 0.12 m/h. Biofiltration performances were evaluated in terms of turbidity, different fouling indices, and dissolved organic carbon(DOC). The removal efficiencies of turbidity by the three biofilters were similar with low headloss development. The fouling potential of treated seawater (filtrate) was evaluated using three different fouling indices such as microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and microfiltration at a cross flow. The analyses of three different fouling indices showed that the reduction in fouling potential was the following order GAC > sand > anthracite. In terms of DOC removal efficiency, GAC biofilter showed higher and stable removal efficiency (41–88%), than sand biofilter (7–76%) and anthracite biofilter (3–71%). All biofilters used in this study removed most of hydrophobic organic compounds (around 94%). On the other hand, hydrophilic organic removal varied depending on the media filter. GAC biofilter removed more organic biopolymers (51%), humic substances (75%) and building blocks (50%) compared with sand and anthracite biofilters. Therefore, GAC biofiltration can be used as an effective pre-treatment to alleviate organic fouling.

Silakhori, M, Metselaar, HSC, Mahlia, TMI & Fauzi, H 2014, 'Preparation and characterisation of microencapsulated paraffin wax with polyaniline-based polymer shells for thermal energy storage', Materials Research Innovations, vol. 18, no. sup6, pp. 480-484.
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Silakhori, M, Metselaar, HSC, Mahlia, TMI, Fauzi, H, Baradaran, S & Naghavi, MS 2014, 'Palmitic acid/polypyrrole composites as form-stable phase change materials for thermal energy storage', Energy Conversion and Management, vol. 80, pp. 491-497.
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Simon, A, Fujioka, T, Price, WE & Nghiem, LD 2014, 'Sodium hydroxide production from sodium carbonate and bicarbonate solutions using membrane electrolysis: A feasibility study', Separation and Purification Technology, vol. 127, pp. 70-76.
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Šimon, P, Thomas, P, Dubaj, T, Cibulková, Z, Peller, A & Veverka, M 2014, 'The mathematical incorrectness of the integral isoconversional methods in case of variable activation energy and the consequences', Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, vol. 115, no. 1, pp. 853-859.
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Kinetic parameters resulting from the application of isoconversional methods mostly depend on the degree of conversion. This paper shows that the integral isoconversional methods are mathematically incorrect if the activation energy depends on conversion. In this case, the incorrectness resides in improper separation of variables in the general rate equation. As a consequence, non-sensical snake-like shape of the conversion versus time curves is observed when the kinetic results are extrapolated to lower temperatures. © 2013 Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary.

Sofi, M, Mendis, P, Baweja, D & Mak, S 2014, 'Influence of ambient temperature on early age concrete behaviour of anchorage zones', CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS, vol. 53, pp. 1-12.
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Sorourian, S, Keshavarzi, A, Ball, J & Samali, B 2014, 'Blockage effects on scouring downstream of box culverts under unsteady flow', Australian Journal of Water Resources, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 180-190.
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This experimental study is concerning scouring at the outlet of partially blocked box culverts under unsteady flow condition. The blockage of culverts is considered as an important factor on the scouring pattern at the outlet of the blocked box culverts. To investigate the effect of blockage on scouring pattern downstream of a box culvert under unsteady flow, some experimental tests were carried out in a laboratory flume located in the Hydraulics Laboratory of the University of Technology Sydney. The experimental tests were carried on in both partially blocked and non-blocked conditions and consequentially the effect of blockage on scour pattern is investigated. It was found that 88% to 98% of maximum scour depth occurs in the rising limb of the hydrograph.

Stewart, MG & Mueller, J 2014, 'A risk and cost–benefit analysis of police counter-terrorism operations at Australian airports', Journal of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 98-116.
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Stewart, MG & Mueller, J 2014, 'Cost-benefit analysis of airport security: Are airports too safe?', Journal of Air Transport Management, vol. 35, pp. 19-28.
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This paper assesses the risks and cost-effectiveness of measures designed to further protect airport terminals and associated facilities such as car parks from terrorist attack in the U.S., Europe, and the Asia-Pacific area. The analysis considers threat likelihood, the cost of security measures, hazard likelihood, risk reduction and expected losses to compare the costs and benefits of security measures to decide the optimal security measures to airports. Monte-Carlo simulation methods were used to propagate hazard likelihood, risk reduction and loss uncertainties in the calculation of net benefits that also allows probability of cost-effectiveness to be calculated. It is found that attack probabilities had to be much higher than currently observed to justify additional protective measures. Overall, then, it is questionable whether special efforts to further protect airports are sensible expenditures. Indeed, some relaxation of the measures already in place may well be justified. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Stewart, MG & Mueller, J 2014, 'Terrorism Risks for Bridges in a Multi-Hazard Environment', International Journal of Protective Structures, vol. 5, no. 3, pp. 275-289.
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The paper will assess terrorist threats to new and existing bridges and the cost-effectiveness of protective counter-terrorism measures. This analysis will consider threat likelihood, cost of security measures, risk reduction and expected losses to compare the costs and benefits of protective measures to bridges to decide which protective measures are cost-effective. In this paper, a break-even cost-benefit analysis determines the minimum probability of an attack, absent the protective measures, that is required for the benefit of the protective measures to equal their cost for new and existing bridges. It was found that unless terrorist threat probabilities are high, then typical protective measures are not cost-effective. Bridges and other critical infrastructure are subject to a range of natural and man-made hazards, and terrorism is most likely not as important a threat as natural hazards. It was found that economic risks to bridges from floods, earthquakes, and ship impact are higher than threats from terrorism.

Stewart, MG, Wang, X & Willgoose, GR 2014, 'Direct and Indirect Cost-and-Benefit Assessment of Climate Adaptation Strategies for Housing for Extreme Wind Events in Queensland', Natural Hazards Review, vol. 15, no. 4.
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The intensity of tropical cyclones and severe storms is likely to increase due to climate change. Brisbane and the northeast coast of Queensland are regions where design wind specifications may be inadequate under either current or likely future climate conditions. An appropriate adaptation strategy may be one that increases wind classifications for new houses, which leads to a reduced vulnerability of new construction. The present paper will assess the damage risks, adaptation costs, and cost-effectiveness of these adaptation measures for residential construction in Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, and South East Queensland, assuming time-dependent changes in the frequency and intensity of cyclonic and noncyclonic winds to 2100. Loss functions are also developed for direct and indirect losses. It was found that increasing design wind loads for new houses in Brisbane and South East Queensland will lead to a net benefit [net present value (NPV)] of up to $10.5 billion by 2100, assuming a discount rate of 4%, which includes approximately 95% of a direct benefit and 5% of an indirect benefit. The benefits are highest for Brisbane due to its large population and the high vulnerability of existing residential construction, and have a 90-100% likelihood of achieving a net benefit by 2100.

Subagia, IDGA, Jiang, Z, Tijing, LD, Kim, Y, Kim, CS, Lim, JK & Shon, HK 2014, 'Hybrid multi-scale basalt fiber-epoxy composite laminate reinforced with Electrospun polyurethane nanofibers containing carbon nanotubes', Fibers and Polymers, vol. 15, no. 6, pp. 1295-1302.
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In this study, we report the fabrication and evaluation of a hybrid multi-scale basalt fiber/epoxy composite laminate reinforced with layers of electrospun carbon nanotube/polyurethane (CNT/PU) nanofibers. Electrospun polyurethane mats containing 1, 3 and 5 wt% carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were interleaved between layers of basalt fibers laminated with epoxy through vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. The strength and stiffness of composites for each configuration were tested by tensile and flexural tests, and SEM analysis was conducted to observe the morphology of the composites. The results showed increase in tensile strength (4-13 %) and tensile modulus (6-20 %), and also increase in flexural strength (6.5-17.3 %) and stiffness of the hybrid composites with the increase of CNT content in PU nanofibers. The use of surfactant to disperse CNTs in the electrospun PU reinforcement resulted to the highest increase in both tensile and flexural properties, which is attributed to the homogeneous dispersion of CNTs in the PU nanofibers and the high surface area of the nanofibers themselves. Here, the use of multi-scale reinforcement fillers with good and homogeneous dispersion for epoxy-based laminates showed increased mechanical performance of the hybrid composite laminates. © 2014 The Korean Fiber Society and Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Subagia, IDGA, Tijing, LD & Kim, YJ 2014, 'Basalt Fabric-Electrospun Nanofiber-Based Composite Laminates', Applied Mechanics and Materials, vol. 465-466, pp. 852-856.
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This study investigated the influence of electrospun polyurethane mats containing different contents of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) stacked in between basalt fabric layers to form a composite laminate. The composite laminate was fabricated using a vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) process. Flexural test were carried out to investigate the strength and stiffness of composites for each configuration, while the failure characteristics were observed using a field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis. The results showed that flexural strength and stiffness of the hybrid composites with increasing CNT content in polyurethane (PU) nanofiber were increased by 6.5% and 17.3%, respectively. Furthermore, the addition of surfactants for the dispersion of CNTs in nanofibers significantly improved the flexural property of the composite interply basalt fabric-CNT/PU laminates. This study proved that the use of multi-scale reinforcement fillers with good and homogeneous dispersion increased the mechanical performance of the composite.

Sun, J, Hu, S, Sharma, KR, Ni, B-J & Yuan, Z 2014, 'Stratified Microbial Structure and Activity in Sulfide- and Methane-Producing Anaerobic Sewer Biofilms', Applied and Environmental Microbiology, vol. 80, no. 22, pp. 7042-7052.
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ABSTRACT Simultaneous production of sulfide and methane by anaerobic sewer biofilms has recently been observed, suggesting that sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and methanogenic archaea (MA), microorganisms known to compete for the same substrates, can coexist in this environment. This study investigated the community structures and activities of SRB and MA in anaerobic sewer biofilms (average thickness of 800 μm) using a combination of microelectrode measurements, molecular techniques, and mathematical modeling. It was seen that sulfide was mainly produced in the outer layer of the biofilm, between the depths of 0 and 300 μm, which is in good agreement with the distribution of SRB population as revealed by cryosection-fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). SRB had a higher relative abundance of 20% on the surface layer, which decreased gradually to below 3% at a depth of 400 μm. In contrast, MA mainly inhabited the inner layer of the biofilm. Their relative abundances increased from 10% to 75% at depths of 200 μm and 700 μm, respectively, from the biofilm surface layer. High-throughput pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA amplicons showed that SRB in the biofilm were mainly affiliated with five genera, Desulfobulbus , Desulfomicrobium , Desulfovibrio , Desulfatiferula , and Desulforegula , while about 90% of the MA population belonged to the genus Géotechnique, vol. 64, no. 9, pp. 746-751.
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A series of large-scale cyclic triaxial tests were conducted on latite basalt aggregates (ballast) to investigate how the frequency f affects the permanent deformation and degradation of railway ballast. During testing the frequency was varied from 5 Hz to 60 Hz to simulate a range of train speeds from about 40 km/h to 400 km/h. Three categories of permanent deformation mechanisms were observed in response to the applied cyclic loads, namely, the inception of plastic shakedown (f ≤ 20 Hz), then plastic shakedown and ratcheting (30 Hz ≤ f ≤ 50 Hz), followed by plastic collapse at higher frequencies (f ≥ 60 Hz). The permanent strain of ballast and particle breakage increased with the frequency and number of load cycles. A cyclic strain ratio was introduced to capture the effect of frequency on the permanent axial and volumetric strains, respectively. An empirical equation was formulated to represent this relationship for latite basalt, and a critical train speed was identified. A good correlation was obtained between particle breakage and volumetric strain under cyclic loading.

Sun, Y, Indraratna, B & Nimbalka, S 2014, 'Three-dimensional characterisation of particle size and shape for ballast', Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Forensic Engineering, vol. 4, pp. 197-202.
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The size and shape of particles influence how effectively coarse angular aggregates of ballast interact. The aim of this study was to improve the characterisation of ballast particles using a three-dimensional (3D) imaging method. Various size and shape indices, such as elongation ratio, sphericity and roundness, were determined from the scanned 3D images. A modified index called 'ellipsoidness' was proposed to capture adequately the shape of the 3D particles. Variation of these indices with particle size was studied. Comparison of the 3D true sphericity and the corresponding two-dimensional sphericity indicated that the latter would underestimate sphericity. A modified approach for transforming particle size distribution to constriction size distribution is proposed by capturing the size and shape effects of particles.

Sun, Y, Indraratna, B & Nimbalkar, S 2014, 'Three-dimensional characterisation of particle size and shape for ballast', Géotechnique Letters, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 197-202.
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The size and shape of particles influence how effectively coarse angular aggregates of ballast interact. The aim of this study was to improve the characterisation of ballast particles using a three-dimensional (3D) imaging method. Various size and shape indices, such as elongation ratio, sphericity and roundness, were determined from the scanned 3D images. A modified index called ‘ellipsoidness’ was proposed to capture adequately the shape of the 3D particles. Variation of these indices with particle size was studied. Comparison of the 3D true sphericity and the corresponding two-dimensional sphericity indicated that the latter would underestimate sphericity. A modified approach for transforming particle size distribution to constriction size distribution is proposed by capturing the size and shape effects of particles.

Surawski, NC, Miljevic, B, Bodisco, TA, Situ, R, Brown, RJ & Ristovski, ZD 2014, 'Performance and gaseous and particle emissions from a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fumigated compression ignition engine', FUEL, vol. 133, pp. 17-25.
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In this study, an LPG fumigation system was fitted to a Euro III compression ignition (CI) engine to explore its impact on performance, and gaseous and particulate emissions. LPG was introduced to the intake air stream (as a secondary fuel) by using a low pressure fuel injector situated upstream of the turbocharger. LPG substitutions were test mode dependent, but varied in the range of 14-29% by energy. The engine was tested over a 5 point test cycle using ultra low sulphur diesel (ULSD), and a low and high LPG substitution at each test mode. The results show that LPG fumigation coerces the combustion into pre-mixed mode, as increases in the peak combustion pressure (and the rate of pressure rise) were observed in most tests. The emissions results show decreases in nitric oxide (NO) and particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions; however, very significant increases in carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions were observed. A more detailed investigation of the particulate emissions showed that the number of particles emitted was reduced with LPG fumigation at all test settings - apart from mode 6 of the ECE R49 test cycle. Furthermore, the particles emitted generally had a slightly larger median diameter with LPG fumigation, and had a smaller semi-volatile fraction relative to ULSD. Overall, the results show that with some modifications, LPG fumigation systems could be used to extend ULSD supplies without adversely impacting on engine performance and emissions. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sweat, DP, Kim, M, Larson, SR, Choi, JW, Choo, Y, Osuji, CO & Gopalan, P 2014, 'Rational Design of a Block Copolymer with a High Interaction Parameter', Macromolecules, vol. 47, no. 19, pp. 6687-6696.
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Tabatabaiefar, HR & Fatahi, B 2014, 'Idealisation of soil-structure system to determine inelastic seismic response of mid-rise building frames', SOIL DYNAMICS AND EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING, vol. 66, no. 1, pp. 339-351.
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In this study, a novel and enhanced soilstructure model is developed adopting the direct analysis method using FLAC 2D software to simulate the complex dynamic soil-structure interaction and treat the behaviour of both soil and structure with equal rigour simultaneously. To have a better judgment on the inelastic structural response, three types of mid-rise moment resisting building frames, including 5, 10, and 15 storey buildings are selected in conjunction with three soil types with the shear wave velocities less than 600 m/s, representing soil classes Ce, De and Ee, according to Australian Standards. The above mentioned frames have been analysed under two different boundary conditions: (i) fixed-base (no soil-structure interaction) and (ii) flexible-base (considering soil-structure interaction). The results of the analyses in terms of structural displacements and drifts for the above mentioned boundary conditions have been compared and discussed. It is concluded that considering dynamic soil-structure interaction effects in seismic design of moment resisting building frames resting on soil classes De and Ee is essential.

Tabatabaiefar, SHR, Fatahi, B & Samali, B 2014, 'An empirical relationship to determine lateral seismic response of mid-rise building frames under influence of soil-structure interaction', STRUCTURAL DESIGN OF TALL AND SPECIAL BUILDINGS, vol. 23, no. 7, pp. 526-548.
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n this study, to determine the elastic and inelastic structural responses of mid-rise building frames under the influence of soilstructure interaction, three types of mid-rise moment-resisting building frames, including 5-storey, 10-storey and 15-storey buildings are selected. In addition, three soil types with the shear wave velocities less than 600m/s, representing soil classes Ce, De and Ee according to AS 1170.42007 (Earthquake action in Australia, Australian Standards), having three bedrock depths of 10m, 20m and 30m are adopted. The structural sections are designed after conducting nonlinear time history analysis, on the basis of both elastic method and inelastic procedure considering elastic-perfectly plastic behaviour ofstructural elements. The frame sections are modelled and analysed, employing finite difference method adopting FLAC2D software under two different boundary conditions: (a) fixed base (no soilstructure interaction) and (b) considering soilstructure interaction. Fully nonlinear dynamic analyses under the influence of different earthquake records are conducted, and the results in terms of the maximum lateral displacements and base shears for the above mentioned boundary conditions for both elastic and inelastic behaviours of the structural models are obtained, compared and discussed. With the results, a comprehensive empirical relationship is proposed to determine the lateral displacements of the mid-rise moment-resisting building frames under earthquake and the influence of soilstructure interaction.

Tabatabaiefar, SHR, Fatahi, B & Samali, B 2014, 'Numerical and Experimental Investigations on Seismic Response of Building Frames under Influence of Soil-Structure Interaction', ADVANCES IN STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, vol. 17, no. 1, pp. 109-130.
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In this study, an enhanced numerical soil-structure model has been developed which treats the behaviour of soil and structure with equal rigour. The proposed numerical soil-structure model has been verified and validated by performing experimental shaking table tests. To achieve this goal, a series of experimental shaking table tests were performed on the physical fixed based (structure directly fixed on top of the shaking table) and flexible base (considering soil and structure) models under the influence of four scaled earthquake acceleration records and the results were measured. Comparing the experimental results with the numerical analysis predictions, it is noted that the numerical predictions and laboratory measurements are in a good agreement. Thus, the proposed numerical soil-structure model is a valid and qualified method of simulation with sufficient accuracy which can be employed for further numerical soil-structure interaction investigation studies. Based on the predicted and observed values of lateral deflections of fixed base and flexible base models, lateral deflections of the flexible base model have noticeably amplified in comparison to the fixed base model. As a result of the lateral deflection amplifications, it is observed that the performance level of the scaled structural model changed significantly which could be safety threatening.

Tahan Latibari, S, Mehrali, M, Mehrali, M, Mahlia, TMI & Metselaar, HSC 2014, 'Facile Preparation of Carbon Microcapsules Containing Phase-Change Material with Enhanced Thermal Properties', The Scientific World Journal, vol. 2014, pp. 1-5.
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This study describes the hydrothermal synthesis of a novel carbon/palmitic acid (PA) microencapsulated phase change material (MEPCM). The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images confirm that spherical capsules of uniform size were formed with a mean diameter of 6.42 μm. The melting and freezing temperature were found to be slightly lower than those of pure PA with little undercooling. The composite retained 75% of the latent heat of pure PA. Thermal stability of the MEPCM was found to be better than that of pure PA. The thermal conductivity of MEPCM was increased by as much as 41% at 30°C. Due to its good thermal properties and chemical and mechanical stability, the carbon/PA MEPCM displays a good potential for thermal energy storage systems.

Tan, S, Ladewig, K, Fu, Q, Blencowe, A & Qiao, GG 2014, 'Cyclodextrin‐Based Supramolecular Assemblies and Hydrogels: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives', Macromolecular Rapid Communications, vol. 35, no. 13, pp. 1166-1184.
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The application of cyclodextrin (CD)‐based host–guest interactions towards the fabrication of functional supramolecular assemblies and hydrogels is of particular interest in the field of biomedicine. However, as of late they have found new applications as advanced functional materials (e.g., actuators and self‐healing materials), which have renewed interest across a wide range of fields. Advanced supramolecular materials synthesized using this noncovalent interaction, exhibit specificity and reversibility, which can be used to impart reversible cross‐linking, specific binding sites, and functionality. In this review, various functional CD‐based supramolecular assemblies and hydrogels will be outlined with the focus on recent advances. In addition, an outlook will be provided on the direction of this rapidly developing field.image

Tan, S, Wong, EHH, Fu, Q, Ren, JM, Sulistio, A, Ladewig, K, Blencowe, A & Qiao, GG 2014, 'Azobenzene-Functionalised Core Cross-Linked Star Polymers and their Host–Guest Interactions', Australian Journal of Chemistry, vol. 67, no. 1, pp. 173-173.
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Water-soluble poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA)-based core cross-linked star polymers were efficiently synthesised with high macroinitiator-to-star-conversion (>95 %) in a one-pot system via single electron transfer-living radical polymerisation. The star polymers display excellent water solubility and the pendant hydroxyl groups provide a platform for facile post-functionalisation with various molecules. In demonstrating this, a photo-isomerisable molecule, 4-(phenylazo)benzoic acid was conjugated onto the preformed stars through partial esterification of the available hydroxyl groups (5–20 %). The azobenzene functionalised stars were subsequently employed to form reversible inclusion complexes with α-cyclodextrin.

Tehrany, MS, Lee, M-J, Pradhan, B, Jebur, MN & Lee, S 2014, 'Flood susceptibility mapping using integrated bivariate and multivariate statistical models', Environmental Earth Sciences, vol. 72, no. 10, pp. 4001-4015.
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Tehrany, MS, Pradhan, B & Jebur, MN 2014, 'Flood susceptibility mapping using a novel ensemble weights-of-evidence and support vector machine models in GIS', Journal of Hydrology, vol. 512, pp. 332-343.
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Tehrany, MS, Pradhan, B & Jebuv, MN 2014, 'A comparative assessment between object and pixel-based classification approaches for land use/land cover mapping using SPOT 5 imagery', Geocarto International, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 351-369.
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TENNAKOON, N & INDRARATNA, B 2014, 'Behaviour of clay-fouled ballast under cyclic loading', Géotechnique, vol. 64, no. 6, pp. 502-506.
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Expansion of the rail network in congested coastal Australia compels track construction on soft clayey subgrade, including fine-grained estuarine soils. In such low-lying areas, where the water table is close to the ground surface, the saturated soft subgrade is often subjected to pumping (mud slurry) under the application of cyclic wheel loads, thereby causing fouling of the overlying ballast. This technical note presents the results of a series of large-scale, drained, cyclic, triaxial tests conducted on clay-fouled ballast. The impact of fouling on the stress–strain behaviour, resilient modulus and degradation of ballast is discussed.

Tennakoon, N, Indraratna, B & Rujikiatkamjorn, C 2014, 'Effect of ballast contamination on the behaviour of track substructure', Australian Geomechanics Journal, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 113-123.
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Ballast contamination by subgrade pumping and coal contamination is understood as major cause of track deterioration in many countries over the world. As contamination clogs the ballast voids, the drainage capacity of the track is compromised. Further, lubrication caused by these fines results in reducing load bearing capacity of the ballast layer. In this study, a series of large scale hydraulic conductivity and triaxial tests were performed to study the influence of contamination of ballast on its drainage and shear strength characteristics. Drainage capacity of the contaminated track under different level of contamination was determined, undertaking a numerical analysis using Seep/W. Shear strength of coal and clay contaminated ballast at different confining pressures were compared. Bearing capacity of contaminated track, using 'foundation under three layers' method was derived and plotted against the degree of contamination. Subsequently, the critical level of contamination by fouling materials such as clay and coal is discussed on the basis of hydraulic conductivity, shear strength and bearing capacity of the ballast.

Teoh, YH, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Amalina, MA & How, HG 2014, 'Impact of Premixed Kerosene Fuel on Performance, Emission and Combustion Characteristics in Partial HCCI Engine', Energy Procedia, vol. 61, pp. 1830-1834.
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Tijing, LD, Choi, J-S, Lee, S, Kim, S-H & Shon, HK 2014, 'Recent progress of membrane distillation using electrospun nanofibrous membrane', Journal of Membrane Science, vol. 453, pp. 435-462.
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Rapid population growth has resulted in imbalance in the supply and demand of fresh water for human consumption. As the sources of fresh water from surface water and fresh groundwater have been consistently depleting at an alarming rate, alternative sources such as seawater and brackish water are sought out. Desalination of water is considered as one of the most sustainable and best water resource alternatives. Membrane distillation (MD) is an emerging and promising technology for water desalination and purification. It presents many advantages over the common desalination technologies such as reverse osmosis. The two major factors hindering the application of MD are suitable membrane design and structure, and energy efficiency of the MD process. In recent years, membrane design has seen increasing research and interest. Advances in science and technology have led to new materials and techniques that could find potential application for membranes in MD. In the past few years, electrospinning of nanofibers has gained much interest and attention in their application for MD membrane, and so far has promising results. This review focuses on the recent progress in the application of nanofibrous membrane fabricated by electrospinning for MD application. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Tijing, LD, Woo, YC, Johir, MAH, Choi, J-S & Shon, HK 2014, 'A novel dual-layer bicomponent electrospun nanofibrous membrane for desalination by direct contact membrane distillation', CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL, vol. 256, pp. 155-159.
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In this study, a bicomponent nanofibrous composite membrane was fabricated by electrospinning and was tested for desalination by direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD). The nanofibrous membrane was composed of a dual-layered structure of poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PH) nanofibers and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) microfibers. Morphological characterization showed slightly beaded cylindrical PH nanofibers with porosity of about 90%. The contact angles of PH and PAN nano/microfibers were 150 degrees and 100 degrees, respectively. The nanofibrous membranes were tested by DCMD and a high water flux of 45 and 30 L m(-2) h(-1) was obtained for distilled water and 35 g L-1 NaCl solutions as feed, respectively using DL2 membrane (i.e., 25/75 PH/PAN thickness ratio). The present dual-layer membrane showed better flux performance compared to a commercial flat-sheet membrane. The results suggest the potential of the dual-layer nanofibrous membrane for DCMD applications

Torghabeh, A, Rezaee, R, Moussavi-Harami, R, Pradhan, B, Kamali, M & Kadkhodaie-Ilkhchi, A 2014, 'Electrofacies in gas shale from well log data via cluster analysis: A case study of the Perth Basin, Western Australia', Open Geosciences, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 393-402.
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AbstractIdentifying reservoir electrofacies has an important role in determining hydrocarbon bearing intervals. In this study, electrofacies of the Kockatea Formation in the Perth Basin were determined via cluster analysis. In this method, distance data were initially calculated and then connected spatially by using a linkage function. The dendrogram function was used to extract the cluster tree for formations over the study area. Input logs were sonic log (DT), gamma ray log (GR), resistivity log (IND), and spontaneous potential (SP). A total of 30 reservoir electrofacies were identified within this formation. Integrated geochemical and petrophysics data showed that zones with electrofacies 3, 4, 9, and 10 have potential for shale gas production. In addition, the results showed that cluster analysis is a precise, rapid, and cost-effective method for zoning reservoirs and determining electrofacies in hydrocarbon reservoirs.

Tran, NH, Nguyen, VT, Urase, T & Ngo, HH 2014, 'Role of nitrification in the biodegradation of selected artificial sweetening agents in biological wastewater treatment process', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 161, pp. 40-46.
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The biodegradation of the six artificial sweetening agents including acesulfame (ACE), aspartame (ASP), cyclamate (CYC), neohesperidindihydrochalcone (NHDC), saccharin (SAC), and sucralose (SUC) by nitrifying activated sludge was first examined. Experimental results showed that ASP and NHDC were the most easily degradable compounds even in the control tests. CYC and SAC were efficiently biodegraded by the nitrifying activated sludge, whereas ACE and SUC were poorly removed. However, the biodegradation efficiencies of the ASs were increased with the increase in initial ammonium concentrations in the bioreactors. The association between nitrification and co-metabolic degradation was investigated and a linear relationship between nitrification rate and co-metabolic biodegradation rate was observed for the target artificial sweeteners (ASs). The contribution of heterotrophic microorganisms and autotrophic ammonia oxidizers in biodegradation of the ASs was elucidated, of which autotrophic ammonia oxidizers played an important role in the biodegradation of the ASs, particularly with regards to ACE and SUC.

Tu, KL, Chivas, AR & Nghiem, LD 2014, 'Effects of chemical preservation on flux and solute rejection by reverse osmosis membranes', Journal of Membrane Science, vol. 472, pp. 202-209.
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Umar, Z, Pradhan, B, Ahmad, A, Jebur, MN & Tehrany, MS 2014, 'Earthquake induced landslide susceptibility mapping using an integrated ensemble frequency ratio and logistic regression models in West Sumatera Province, Indonesia', CATENA, vol. 118, pp. 124-135.
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Valipour, H, Khorsandnia, N, Crews, K & Foster, S 2014, 'A simple strategy for constitutive modelling of timber', CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS, vol. 53, pp. 138-148.
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van Emmerik, THM, Li, Z, Sivapalan, M, Pande, S, Kandasamy, J, Savenije, HHG, Chanan, A & Vigneswaran, S 2014, 'Socio-hydrologic modeling to understand and mediate the competition for water between agriculture development and environmental health: Murrumbidgee River basin, Australia', Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, vol. 18, no. 10, pp. 4239-4259.
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Abstract. Competition for water between humans and ecosystems is set to become a flash point in the coming decades in many parts of the world. An entirely new and comprehensive quantitative framework is needed to establish a holistic understanding of that competition, thereby enabling the development of effective mediation strategies. This paper presents a modeling study centered on the Murrumbidgee River basin (MRB). The MRB has witnessed a unique system dynamics over the last 100 years as a result of interactions between patterns of water management and climate driven hydrological variability. Data analysis has revealed a pendulum swing between agricultural development and restoration of environmental health and ecosystem services over different stages of basin-scale water resource development. A parsimonious, stylized, quasi-distributed coupled socio-hydrologic system model that simulates the two-way coupling between human and hydrological systems of the MRB is used to mimic and explain dominant features of the pendulum swing. The model consists of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations that describe the interaction between five state variables that govern the co-evolution: reservoir storage, irrigated area, human population, ecosystem health, and environmental awareness. The model simulations track the propagation of the external climatic and socio-economic drivers through this coupled, complex system to the emergence of the pendulum swing. The model results point to a competition between human 'productive' and environmental 'restorative' forces that underpin the pendulum swing. Both the forces are endogenous, i.e., generated by the system dynamics in response to external drivers and mediated by humans through technology change and environmental awareness, respectively. Sensitivity analysis carried out with the model further reveals that socio-hydrologic modeling can be used as a tool to explain or gain insight into observed co-ev...

Vinod, JS, Hyodo, M, Indraratna, B & Miller, R 2014, 'DEM modelling of methane hydrate bearing sand', Australian Geomechanics Journal, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 175-182.
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Methane gas hydrates are crystalline compounds formed from water and methane under certain pressure and temperature. They are mostly found in marine continental margin sediments and beneath the permafrost and considered as the future non-conventional energy resource. In order to develop innovative techniques for the safe extraction of methane gas from Methane Hydrate (MH) it is important to understand the shear behaviour of methane hydrate bearing sand. It has been reported that the pore scale habits of MH have a significant influence on the shear behaviour of methane hydrate bearing sand. In this paper, an attempt has been made to capture the effect of pore scale habits on the shear behaviour of methane hydrate bearing sand using the Discrete Element Method. Two modelling approaches (i) pore filling, leading to load bearing, and (ii) cementation, bonding of the interparticle contact, have been simulated using PFC3D. A series of triaxial monotonic tests were carried on an assembly of particles for different methane hydrate saturations. Both the approaches have captured, qualitatively, the stress ratio-axial strain behaviour similar to the laboratory experiments. The DEM simulation results highlight that MH saturation has a profound influence on the shear behaviour of hydrate bearing sand. It was shown that the cementation habit closely captures the variation of peak deviator stress with MH saturation similar to the laboratory experiments. Moreover, the evolution of micro-mechanical parameter (e.g. contact force and bond breakage) during shear loading has been presented and discussed.

Vo, PT, Ngo, HH, Guo, W, Zhou, JL, Nguyen, PD, Listowski, A & Wang, XC 2014, 'A mini-review on the impacts of climate change on wastewater reclamation and reuse', SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, vol. 494, pp. 9-17.
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© 2014 Elsevier B.V. To tackle current water insecurity concerns, wastewater reclamation and reuse have appeared as a promising candidate to conserve the valuable fresh water sources while increasing the efficiency of material utilization. Climate change, nevertheless, poses both opportunities and threats to the wastewater reclamation industry. Whereas it elevates the social perception on water-related issues and fosters an emerging water-reuse market, climate change simultaneously presents adverse impacts on the water reclamation scheme, either directly or indirectly. These effects were studied fragmentally in separate realms. Hence, this paper aims to link these studies for providing a thorough understanding about the consequences of the climate change on the wastewater reclamation and reuse. It initially summarizes contemporary treatment processes and their reuse purposes before carrying out a systematic analysis of available findings.

Wakil, MA, Kalam, MA, Masjuki, HH, Rizwanul Fattah, IM & Masum, BM 2014, 'Evaluation of rice bran, sesame and moringa oils as feasible sources of biodiesel and the effect of blending on their physicochemical properties', RSC Adv., vol. 4, no. 100, pp. 56984-56991.
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Development of a mathematical model for predicting important properties of biodiesel blends.

Wang, C, Gao, W, Song, C & Zhang, N 2014, 'Stochastic interval analysis of natural frequency and mode shape of structures with uncertainties', Journal of Sound and Vibration, vol. 333, no. 9, pp. 2483-2503.
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Wang, Q, Jiang, G, Ye, L & Yuan, Z 2014, 'Enhancing methane production from waste activated sludge using combined free nitrous acid and heat pre-treatment', Water Research, vol. 63, pp. 71-80.
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Wang, Q, Jiang, G, Ye, L, Pijuan, M & Yuan, Z 2014, 'Heterotrophic denitrification plays an important role in N2O production from nitritation reactors treating anaerobic sludge digestion liquor', Water Research, vol. 62, pp. 202-210.
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Wang, Q, Ye, L, Jiang, G, Hu, S & Yuan, Z 2014, 'Side-stream sludge treatment using free nitrous acid selectively eliminates nitrite oxidizing bacteria and achieves the nitrite pathway', Water Research, vol. 55, pp. 245-255.
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Wijekoon, KC, Hai, FI, Kang, J, Price, WE, Cath, TY & Nghiem, LD 2014, 'Rejection and fate of trace organic compounds (TrOCs) during membrane distillation', Journal of Membrane Science, vol. 453, pp. 636-642.
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Wijekoon, KC, Hai, FI, Kang, J, Price, WE, Guo, W, Ngo, HH, Cath, TY & Nghiem, LD 2014, 'A novel membrane distillation-thermophilic bioreactor system: Biological stability and trace organic compound removal', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 159, pp. 334-341.
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The removal of trace organic compounds (TrOCs) by a novel membrane distillationthermophilic bioreactor (MDBR) system was examined. Salinity build-up and the thermophilic conditions to some extent adversely impacted the performance of the bioreactor, particularly the removal of total nitrogen and recalcitrant TrOCs. While most TrOCs were well removed by the thermophilic bioreactor, compounds containing electron withdrawing functional groups in their molecular structure were recalcitrant to biological treatment and their removal efficiency by the thermophilic bioreactor was low (053%). However, the overall performance of the novel MDBR system with respect to the removal of total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and TrOCs was high and was not significantly affected by the conditions of the bioreactor. All TrOCs investigated here were highly removed (>95%) by the MDBR system. Biodegradation, sludge adsorption, and rejection by MD contribute to the removal of TrOCs by MDBR treatment.

Wu, C, Chanda, E & Willison, J 2014, 'Implementation and outcomes of online self and peer assessment on group based honours research projects', Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 21-37.
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Wu, D, Gao, W, Tangaramvong, S & Tin-Loi, F 2014, 'Robust stability analysis of structures with uncertain parameters using mathematical programming approach', International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, vol. 100, no. 10, pp. 720-745.
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Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. This paper presents a novel mathematical programming approach for the static stability analysis of structures with uncertainties within the framework of FEM. The considered uncertain parameters are material properties, geometry of element cross section, and loading conditions, all of which are described by an interval model. The proposed method formulates the two cases of interest, namely, worst and best buckling load calculation, into a pair of mathematical programming problems. Two straightforward advantages are exhibited by such formulations. The first advantage is that the proposed formulation can overcome the interference on the sharpness of bounds of the buckling load due to the interval dependence issue. The second benefit is that the information of uncertain parameters causing the extremities of buckling load can always be retrieved as by-products of the uncertain stability analysis. Some numerical examples are presented to illustrate the capability of the proposed method on various structures and the sharpness of the bounds of the buckling load factors. The efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed method are also demonstrated through comparison with the classical Monte Carlo simulation method. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Xia, Y, Wu, C, Zhang, F, Li, Z-X & Bennett, T 2014, 'Numerical Analysis of Foam-Protected RC Members under Blast Loads', International Journal of Protective Structures, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 367-390.
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Due to the threat of terrorist activities worldwide, research on the protection of building structures from the effects of explosions is critical in order to avoid catastrophic damage to buildings. Protecting our infrastructures means protecting lives. Metallic foam is an economical, light-weight and recyclable material used as a sacrificial cladding to protect structures. Its efficient energy absorption enables metallic foam to mitigate the blast energy acting on the protected structure. This paper describes our numerical investigation of the protective performance of metallic foam cladding on reinforced concrete (RC) structural members using LS-DYNA. In the numerical model, Modified Honeycomb (Material 126) from the LS-DYNA material library was used to represent the aluminium foam while Continuous Surface Cap Model (Material 159) was selected to model the behaviour of concrete. The numerical model was validated by field blast testing results. Using the validated numerical model, parametric studies were conducted to assess the influence of different foam properties on the pressure-impulse (P-I) diagrams of the foam-protected RC slabs. The influence of the thickness of the RC members was also investigated. The derived P-I diagrams will prove useful in the preliminary design of the foam cladding on RC members.

Xiao, R, Li, J & Shrestha, R 2014, 'Investigations of Vibration Based Condition Assessment of Timber Beams Strengthened with Fiber Reinforced Polymer', ADVANCES IN CIVIL ENGINEERING AND BUILDING MATERIALS III, vol. 831, pp. 53-57.
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In recent years, research trend on structural condition assessments have largely shifted toward utilizing vibration based methods for structural damage detection and evaluation. On the other hand, research and applications on use of fiber reinforce polymer (FRP) on timber for strengthening or repair damaged timber members in various types of timber structures has also become increasingly popular. Although the application of FRP for repair and/or strengthening of structures has been researched for a long time, research on non-destructive assessment or evaluation of the effectiveness and reliability after FRP repairing or strengthening is yet to be carried out. In this paper, the authors made an attempt on investigation of such issue utilizing Damage Index method, which is a robust vibration-based approach for damage detection. The investigation was aiming at localizing and quantifying damage in timber beams and, more importantly evaluating the effectiveness after the damage was repaired. An experimental program was carried out on five laminated veneer lumber (LVL) beams. Various damage scenarios (i.e. severe, medium, light damage) are introduced on these beams and then repaired with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). Experimental results indicate that the use of CFRP was effective in repairing the damaged timber beams. Utilizing Damage Index method can accurately detect the damage location. However, the investigation also shows that direct application of the Damage Index for evaluation of the effectiveness of rehabilitation of the damaged timber beam is not satisfactory. Further investigation and modification of the Damage Index method will be carried out in next stage research.

Xie, M, Nghiem, LD, Price, WE & Elimelech, M 2014, 'Relating rejection of trace organic contaminants to membrane properties in forward osmosis: Measurements, modelling and implications', WATER RESEARCH, vol. 49, pp. 265-274.
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Xie, M, Nghiem, LD, Price, WE & Elimelech, M 2014, 'Toward Resource Recovery from Wastewater: Extraction of Phosphorus from Digested Sludge Using a Hybrid Forward Osmosis-Membrane Distillation Process', ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 191-195.
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Xu, C, Xu, X, Pourghasemi, HR, Pradhan, B & Iqbal, J 2014, 'Volume, gravitational potential energy reduction, and regional centroid position change in the wake of landslides triggered by the 14 April 2010 Yushu earthquake of China', Arabian Journal of Geosciences, vol. 7, no. 6, pp. 2129-2138.
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Xu, J, Wu, C & Li, Z-X 2014, 'Analysis of direct shear failure mode for RC slabs under external explosive loading', International Journal of Impact Engineering, vol. 69, pp. 136-148.
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The single degree of freedom system (SDOF) is used to predict the shear responses of RC (reinforced concrete) members under external blast loading in the present study. An RC member suffering a blast may experience both flexural and shear failure modes. Under very high amplitude short duration shock, structural failure is usually governed by direct shear loading, whereas under low amplitude long duration shock, the structural failure is most likely governed by flexural damage. However, most previous studies are based on the assumption that flexural response dominates the failure mode without taking shear failure into consideration. In the present study, dynamic response equations of a structural member experiencing direct shear failure are derived for elastic, plastic and elasto-plastic shear resistance-slip models. With these equations the P-I curves of both flexural and direct shear failure modes are generated for an RC slab. Furthermore, a parametric study is conducted to investigate the effect of different parameters of RC slabs on the pressure-impulse (P-I) diagrams based on the elasto-plastic model. Finally, based on the results from the parametric studies, curve fitting technique is used to generate the P-I curves for RC slabs in a simplified way. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ye, L, Ni, B-J, Law, Y, Byers, C & Yuan, Z 2014, 'A novel methodology to quantify nitrous oxide emissions from full-scale wastewater treatment systems with surface aerators', Water Research, vol. 48, pp. 257-268.
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Youssef, AM, Pradhan, B & Maerz, NH 2014, 'Debris flow impact assessment caused by 14 April 2012 rainfall along the Al-Hada Highway, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using high-resolution satellite imagery', Arabian Journal of Geosciences, vol. 7, no. 7, pp. 2591-2601.
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Yu, Y, Zhang, C, Zhu, X, Kang, WH, Mao, X & Uy, B 2014, 'Design and Experimental Investigations of a Vibration Based Wireless Measurement System for Bridge Cable Tension Monitoring', Advances in Structural Engineering, vol. 17, no. 11, pp. 1657-1668.
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Cables are important components of a cable-stayed bridge, and the cable tension is a crucial factor in determining the overall condition assessment of a cable-stayed bridge structure. Based on the vibration frequency method, a wireless monitoring system for bridge cable tension force monitoring has been investigated and experimentally validated through laboratory and field tests in this paper. The vibration frequency-based method for cable tension measurement, the design method of the wireless measurement system with embedded identification algorithm, the test procedures, and relevant results are discussed, respectively. The developed wireless monitoring system is verified by a bridge model test in the laboratory and full-scale bridge tests in the field. Field experimental results show that the relative error between this wireless monitoring system and the reference wired system values is within 0.5%. Therefore, the developed wireless measurement system can provide an estimation of cable tension with sufficient accuracy. Moreover, the developed system is highly integrated and convenient in terms of installation and dismantling, and it has potential applicability prospects in emergency for the quick detection of cable tension.

Yusuf, YA, Pradhan, B & Idrees, MO 2014, 'Spatio-temporal Assessment of Urban Heat Island Effects in Kuala Lumpur Metropolitan City Using Landsat Images', Journal of the Indian Society of Remote Sensing, vol. 42, no. 4, pp. 829-837.
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Zhao, C, Xie, H, Mu, Y, Xu, X, Zhang, J, Liu, C, Liang, S, Ngo, HH, Guo, W, Xu, J & Wang, Q 2014, 'Bioremediation of endosulfan in laboratory-scale constructed wetlands: effect of bioaugmentation and biostimulation', Environmental Science and Pollution Research, vol. 21, no. 22, pp. 12827-12835.
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Zhao, YX, Gao, BY, Zhang, GZ, Phuntsho, S & Shon, HK 2014, 'Coagulation by titanium tetrachloride for fulvic acid removal: Factors influencing coagulation efficiency and floc characteristics', DESALINATION, vol. 335, no. 1, pp. 70-77.
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Coagulation efficiency of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4) was investigated for fulvic acid (FA) (as model organic matter) removal compared to traditional coagulants - iron chloride (FeCl3) and aluminum sulfate (Al2(SO4)3). The growth, breakage and regrowth nature of flocs formed by the three coagulants were also comparatively evaluated under different coagulation conditions. Results indicated that TiCl4 achieved higher removal of UV278 (absorbance at 278nm) and DOC (dissolved organic carbon) than FeCl3 and Al2(SO4)3, and TiCl4 produced the largest flocs with the highest floc growth rate. The responses of floc to different operating parameters depend on the coagulant used, while the floc breakage and re-aggregation were also significantly influenced by shear force and break-up period. Floc strength decayed with the increasing shear force, while the inverse trend was observed for floc recoverability. An extension in break-up period resulted in the deterioration of both floc strength and recoverability regardless of the coagulants used. Flocs formed by TiCl4 displayed the weakest recoverability after breakage by contrast to conventional coagulants. Since TiCl4 is only studied recently as a novel coagulant, the comparative study of coagulation performance and floc characteristics of TiCl4 against the traditional coagulants provided valuable information for its wide application in the future.© 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Zhao, YX, Gao, BY, Zhang, GZ, Qi, QB, Wang, Y, Phuntsho, S, Kim, J-H, Shon, HK, Yue, QY & Li, Q 2014, 'Coagulation and sludge recovery using titanium tetrachloride as coagulant for real water treatment: A comparison against traditional aluminum and iron salts', SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY, vol. 130, pp. 19-27.
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Coagulation/flocculation performance of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl 4), ferric chloride (FeCl3) and aluminum sulfate (Al 2(SO4)3) was comparatively investigated for real water treatment. Comparisons were made under different coagulant dose and initial solution pH conditions and their performances measured in terms of UV254 (absorbance at 254 nm) and DOC (dissolved organic carbon) removal and residual turbidity. Characteristics of aggregated flocs during the coagulation/flocculation process by the three coagulants were studied using a laser diffraction particle sizing device. The performances of the three coagulants were also assessed in terms of the membrane fouling potential of the ultrafiltration (UF) membrane or during coagulation-ultrafiltration (C-UF) process using a stirred and dead-end batch UF unit. Additionally, the TiCl 4 flocculated sludge was recovered to produce titanium dioxide (TiO2) under thermal treatment. The results indicate that the TiCl4 showed superior coagulation performance compared to that of FeCl3 and Al2(SO4)3, with the optimum removal of UV254 and DOC of 54.9% and 55.1%, respectively. The aggregated flocs formed by TiCl4 showed the highest growth rate with the largest size compared to those by FeCl3 and Al 2(SO4)3, but with the weakest floc strength and the worst re-growth ability. The TiCl4 and FeCl3 yielded the flocs with comparable degree of compaction, higher than that by Al 2(SO4)3. Additionally, the investigation of membrane fouling demonstrated that the severity of flux decline followed the order of Al2(SO4)3 < FeCl3 < TiCl4. TiCl4 coagulated sludge was also characterized by X-ray diffraction, Thermal analysis and scanning electron microscope. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Zhao, YX, Shon, HK, Phuntsho, S & Gao, BY 2014, 'Removal of natural organic matter by titanium tetrachloride: The effect of total hardness and ionic strength', JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, vol. 134, pp. 20-29.
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This study is the first attempt to investigate the effect of total hardness and ionic strength on coagulation performance and the floc characteristics of titanium tetrachloride (TiCl4). Membrane fouling under different total hardness and ionic strength conditions was also evaluated during a coagulation-ultrafiltration (C-UF) hybrid process. Coagulation experiments were performed with two simulated waters, using humic acid (HA, high molecular weight) and fulvic acid (FA, relatively low molecular weight), respectively, as model natural organic matter (NOM). Results show that both particle and organic matter removal can be enhanced by increasing total hardness and ionic strength. Floc characteristics were significantly influenced by total hardness and ionic strength and were improved in terms of floc size, growth rate, strength, recoverability and compactness. The results of the UF tests show that the pre-coagulation with TiCl4 significantly improves the membrane permeate fluxes. Under different total hardness and ionic strength conditions, the membrane permeate flux varied according to both NOM and floc characteristics. The increase in total hardness and ionic strength improved the membrane permeate flux in the case of HA simulated water treatment. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Zheng, Y, Hou, L, Newell, S, Liu, M, Zhou, J, Zhao, H, You, L & Cheng, X 2014, 'Community Dynamics and Activity of Ammonia-Oxidizing Prokaryotes in Intertidal Sediments of the Yangtze Estuary', Applied and Environmental Microbiology, vol. 80, no. 1, pp. 408-419.
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ABSTRACT Diversity, abundance, and activity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) were investigated using the ammonia monooxygenase α subunit ( amoA ) in the intertidal sediments of the Yangtze Estuary. Generally, AOB had a lower diversity of amoA genes than did AOA in this study. Clone library analysis revealed great spatial variations in both AOB and AOA communities along the estuary. The UniFrac distance matrix showed that all the AOB communities and 6 out of 7 AOA communities in the Yangtze Estuary were statistically indistinguishable between summer and winter. The studied AOB and AOA community structures were observed to correlate with environmental parameters, of which salinity, pH, ammonium, total phosphorus, and organic carbon had significant correlations with the composition and distribution of both communities. Also, the AOA communities were significantly correlated with sediment clay content. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) results indicated that the abundance of AOB amoA genes was greater than that of AOA amoA genes in 10 of the 14 samples analyzed in this study. Potential nitrification rates were significantly greater in summer than in winter and had a significant negative correlation with salinity. In addition, potential nitrification rates were correlated strongly only with archaeal amoA gene abundance and not with bacterial amoA gene abundance. However, no significant differences were observed between rates measured with and without ampicillin (AOB inhibitor). These results implied that archaea might play a more important role in mediating the oxidation of ...

Zhou, J & Broodbank, N 2014, 'Sediment-water interactions of pharmaceutical residues in the river environment', Water Research, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 61-70.
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To assess the environmental fate and risks of pharmaceuticals, the determination of their distributions between sediment and water is crucial as a controlling process. In this paper, the concentrations of 9 selected pharmaceuticals were determined in water and sediment samples from the River Medway, Kent, UK between December 2009 and December 2010. In the water phase, there was a spatial variation of concentration with the highest concentrations being detected in the sewage outfall, indicating it being an important point source in the river. In terms of seasonal variations, the highest concentrations (13-878ngL-1) were detected in June 2010. In the surface sediment phase, the highest concentrations (5.3-33.6ngg-1 dry weight) were observed at the sewage outfall, although in February 2010 the highest concentrations were detected downstream of the sewage outfall indicating a delayed response in sediment accumulation of pharmaceuticals in relation to the water phase. The partition coefficient of pharmaceuticals between surface sediment and water was variable, reflecting a dynamic process of sediment-water interaction and the varying nature of sediments. Overall the partition coefficient was shown to decrease with an increase in suspended sediment concentration. The organic carbon normalized partition coefficient of the pharmaceuticals was shown to be positively related to their molecular weight (MW), suggesting that sediment-water interactions were partly a partition process favoring large molecules. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Zhou, JL, Siddiqui, E, Ngo, HH & Guo, W 2014, 'Estimation of uncertainty in the sampling and analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from contaminated soil in Brighton, UK', Science of The Total Environment, vol. 497-498, pp. 163-171.
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© 2014 Elsevier B.V. The heterogeneity of environmental samples is increasingly recognised, yet rarely examined in organic contamination investigations. In this study soil samples from an ex-landfill site in Brighton, UK were analysed for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination by using a balanced sampling protocol. The analytical technique of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was found to be fit for purpose by the use of duplicate samples and the statistical analysis of variances, as well as of certified reference materials. The sampling uncertainty was found to significantly overweigh the analytical uncertainty, by a factor of 3 and 6 for PCBs and PAHs, respectively. The soil samples showed a general trend of PCB concentration that was under the recommended target level of 20. ng/g dry weight. It is possible that one site alongside the main road may exceed the 20. ng/g target level, after taking into consideration the overall measurement uncertainty (70.8%). The PAH contamination was more severe, with seven sites potentially exceeding the effect-range medium concentrations. The soil samples with relatively high PCB and PAH concentrations were all taken from the grass verge, which also had the highest soil organic carbon content. The measurement uncertainty which was largely due to sampling can be reduced by sampling at a high resolution spacing of 17. m, which is recommended in future field investigations of soil organic contamination.

Zhou, L, Zhang, Z, Jiang, W, Guo, W, Ngo, H-H, Meng, X, Fan, J, Zhao, J & Xia, S 2014, 'Effects of low-concentration Cr(VI) on the performance and the membrane fouling of a submerged membrane bioreactor in the treatment of municipal wastewater', BIOFOULING, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 105-114.
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The effects of low-concentration Cr(VI) (0.4 mg l-1) on the performance of a submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) in the treatment of municipal wastewater, as well as membrane fouling were investigated. Compared with the SMBR for control municipal wastewater, the SMBR for Cr(VI)-containing municipal wastewater had a higher concentration of soluble microbial products (SMP) with lower molecular weights, and smaller sludge particle sizes. Furthermore, low-concentration Cr(VI) induced membrane fouling, especially irreversible membrane pore blocking, which markedly shortened the service life of the membrane.

Zhou, L, Zhang, Z, Xia, S, Jiang, W, Ye, B, Xu, X, Gu, Z, Guo, W, Ngo, H-H, Meng, X, Fan, J & Zhao, J 2014, 'Effects of suspended titanium dioxide nanoparticles on cake layer formation in submerged membrane bioreactor', BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY, vol. 152, pp. 101-106.
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Effects of the suspended titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs, 50 mg/L) on the cake layer formation in a submerged MBR were systematically investigated. With nanometer sizes, TiO2 NPs were found to aggravate membrane pore blocking but postpone cake layer fouling. TiO2 NPs showed obvious effects on the structure and the distribution of the organic and the inorganic compounds in cake layer. Concentrations of fatty acids and cholesterol in the cake layer increased due to the acute response of bacteria to the toxicity of TiO2 NPs. Line-analysis and dot map of energy-dispersive X-ray were also carried out. Since TiO2 NPs inhibited the interactions between the inorganic and the organic compounds, the inorganic compounds (especially SiO2) were prevented from depositing onto the membrane surface. Thus, the postponed cake layer fouling was due to the changing features of the complexes on the membrane surface caused by TiO2 NPs.

Zhou, X, Jiang, G, Wang, Q & Yuan, Z 2014, 'A review on sludge conditioning by sludge pre-treatment with a focus on advanced oxidation', RSC Adv., vol. 4, no. 92, pp. 50644-50652.
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The production of excess sludge by biological wastewater treatment processes has been a serious issue for the operation of wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) on both the economic and environmental sides.

Zhou, X, Wang, Q, Jiang, G, Zhang, X & Yuan, Z 2014, 'Improving dewaterability of waste activated sludge by combined conditioning with zero-valent iron and hydrogen peroxide', Bioresource Technology, vol. 174, pp. 103-107.
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Ziaei, Z, Pradhan, B & Mansor, SB 2014, 'A rule-based parameter aided with object-based classification approach for extraction of building and roads from WorldView-2 images', Geocarto International, vol. 29, no. 5, pp. 554-569.
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Zulkifli, NWM, Kalam, MA, Masjuki, HH, Al Mahmud, KAH & Yunus, R 2014, 'The Effect of Temperature on Tribological Properties of Chemically Modified Bio-Based Lubricant', Tribology Transactions, vol. 57, no. 3, pp. 408-415.
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Zulkifli, NWM, Kalam, MA, Masjuki, HH, Mahmud, KAHA & Yunus, R 2014, 'The effect of palm oil trimethylolpropane ester on extreme pressure lubrication', Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part J: Journal of Engineering Tribology, vol. 228, no. 2, pp. 160-169.
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This paper presents the experimental results for the extreme pressure characteristics of a palm oil-based trimethylolpropane (TMP) ester blended with paraffin oil obtained using a four-ball machine. The load and speed of the sample were set between 20–120 kg and 1770 rpm, respectively. TMP ester produced from palm oil is biodegradable and has high lubricity properties, such as a higher flash point temperature and viscosity index. It has an affinity to surface asperities, which reduces wear between sliding contacts. Based on the calculation, it was found that majority of the oils in boundary regime and mixed elastrohydrodynamic regime. For the same contact load, the film thickness with TMP100 is 70% thicker than that with paraffin oil. In addition to that, test results revealed that (1) for all the used lubrication oils, TMP ester blended with paraffin provide better surface protection compared to paraffin oil. (2) Even though, TMP100 has the highest film thickness, at low load the wear is higher. Surface morphology test was conducted using scanning electron microscope and surface roughness tester. It was found that severe corrosive wear occurred at TMP100 which is probably due to the high oxygen content compared to other lubricant.

Zulkifli, NWM, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Yunus, R & Azman, SSN 2014, 'Lubricity of bio-based lubricant derived from chemically modified jatropha methyl ester', JURNAL TRIBOLOGI, vol. 1, pp. 18-39.

Alamdari, MM, Li, J & Samali, B 1970, 'Damage Localisation Using Symbolic Time Series Approach', Conference Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics Series, Conference of Society for Experimental Mechanics Series, Springer International Publishing, pp. 109-115.
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© The Society for Experimental Mechanics, Inc. 2014. The objective of this paper is to localise damage in a single or multiple state at early stages of development based on the principles of symbolic dynamics. Symbolic Time Series Analysis (STSA) of noise-contaminated responses is used for feature extraction to detect and localise a gradually evolving deterioration in the structure according to the changes in the statistical behaviour of symbol sequences. The method consists of four primary steps: (1) generating the time series data by a set of measurements over time at evenly spaced locations along the structure; (2) creating the symbol space to generate symbol sequences based on the wavelet transformed version of time series data; (3) developing the symbol probability vectors to achieve anomaly measures; (4) localising damage based on any sudden variation in anomaly measure of two adjacent locations. The method was applied to a clamped–clamped beam subjected to random excitation in presence of 5 % white noise to examine the efficiency and limitations of the method. Simulation results under various damage conditions confirmed the efficiency of the proposed approach for localisation of gradually evolving deterioration in the structure, however, for the future work the method needs to be verified by experimental data.

Al-sharif, AAA, Pradhan, B, Shafri, HZM & Mansor, S 1970, 'Quantitative analysis of urban sprawl in Tripoli using Pearson's Chi-Square statistics and urban expansion intensity index', IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, IOP Publishing, pp. 012006-012006.
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Althuwaynee, OF, Pradhan, B & Ahmad, N 1970, 'Landslide susceptibility mapping using decision-tree based CHi-squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID) and Logistic regression (LR) integration', IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, IOP Publishing, pp. 012032-012032.
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Aman, SNA, Latif, ZA & Pradhan, B 1970, 'Spatial probabilistic approach on landslide susceptibility assessment from high resolution sensors derived parameters', IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, IOP Publishing, pp. 012057-012057.
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Azari, B, Fatahi, B, Khabbaz, H & Vincent, P 1970, 'Elastic Visco-Plastic Behaviour of Soft Soils Improved with Preloading and Vertical Drains', Pavement Performance Monitoring, Modeling, and Management, Geo-Hubei 2014 International Conference on Sustainable Civil Infrastructure, American Society of Civil Engineers, China, pp. 17-24.
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In this study, a numerical solution adopting an elastic visco-plastic model with nonlinear creep function incorporated in the consolidation equations has been developed to investigate the time-dependent behavior of soft soil deposits improved with vertical drains and preloading. The employed elastic visco-plastic model is based on the framework of the modified Cam-Clay model capturing soil creep during excess pore water pressure dissipation. In addition, nonlinear variations of creep strain rate with stress and time and permeability variations during the consolidation process are considered. The developed numerical model is validated against Ska-Edeby test fill with the available long-term settlement and excess pore water pressure monitoring results for the soft clay deposit improved with vertical drains assisted preloading. Practicing engineers can adopt the developed code and guidelines to predict the long-term performance of embankments on soft soil improved using preloading. © ASCE 2014.

Ball, JE & Ara, J 1970, 'Variability in design flood flows from alternative rainfall temporal patterns', Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium 2014, HWRS 2014 - Conference Proceedings, Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium and the International Conference on Water Resources and Environment Research, Engineers Australia, Perth, Western Australia, pp. 36-43.
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Design flood estimation remains a problem for many engineering hydrologists. Advice is required regarding design flood characteristics for design of culverts and bridges, urban drainage systems, flood mitigation levees, dam spillways, and many other situations. The important flood characteristic depends on the nature of the problem, but typically is either the peak flow rate, peak level, hydrograph rate of rise, flood volume, or system failure. As discussed by Ball et al. (2011), a common approach for estimation of the peak flow is application of catchment modelling systems with the frequency of rainfall intensity transferred to the predicted peak flow rate. This approach assumes the temporal variability of rainfall does not influence the frequency transferral. Using rainfall temporal patterns generated using the approach of Varga et al. (2009), 60 alternative non-dimensional patterns were generated. These alternative temporal patterns were combined with the Intensity-Frequency-Duration information at Sydney to generate storm bursts over the full range of frequencies. The resultant storm bursts were applied to a SWMM based model of the Centennial Park catchment in Sydney Australia. Predicted flows for the various frequencies were analysed to ascertain the variability in the predicted peak flow arising from the temporal pattern of the rainfall and hence the validity of the assumption that the temporal pattern of rainfall does not influence the transferral of the rainfall frequency to the predicted flow frequency. Presented in this paper are the results of an investigation into the validity of this assumption.

Bastidas-Arteaga, E & Stewart, M 1970, 'Probabilistic cost-benefit analysis of climate change adaptation strategies for new RC structures exposed to chloride ingress', Safety, Reliability, Risk and Life-Cycle Performance of Structures and Infrastructures - Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability, ICOSSAR 2013, CRC Press, pp. 1503-1510.
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Reinforced concrete (RC) structures are subjected to environmental actions affecting their performance, serviceability and safety. Among these actions, chloride ingress leads to corrosion initiation and its interaction with service loading could reduce its operational life. Experimental evidence indicates that chloride ingress is highly influenced by weather conditions in the surrounding environment and therefore by climate change. Consequently, both structural design and maintenance should be adapted to these new environmental conditions. This work focuses on the assessment of the costs and benefits of a climate adaptation strategy for new RC structures placed in chloride-contaminated environments under various climate change scenarios. Their cost-effectiveness will be measured in terms of the Benefit-to-Cost Ratio (BCR) and the probability that BCR exceeds unity - i.e., Pr(BCR>1). BCR is selected because it seems to be a metric that government and policy makers are familiar with.The results indicate that the cost-effectiveness of a given adaptation strategy will depend mainly on exposure conditions and climate change scenarios. © 2013 Taylor & Francis Group, London.

BASTIDAS-ARTEAGA, E & STEWART, MG 1970, 'Climate adaptation of existing reinforced concrete structures in coastal areas', XIIIèmes JNGCGC, Dunkerque, Journées Nationales Génie Côtier - Génie Civil, Editions Paralia.
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Baweja, D, Benn, BT & Mills, JE 1970, 'The compressive strength of mortar made with cement containing limestone mineral addition, cement kiln dust and fly', Proceedings of the 23rd Australiasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, Southern Cross University, Byron Bay, Australia, pp. 119-124.

Benn, BT, Baweja, D & Mills, JE 1970, 'The influence of increased levels of limestone mineral addition used in combination with cement kiln dust on chloride ion penetration', RILEM International workshop on performance-based specification and control of concrete durability, RILEM International Workshop on Performance Based Specification and Control of Concrete Durability, RILEM, University of Zagreb, pp. 167-174.
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In 2010 the Australian cement standard, AS 3972 - General purpose and blended cement, increased the maximum mineral addition level to 7.5% from 5% and in addition allowed up to 5% of the mineral addition to be inorganic mineral materials derived from the clinker production process e.g. cement kiln dust. This paper will present the preliminary results of a research program that is investigating chloride ion ingress of mortar and concrete made with cement containing increased levels of mineral addition, where the mineral addition is a combination of limestone and cement kiln dust. The early results based on the Bulk Diffusion Test (ASTM C 1556/NT Build 443) and the Rapid Migration Test (AASHTO TP 64/NT Build 492) tests indicate that with a 10% mineral addition, based on limestone and 5% CKD, there does appear to be an increase in the rate of chloride penetration into mortar but the investigation will not be completed for at least another two years

Bjarnadottir, S, Li, Y & Stewart, M 1970, 'An assessment of damage costs due to hurricane wind and hurricane-induced storm surge considering the impacts of climate change', Safety, Reliability, Risk and Life-Cycle Performance of Structures and Infrastructures - Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability, ICOSSAR 2013, CRC Press, pp. 1247-1254.
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This paper presents a framework to assess the potential hurricane damage risks to residential construction. Studies show that hurricane wind, frequency and/or hurricane-induced surge may change as a result of climate change; therefore, hurricane risk assessments should be capable of accounting for the impacts climate change. The framework includes a hurricane wind field model, hurricane-induced surge height model, and hurricane vulnerability models. Three case study locations (Miami-Dade County, Florida, New Hanover County, North Carolina, Galveston County, Texas) are presented for two types of analyses: Annual Regional Loss Estimation and Event-Based Regional Loss Estimation. Demographic information, such as median house value and changes in house numbers, and distribution of houses for different exposures, is used to estimate the time-dependent probability of damage with or without possible climate change induced change in wind speed, frequency, and/or surge height. Through both analyses it was found that climate change may have a significant impact on regional hurricane damage losses. © 2013 Taylor & Francis Group, London.

Bjarnadottir, S, Li, Y, Stewart, M & Fang, S 1970, 'Hurricane risk assessment of power distribution poles considering the impact of climate change', Safety, Reliability, Risk and Life-Cycle Performance of Structures and Infrastructures - Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability, ICOSSAR 2013, CRC Press, pp. 1447-1454.
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Storm related power outages cause approximately $270 million in repair costs, annually, in the United States (U.S.). Hurricane intensity or/and frequency may change due to the increase in sea surface temperature as a result of climate change. Current hurricane risk assessments of the power distribution system consider only current climate conditions; therefore, it is becoming increasingly important to explore the effects a changing climate may have on the failure rates of power distribution poles. This paper proposes a framework to evaluate the vulnerability of timber power distribution poles to hurricanes under the potential impact of climate change. The framework includes a reliability analysis of the designed distribution poles using fragility analysis, effect of degradation of timber poles, probabilistic wind models, and an assessment of the potential impacts of climate change on annual failure rates of distribution poles. This paper finds that climate change may have a significant effect on the structural failure probability of distribution poles. © 2013 Taylor & Francis Group, London.

Brennan, J, Ding, G, Wonschik, C-R & Vessalas, K 1970, 'A Closed-Loop System of Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling', Proceedings of the International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC), 31st International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction, International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC), Sydney, Australia, pp. 499-505.
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This study discusses the construction and demolition waste recycling stream both in Australia and in Germany. Differences and commonalities in commercial practices between the two countries are outlined, and open research questions are introduced. Following McDonough and Braungart’s cradle-to-cradle theorem, and ideal closed-loop system within the building life cycle is proposed. Deficiencies and efficiencies in the closed-loop system are reported and assessed and related parameters promoting or hindering the closed-loop system are evaluated. Results of the study demonstrate that reusable and non-reusable materials generated from construction and demolition operations, which are destined for landfill, are categorized differently between the recycling systems used in Australia and Germany.

Carper, KL 1970, '10th International Conference on Shock & Impact Loads on Structures', Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities, International Conference on Shock and Impact Loads on Structures, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Singapore, pp. 205-205.
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Concrete-filled double skin steel tubes (CFDST) have widely been used in constructing high-rise buildings, arch bridges and factories. Much research has been done to study its behaviour under axial compression. However, limited information can be found on its performance under lateral impact loading, especially under blast loading. In this paper, numerical models are developed for CFDST with two different cross sections: one is with CHS (circular hollow section) outer and CHS (circular hollow section) inner, and the other one is with SHS (square hollow section) outer and SHS (square hollow section) inner. Conventional concrete is filled in double skin steel tubes. Different blast loadings are applied on the surface of these columns for dynamic analysis. In addition, different axial loads are also applied on the columns to simulate the combined load condition. The displacement-time history obtained from each simulation is recorded and then compared. The key factors that determine the performance of CFDST columns under blast loading are discussed.

Chakraborty, S, Paul, M, Murshed, M & Ali, M 1970, 'A novel video coding scheme using a scene adaptive non-parametric background model', 2014 IEEE 16th International Workshop on Multimedia Signal Processing (MMSP), 2014 IEEE 16th International Workshop on Multimedia Signal Processing (MMSP), IEEE, Jakarta, INDONESIA.
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Chakraborty, S, Paul, M, Murshed, M & Ali, M 1970, 'An efficient video coding technique using a novel non-parametric background model', 2014 IEEE International Conference on Multimedia and Expo Workshops (ICMEW), 2014 IEEE International Conference on Multimedia and Expo Workshops (ICMEW), IEEE, Chengdu, PEOPLES R CHINA.
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Cong, NN, Thi, HN, Chen, S-S, Chan, W-H, Ngo, HH & Guo, W 1970, 'Step forward to the improvement of osmosis membrane bioreactor for sustainable water', ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, 248th National Meeting of the American-Chemical-Society (ACS), AMER CHEMICAL SOC, San Francisco, CA.

Dackermann, U, Smith, WA, Li, J & Randall, RB 1970, 'On the use of the cepstrum and artificial neural networks to identify structural mass changes from response-only measurements', PROCEEDINGS OF INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON NOISE AND VIBRATION ENGINEERING (ISMA2014) AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON UNCERTAINTY IN STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS (USD2014), International Conference on Noise and Vibration Engineering, KU Leuven - Departement Werktuigkunde, Leuven, Belgium, pp. 3739-3750.
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This paper presents a damage identification technique based on response-only data utilising cepstrum analysis and artificial neural networks (ANNs) for the identification of added mass in a two-storey framed structure. The proposed technique applies cepstrum-based operational modal analysis (OMA) for the regeneration of frequency response functions (FRFs), and added mass is detected through the combined use of principal component analysis (PCA) for data compression and ANNs for feature extraction and pattern recognition. In particular, different treatments of the zeros in the curve-fitting of the transfer function cepstrum are investigated to improve the automation potential of the method for application in continuous online structural health monitoring (SHM). The proposed technique is validated on a laboratory structure tested on a large-scale shake table with ambient base loading. The results of the investigation show that the method is effective in identifying added mass based on response-only measurements.

Dadras, M, Shafri, HZM, Ahmad, N, Pradhan, B & Safarpour, S 1970, 'Six decades of urban growth using remote sensing and GIS in the city of Bandar Abbas, Iran', IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, IOP Publishing, pp. 012007-012007.
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Erkmen, RE, Bradford, MA & Crews, K 1970, 'Treatment of locking behaviour for displacement-based finite element analysis of composite beams', STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING AND MECHANICS, Advances in Structural Engineering and Mechanics, Technopress, Soul, Korea, pp. 163-180.
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Fang, J, Xu, F, Sun, G, Li, G, Gao, Y & Li, Q 1970, 'Crashworthiness investigation for functionally graded thickness (FGT) circular column', 8th Australasian Congress on Applied Mechanics, ACAM 2014, as Part of Engineers Australia Convention 2014, Australasian Congress on Applied Mechanics, Informit, Melbourne, Australia, pp. 191-197.
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There has been continuous pursuit of new thin-walled structures in transportation and defense industries recently for more efficient usage of materials in order to achieve light weight and high energy absorption. In this paper, a functionally graded thickness (FGT) tube with a varying wall thickness along axial direction is introduced. The established finite element model of FGT circular tube is validated by performed physical experiments. Numerical analysis demonstrates that gradient exponent controlling the variation of thickness distributions and the thickness interval have significant effect on governing the percentage increase in absorbed-energy. Furthermore, the FGT circular column is found superior to the uniform thickness column in crashworthiness.

Fatahi, B, Hokmabadi, AS & Samali, B 1970, 'Seismic Performance-Based Design for Tall Buildings Considering Soil-Pile-Structure Interaction', Advances in Soil Dynamics and Foundation Engineering, Geo-Shanghai 2014, American Society of Civil Engineers, Shanghai, pp. 333-342.
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Soil-Structure Interaction (SSI) plays a significant role in seismic response of the structures by altering the dynamic properties of the system and increasing the lateral deflection which in turn could change the performance level of structures. In this study, in order to experimentally investigate the influence of different types of foundations on SSI phenomena, a series of shaking table tests has been conducted considering four different cases, namely: (i) fixed-base structure representing the situation excluding the soil-structure interaction; (ii) structure supported by shallow foundation on soft soil; and (iii) structure supported by floating pile foundation in soft soil, and (iv) structure supported by end-bearing pile foundation in soft soil. Benchmark earthquakes including the 1995 Kobe, the 1994 Northridge, the 1968 Hachinohe, and the 1940 El Centro earthquakes are adopted. Results indicate that presence and type of pile foundations change the dynamic characteristics and behaviour of the superstructure which should be considered in predicting the damage level of structural and non-structural elements.

Fauzi, H, Metselaar, HSC, Mahlia, TMI & Silakhori, M 1970, 'Thermal Reliability of Myristic Acid/Palmitic Acid/Sodium Laurate Eutectic Mixture: A Feasibility Study of Accelerated Aging for Thermal Energy Storage Application', Energy Procedia, 6th International Conference on Applied Energy (ICAE), Elsevier BV, Taipei, TAIWAN, pp. 49-54.
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Gandhi, S & Jupp, J 1970, 'BIM and Australian Green Star Building Certification', Computing in Civil and Building Engineering (2014), 2014 International Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers, pp. 275-282.
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© ASCE 2014. Nearly 80% of green certified structures in Australia are commercial office buildings. Attaining the highest certification often requires the application of design modelling and analysis tools, demanding greater levels of design coordination and management. Whilst the opportunities for green building certification to benefit from building information modelling (BIM) may be obvious, in Australia, the relationship is yet to be validated. This research seeks to address this gap by evaluating the application of BIM for green building certification. The authors present a case study of an Australian commercial office building. Project participants were interviewed and the as-built BIM model audited to analyse data against certification criteria. The results identify gaps in design management and modelling practices, as well as a lack of alignment between design activities and green building certification criteria. Gaps in internal project coordination were more pronounced than with external certification tasks. The study suggests the development of dedicated BIM execution and coordination plans for green building design and certification is required, and discusses the mapping of BIM management requirements with certification standards, criteria and processes.

Gandhi, S, Sankaran, S, Er, M, Orr, K & Khabbaz, H 1970, 'Developing Technology-Assisted Multi-Disciplinary Learning Strategies', Proceedings of the International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC), 31st International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction, International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC), Sydney, pp. 346-353.
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The construction industry is multi-disciplinary and collaborative in nature. Project managers are expected to understand the relations, roles and responsibilities in this collaborative working environment. Construction project managers need to be equipped with skills to process and understand the principles of interdisciplinary working. In order to keep pace with industry requirements, it is necessary for universities to teach subjects in tertiary education courses that educate and motivate construction students towards interdisciplinary working. This paper is based on a research project aimed at understanding opportunities and challenges for introducing subjects that require students from different disciplines to work together on an integrated project. In order to teach interdisciplinary working principles to project management students, a new post-graduate subject, Integrated Project Delivery, was introduced in the Master of Project Management at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) as part of a construction sub-major. The subject was designed and teaching materials prepared based on inputs from architecture, engineering and construction management academics. In the teaching of the subject, interdisciplinary student teams were formed based on educational background and professional experience. An (pedagogical) action research approach was adopted to study the challenges and benefits of new ways of learning in line with the UTS learning strategies being adopted by academics. The main finding of this research concluded that project-based learning is very valuable to both students and industry alike as it promotes working on a live project enthusiastically and gaining industry experience in new ways of working adopted by industry. Working in multi-disciplinary teams requires students to respect the other team participants from different backgrounds, inculcating values of team spirit and discouraging adversarial behaviours. Furthermore this research ...

Gao, Y, Qiu, N, Fang, J & Wang, S 1970, 'A Test Method and Simulation Study of PMMA Glazing on Motion Deviation', SAE Technical Paper Series, SAE 2014 World Congress & Exhibition, SAE International.
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For achieving vehicle light weighting, the motion deviation is calculated for substitution of PMMA glazing for inorganic glass. In this paper, a test method is proposed to measure and calculate the motion deviation of the dual-curvature glass. To simulate the dual-curvature glass, the torus surface is fitted with least square method according to the window frame data, which are measured by Coordinate Measuring Machine. By using this method, the motion deviation of PMMA glazing and inorganic glass can be calculated, which can not only validate the effectiveness of motion simulation, but also compare the performances. The results demonstrate that the performance of PMMA glazing is better than that of inorganic glass and the simulation results is validated. Copyright © 2014 SAE International.

Gardner, AP, Willey, K, Vessalas, K & Li, J 1970, 'Experiences with flipped learning in subjects in consecutive stages of aCivil Engineering programme', Proceedings of the 25th Annual Conference of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education, AAEE - Annual Conference of Australasian Association for Engineering Education, School of Engineering & Advanced Technology, Massey University, Wellington, NZ.
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CONTEXT Flipped learning is an instructional approach which allows instructors the opportunity to use a blending of online and face to face learning activities. The main affordance of flipped learning is the opportunity to free up class time to allow students and instructors to engage in collaborative learning activities designed to consolidate and deepen conceptual understanding of the subject material. Research has shown that participating in flipped instruction can change the way students approach their studies and improve motivation.PURPOSE OR GOALWe are interested in students’ experience of the flipped environment, particularly their expectations of a learning environment, and the level of responsibility they take for their own learning. The purpose of this analysis is to create a baseline against which future instances of flipped learning can be compared.APPROACH Student perceptions of flipped instruction were investigated through survey responses and observations of students in a first year subject (Engineering Mechanics) a second year subject (Engineering Computations) and a third year subject (Construction Materials) in a Civil Engineering degree programme. In particular, students were asked to explain the impact of the flipped activities on their learning experience including any changes in how they approach their studies or managed their time.OUTCOMES Most students in each of the three subjects agreed that they ‘liked’ flipped instruction compared to the traditional lecture format. The majority of students in each subject also agreed that it is reasonable to expect students to prepare before attending a face to face session. However, some students made strong negative comments demonstrating how the flipped environment did not meet their expectations of how learning should be organised. This study suggests that students in the second and third year subjects were not necessarily showing signs of better self-regulation and time man...

Gu, X, Li, J & Li, Y 1970, 'Innovative semi-active storey isolation system utilising novel magnetorheological elastomer base isolators', Proceedings of the 23rd Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, Southern Cross University, Byron Bay, Australia, pp. 925-930.
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Seismic base isolation has been a widely adopted technique for earthquake protection of civil infrastructures. As the technology matures, new innovative designs of the base isolation systems become increasingly attractive to researchers, especially storey base isolation systems due to its design flexibility and better performance for seismic protection. Moreover, considering the unpredictable and diverse nature of earthquakes, the conventional base isolation systems have reached their limit due to their inherent passive nature which is incapable to adjust their isolation frequencies according to the characteristics of the earthquakes. A recent advance on the development of an adaptive magneto-rheological elastomer (MRE) base isolator provides an opportunity for the research and development on new adaptive base isolation systems. In this paper, an innovative semi-active storey isolation system utilising the novel magneto-rheological elastomer base isolator has been proposed. The proposed isolation system design incorporates adaptive magneto-rheological elastomer isolators under each storey of the structure instead of being only installed beneath of the entire structure. Such innovative system allows high authority semiactive control of storey responses by instantly changing stiffness of the isolator. Extensive simulation has been conducted to investigate such system using 5-storey international benchmark model under four benchmark earthquakes.

Guma Biro Turk, K & Pradhan, B 1970, 'Exploitation of GeoEye-1 Data for Land Use/Land Cover Analysis Using Object-Based Image Analysis in the Eastern Nile Basin of Sudan', 40th COSPAR Scientific Assembly.

Habibullah, M, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Ashraful, AM, Habib, MA & Mobarak, HM 1970, 'Effect of Bio-Lubricant on Tribological Characteristics of Steel', Procedia Engineering, Elsevier BV, pp. 740-745.
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Hailu, M, Shrestha, R & Crews, K 1970, 'Long-term experimental investigation of timber composite beams in cyclic humidity conditions', WCTE 2014 - World Conference on Timber Engineering, Proceedings.
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A long term laboratory investigation on two six-meter-span timber composite beams was started from March 2012 at the University of Technology Sydney. These timber composites were made of laminated veneer lumber (LVL). The web and the flanges of the composite timber section were connected using screw-gluing technique. The specimens have been under sustained loads of (2.1kPa) and the environmental conditions was cyclically alternated between normal and very humid conditions whilst the temperature remained quasi constant (22 °C)-typical cycle duration was six to eight weeks. With regard to EC 5, the environmental conditions can be classified as service class 3 where the relative humidity of the air exceeds 85% and the moisture content of the timber samples reaches 20%. During the test, the mid-span deflection, moisture content of the timber beams and relative humidity of the air were continuously monitored. The paper presents the results and observations of the long-term test to-date and the test is continuing.

Hailu, M, Shrestha, R & Crews, K 1970, 'Long-term experimental investigation of timber composite beams in cyclic humidity conditions', WCTE 2014 - World Conference on Timber Engineering, Proceedings, World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE), Quebec City, Canada.
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A long term laboratory investigation on two six-meter-span timber composite beams was started from March 2012 at the University of Technology Sydney. These timber composites were made of laminated veneer lumber (LVL). The web and the flanges of the composite timber section were connected using screw-gluing technique. The specimens have been under sustained loads of (2.1kPa) and the environmental conditions was cyclically alternated between normal and very humid conditions whilst the temperature remained quasi constant (22 °C)-typical cycle duration was six to eight weeks. With regard to EC 5, the environmental conditions can be classified as service class 3 where the relative humidity of the air exceeds 85% and the moisture content of the timber samples reaches 20%. During the test, the mid-span deflection, moisture content of the timber beams and relative humidity of the air were continuously monitored. The paper presents the results and observations of the long-term test to-date and the test is continuing.

Hailu, M, Shrestha, R & Crews, KI 1970, 'Timber composite floor beams under 2 years lon-term load', Proceedings of the 23rd Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials (ACMSM23), Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, Southern Cross University, Byron Bay, Australia, pp. 607-612.
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The long-term behaviour of composite beams is characterised by the response of its component parts (flanges and webs) to load, moisture content, temperature and relative humidity of the environment. This paper reports the results of a two years long-term test on two 6 m span composite floor beams made of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) under service load performed in an indoor, semi-controlled, and unheated environment. The environmental conditions were characterized by artificially induced cyclic air humidity with quasi-constant temperature. These conditions can be characterized as reasonably severe and presumably close to service class 3 according to Eurocode 5. During the test, the mid-span deflection, moisture content and air humidity were monitored. The paper recommends a creep factor for design of timber composite beams in severe environmental conditions.

Hassani Esgandani, M, Vessalas, K, Baweja, D & Schmidt, Z 1970, 'Effect Of Chemical Admixtures On Water Penetration Of Concrete', Proceedings of RILEM International workshop on performance-based specification and control of concrete durability, RILEM International workshop on performance-based specification and control of concrete durability, RILEM, Zagreb, Croatia, pp. 209-216.
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Durability of concrete is in part determined by its resistance to the penetration of deleterious substances entering as a liquid or gas that is considered to be a function of its permeation capacity. Permeation capacity is controlled by the connectivity of pores that exist in the cementitious matrix and paste-aggregate boundaries. The presence of chemical admixtures in a mixture can greatly reduce the permeation capacity of hardened concrete by several orders of magnitude. Permeability-reducing admixtures are effective in blocking capillary pores by making them hydrophobic as well as depositing pore-blocking products into the pores.This paper presents an experimental study into the effectiveness of using permeabilityreducing admixtures including hydrophobic pore blockers and crystalline self-sealers. Concretes with increasing w/c ratios of 0.4, 0.5 and 0.6 have been investigated. The effect of admixtures on water penetration has been assessed through monitoring the changes in mass transport mechanisms. In addition to the available standard test methods, the coefficient of permeability of water has been directly determined using a specially developed test method described in this paper. Results indicate that permeability-reducing admixtures can reduce the water penetration of concrete significantly if used correctly and if the design intent is defined.

He, X & Liang, D 1970, 'SPH study on the influence of shear-rate dependent effects on the flow behaviour of dry granular assemblies', Proceedings of the 11th (2014) Pacific/Asia Offshore Mechanics Symposium, PACOMS 2014, pp. 198-204.
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Phenomenally, the loose soil behaves like a 'frictional material' in most circumstance, so Mohr-coulomb type models are adopted in the modeling. However, these models generally do not consider the shear-rate dependent effect of the MohrCoulomb friction angle. This paper reports on an application of the incompressible Smooth Particle Hydrodynamic method to the dynamics of the dry granular assemblies. The traditional model with a constant friction angle is compared with the modified Mohr-Coulomb model with a shear-rate dependent friction angle, by comparing their predicted runout of dry granular columns.

Heitor, A, Indraratna, B & Rujikiatkamjorn, C 1970, 'Aspects Related to the Small Strain Shear Modulus Behavior of Compacted Soils Subjected to Wetting and Drying', Geo-Congress 2014 Technical Papers, Geo-Congress 2014, American Society of Civil Engineers, pp. 1433-1442.
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The dynamic properties of a soil are routinely investigated to describe its engineering behavior under repeated loading. Although the effect of suction on the dynamic response of soils is significant, there have been limited studies in which the post-compacted changes in suction induced by wetting and drying cycles have been considered. In this paper, aspects related to the dynamic properties with special reference to the small strain shear modulus of compacted soils subjected to wetting and drying are described. Further evidence on the dynamic response in terms of small strain shear modulus (G0) of a compacted soil subjected to wetting-drying is presented and novel insights into small strain behavior in multiple cycles of wetting and drying are shown. Particular emphasis is placed on the hysteric behavior and its dependence on the suction history. The results not only confirm the importance of the current suction ratio (or CSR), but also suggest that subsequent wetting-drying cycles further induce hysteretic changes in relation to the small strain shear modulus, particularly when following the wetting paths. © 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.

Heitor, A, Indraratna, B & Rujikiatkamjorn, C 1970, 'Role of the compaction energy level on the small strain stiffness of a silty sand soil subjected to wetting and drying', UNSATURATED SOILS: RESEARCH & APPLICATIONS, VOLS 1 AND 2, 6th International Conference on Unsaturated Soils (UNSAT), CRC Press, Sydney, AUSTRALIA, pp. 749-754.
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Ho, L, Fatahi, B & Khabbaz, H 1970, 'Analytical solution for one-dimensional consolidation of unsaturated soil deposit subjected to step loading', UNSATURATED SOILS: RESEARCH & APPLICATIONS, VOLS 1 AND 2, International conference on Unsaturated Soils, Taylor & Francis Group, Sydney, pp. 1763-1769.
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This paper discusses a simple yet precise analytical solution for one-dimensional (1-D) consolidation of an unsaturated soil deposit subjected to a step loading. This solution is derived from nonlinear governing equations of flow using eigenfunction expansions and Laplace transform techniques. In addition, the mathematical development adopts one-way drainage condition for the unsaturated soil, in which the top boundary is permeable to the air and water phases whereas the base is impervious to these phases. Eigenfunctions and eigenvalues are parts of the general solution and can be obtained based on the proposed drainage boundary condition. Furthermore, uniformly distributed initial pore pressures can be used to determine the initial generalised Fourier coefficients. The Laplace transform method is adopted to solve the first-order differential equations. Once the equations with transformed domain are obtained, the final solutions, which are proposed to be functions of time (t) and depth (z), can be achieved by taking an inverse Laplace transform. A worked example is provided to present the consolidation characteristics of unsaturated soils based on the proposed solution. Significance of air to water permeability ratio on the excess pore-water and pore-air pressure dissipation and compression is investigated and discussed. © 2014 Taylor & Francis Group.

Ho, L, Fatahi, B & Khabbaz, H 1970, 'One-Dimensional Consolidation of Unsaturated Soil Deposit with Various Initial Conditions', Soil Behavior and Geomechanics, Geo-Shanghai 2014, American Society of Civil Engineers, Shanghai, pp. 145-155.
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This study presents a novel analytical solution for one-dimensional (1-D) consolidation for unsaturated soils using the Eigen function expansion method to solve inhomogeneous governing equations of air and water phases. Eigen functions and eigen values are parts of the general solution and can be obtained based on the proposed boundary condition. Additionally, the Laplace transform method is adopted to solve the first-order differential equations. Once all equations with transformed domain are obtained, the final solutions, which are proposed to be functions of time and depth, can be achieved by taking an inverse Laplace transform. The mathematical procedure accentuates a non-uniform initial condition in which initial excess pore pressures are linearly decreasing with depth. Dimensionless parameters a and w that control the gradients of distributions of initial excess pore-air and pore-water pressures, respectively, are introduced in this paper. A worked example is provided to investigate effects of a and w on the consolidation behaviour of unsaturated soils. © 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.

Huang, Y & Hong, G 1970, 'Development of a numerical model for investigating the EDI+GPI engine', Proceedings of the 19th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, AFMC 2014, Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, 19th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Melbourne, Australia.
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This paper reports the development of a CFD model for investigating the ethanol direct injection plus gasoline port injection (EDI+GPI) engine. The model was developed using the commercial CFD code ANSYS FLUENT as a solver. The computational domain was meshed based on the scanned geometry of the cylinder head. Realizable k-ε turbulence model was used to simulate the in-cylinder flows. The Eulerian-Lagrangian approach was used to model the evolution of the fuel sprays. The dual-fuel combustion process was modelled by the Extended Coherent Flame Model (ECFM) in the partially premixed combustion concept. A five-dimensional presumed Probability Density Function (PDF) look-up table was used to model the dual-fuel turbulence-chemistry interactions. The model was verified by the good agreement between the numerical and experimental results of spray shapes in a constant volume chamber and cylinder pressure on the EDI+GPI research engine. Sample simulation results showed that the model was capable to simulate the spray combustion process of the EDI+GPI engine and meet the needs of the investigation.

Huang, Y, Hong, G & Huang, R 1970, 'Numerical Investigation to the Effect of Ethanol/Gasoline Ratio on Charge Cooling in an EDI+GPI Engine', SAE Technical Paper Series, SAE 2014 International Powertrain, Fuels & Lubricants Meeting, SAE International, Birmingham, UK, pp. 1-10.
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Copyright © 2014 SAE International. The work reported in this paper contributes to understanding the effects of ethanol/gasoline ratio on mixture formation and cooling effect which are crucial in the development of EDI+GPI engine. The spray simulations were carried out using a commercial CFD code. The model was verified by comparing the numerical and experimental results of spray shapes in a constant volume chamber and cylinder pressure in an EDI+GPI research engine. The verified model was used to investigate the fuel vaporization and mixture formation of the EDI+GPI research engine. The effect of the ethanol/gasoline ratio on charge cooling has been studied. Compared with GPI only, EDI+GPI demonstrated stronger effect on charge cooling by decreased in-cylinder temperature. However, the cooling effect was limited by the low evaporation rate of the ethanol fuel due to its lower saturation vapour pressure than gasoline's in low temperature conditions. The cooling effect of EDI increased with the increase of ethanol/gasoline ratio until the ratio reached 58% (by volume). Further increase of ethanol/gasoline ratio did not improve the cooling effect, but left more liquid ethanol droplets in the combustion chamber by the time of spark. This could lead to incomplete combustion and explained the increased CO and HC emissions with the increase of ethanol content as reported in the experiments. The cooling potential and the completeness of ethanol evaporation were two completing factors that determine the final cooling effect of EDI. This implied the existence of ethanol/gasoline ratio 40-50% which can optimize the cooling effect and combustion performance.

Huang, Y, Huang, S, Huang, R & Hong, G 1970, 'Macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of ethanol and gasoline sprays', Proceedings of the 19th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, AFMC 2014, Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, 19th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Melbourne, Australia, pp. 1-4.
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This paper reports the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of ethanol and gasoline direct injection sprays from a multi-hole injector. The spray experiments were conducted in a constant volume chamber in atmospheric condition (1 bar and 300 K ambient condition). Compressed nitrogen was used to pressurize the injection pressure which was 6.0 MPa. The injection pulse width was 2.0 ms. The high speed Shadowgraphy imaging technique with a speed of 20000 fps @ 608×288 pixels was used to capture the macroscopic spray characteristics. Based on that, the high magnification imaging of the ethanol and gasoline sprays close to the nozzle exit was conducted with the same flash and camera but with an AFTVision ZL0911 microscope. In order to capture the first fuel seen from the nozzle exit, the camera speed was increased to 50000 fps @ 240×88 pixels. Results showed that the macroscopic characteristics of ethanol and gasoline sprays were rather similar in terms of spray tip penetration, spray angle and spray projected area in spite of the differences in physical properties. However, the magnified spray images at the nozzle exit showed that ethanol spray had a larger and sheet-like ligaments at the end of injection than gasoline spray did due to ethanol's larger surface tension and viscosity. It may imply that the fuel properties only have significant effect on the spray during the primary breakup process, but not on the secondary breakup process.

Hunt, A, Stuart, B, Thomas, P, James, D, David, B, Geneste, J-M & Delannoy, J-J 1970, 'Characterisation of ochre pigments from Jawoyn rock art paintings of Arnhem Land, Australia', International Symposium on Archaeometry, Los Angeles.

Imtenan, S, Masjuki, HH, Varman, M, Arbab, MI, Sajjad, H, Fattah, IMR, Abedin, MJ & Hasib, ASM 1970, 'Emission and Performance Improvement Analysis of Biodiesel-diesel Blends with Additives', Procedia Engineering, 10th International Conference on Mechanical Engineering (ICME), Elsevier BV, BUET, Dhaka, BANGLADESH, pp. 472-477.
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Indraratna, B, Nimbalkar, S & Rujikiatkamjorn, C 1970, 'Preface', Transportation Geotechnics, Elsevier BV, pp. 145-146.
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Indraratna, B, Nimbalkar, S, Rujikiatkamjorn, C & Heitor, A 1970, 'Ground improvement in transport geotechnics – from theory to practice', Computer Methods and Recent Advances in Geomechanics - Proceedings of the 14th Int. Conference of International Association for Computer Methods and Recent Advances in Geomechanics, IACMAG 2014, International Conference of the International Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics, CRC Press, Kyoto, Japan, pp. 35-44.
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In order to meet the ever-increasing demand for public and freight mobility, concerted efforts are needed to improve transport efficiency, and ensure the maintenance cost of highways and railways to sustainable levels. Ballast and subgrade are major components of rail track infrastructure, and understanding their integrated behaviour as layered strata is of utmost importance. In order to investigate their performance, sophisticated numerical modeling techniques using the Discrete Element Method (DEM) and Finite Element Method (FEM) are commonly employed, but the micro-mechanics of particulate interactions are often taken for granted rather than studied in depth. The salient aspects of particle degradation and confining pressure are discussed through the use of advanced elasto-plastic constitutive models. Applications of DEM to study the behavior of coal-fouled ballast subjected to cyclic loading using a track process simulation apparatus are also presented. The DEM enabled the discrete nature of ballast aggregates to be modeled considering their realistic size and shape, as well as through the force chains developed at contacts.A radial consolidation model under cyclic loading is proposed to capture the behavior of soft clays subjected to cyclic loadingwhen radial drainage is allowed during the loading period. The effects of the cyclic stress history on the generation of excess pore pressure are considered in the proposed model. This model is verified against the results of large-scale triaxial tests. In addition, the study of the behavior of artificially compacted subgrade, is vital to avoid unwanted volume changes caused by moisture variation that can contribute to poor track performance. A model is proposed for assessing the performance of compacted subgrades by evaluating the small strain behavior, considering the soil matric suction, the water content and the compaction energy level. This paper discusses the stability of the transport infrastructure at small...

Indraratna, B, Rujikiatkamjorn, C & Balasubramaniam, AS 1970, 'Consolidation of Estuarine Marine Clays for Coastal Reclamation Using Vacuum and Surcharge Loading', From Soil Behavior Fundamentals to Innovations in Geotechnical Engineering, Geo-Congress 2014, American Society of Civil Engineers, pp. 358-369.
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Soft clays in coastal areas have low shear strength and high compressibility. Consequently, certain construction activities for infrastructure developments in these deposits often pose geotechnical problems due to large time-dependent settlements and lateral movements. Ground improvement techniques are adopted in such terrains to reduce the water content of soft clays by preloading with surcharge fill over vertical drains. Depending on the magnitude of the surcharge load used, substantial immediate settlement with lateral movements can take place during preloading, leading to undrained stability problems in various parts of the clay foundation. Therefore, the use of vacuum-assisted preloading has now become a popular method in ground improvement works where substantial loads need to be carried out to meet a desired rate of settlement and mitigate undrained failure by controlling lateral displacements. To assist the vacuum propagation to significant depths, vertical drains are used in tandem at the Port of Brisbane, Australia, and vacuum-assisted surcharge preloading and conventional surcharge preloading schemes were adopted to reduce the consolidation time and long-term settlement in soft Holocene clays in 2009. It is shown that a combined vacuum surcharge loading system with a standard surcharge fill highlights the obvious benefits of vacuum consolidation in reducing long-term settlement and enhanced stability. © 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.

Indraratna, B, Rujikiatkamjorn, C & Nimbalkar, S 1970, 'Ground Improvement for Rail, Port and Road Infrastructure--From Theory to Practice', Ground Improvement and Geosynthetics, Geo-Shanghai 2014, American Society of Civil Engineers, pp. 1-19.
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The transportation infrastructure in coastal regions of Australia has been expanded in recent years due to high population density and increased traffic volume. Such expansions require the application of ground improvement techniques to improve performance and sustainability of the infrastructure. In this paper, innovative ground improvement techniques applicable to railway embankments, port reclamation and embankment fills are discussed. For ballasted rail tracks, the performance of different types of geosynthetics for improving the stability and drainage of railway tracks under high cyclic loading is investigated. Instrumented tracks were conducted to measure the in-situ stresses and deformations of ballast at Bulli, New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Furthermore, stabilization of soft formation soils underneath rail tracks using prefabricated vertical drains (PVDs) is also studied through finite element analyses and field measurements at Sandgate. The innovative use of the mixtures of coal wash (CW) and steel furnace slag (SFS) as the reclamation fill is demonstrated through laboratory and field investigations at the Outer Harbor extension of Port Kembla in Wollongong, NSW. The optimum CW-SFS mixtures that may meet most of the geotechnical specifications are proposed to be used as an effective structural fill. Finally, the design of the combined vacuum and surcharge fill system and the construction of the road embankment are described using a case study from the Pacific Highway upgrade project. Field data are presented and interpreted to demonstrate how the embankments performed during construction in both vacuum and non-vacuum areas. © ASCE 2014.

Indraratna, B, Rujikiatkamjorn, C, Nguyen, VT & Raut, A 1970, 'Analytical Solutions for Filtration Process Based on the Constriction Size Concept', Geo-Congress 2014 Technical Papers, Geo-Congress 2014, American Society of Civil Engineers, pp. 999-1006.
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In this paper, an analytical model was proposed to describe the filtration process applicable to a base soil-filter system. The Navier-Stokes equation for porous media was used to capture the hydrodynamic behavior, while numerically a new algorithm has been proposed to solve the Navier-Stokes equation in nonlinear form. The various mixtures of base particles eroded and water flow within the system was computed using the work-energy principle incorporating the constriction size of the filter. The model can assess the filtration process through the flow rate, and the accumulation and erosion of base soil within the filter. By discretizing the base soil and filter domains into discrete elements, the model can predict the time-dependent particle gradation of the filter for each element. Laboratory tests reported in other studies and those conducted by the authors have verified the validity of the model in relation to other available models. © 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.

Indraratna, B, Rujikiatkamjorn, C, Ni, J & Carter, J 1970, 'Application of geosynthetic vertical drains under cyclic loads for track stabilization', Computer Methods and Recent Advances in Geomechanics, Computer Methods and Recent Advances in Geomechanics, CRC Press, KYOTO, JAPAN, pp. 1157-1162.
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Jozi, BJ, Dackermann, U, Braun, RB, Li, JL & Samali, BS 1970, 'Application and improvement of conventional stress-wave-based non-destructive testing methods for the condition assessment of in-service timber utility poles', Proceedings of the 23rd Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, Southern Cross University, Byron Bay, Australia, pp. 1197-1202.
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Timber utility poles represent a significant part of Australia’s infrastructure for power distribution andcommunication networks. Due to their advanced age, significant efforts are undertaken to preventutility lines from failure. However, the lack of reliable tools for assessing the condition of in-servicepoles seriously jeopardizes the maintenance and asset management. Non-destructive testing (NDT)methods based on stress wave propagation can potentially offer simple and cost-effective tools for thecondition assessment of in-service timber poles. Based on the impact direction and location, mainlytwo wave types can be excited in a pole, i.e. longitudinal and bending waves. A conventional stresswave-based method that analyses longitudinal waves is the Sonic Echo (SE) method; and a typicalsignal processing method for the analysis of bending waves (BW) is the Short Kernel Method (SKM).In this paper, firstly, the application of the conventional SE method and the BW method with SKMdata analysis is investigated for the condition assessment of timber poles from a signal processingperspective. Secondly, to improve limitations of the current methods, the application of a multisensorsarray is proposed for more reliable and accurate results. The new method is validated onnumerical data of a timber pole modelled with both isotropic and orthotropic material properties.

Jupp, J 1970, 'Technology Adoption and Management Innovation in Construction', Computing in Civil and Building Engineering (2014), 2014 International Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers, pp. 753-760.
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© ASCE 2014. This paper examines the adoption of object-based modeling software across design and construction team members during project delivery. Drawing on insights from sociology, management theory and innovation studies, the paper investigates changes surrounding technology adoption and subsequent management-based innovation. Using empirical data from a case study, analysis focuses on adoption of software, the evolution of new digital and social networks, and subsequent innovations in management. The paper has three main contributions. First, it identifies related literature and examines change processes surrounding software adoption and the management innovations that are triggered. Second, it explores rigidities in existing routines that challenge adoption and deployment, highlighting innovations that reconcile change conflicts. Third, it shows how the concept of management innovation in construction is valuable to an understanding IT adoption processes.

Jupp, JR 1970, 'BIM Investment: Understanding value, return and models of assessment', Proceedings: 38th AUBEA International Conference Webiste, Australian Universities Building Education Association Annual Conference, AUBEA2013, Auckland, pp. 1-10.
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As adoption of the BIM methodology (building information modelling) grows, so too do levels of investment in new technologies, processes and organisational change. However due to complexity at the project level, where BIM implementation (and integration) occurs, it can be difficult for firms to evaluate the benefits, costs and risks of investment. This paper reviews existing research surrounding BIM, its value, the return on investment (ROI) and models of assessment. The author draws on information systems (IS) and construction information technology (IT) research so as to explore the requirements of a BIM investment evaluation methodology. Difficulties in applying existing models are identified, revealing the need for a value chain approach that accounts for the project lifecycle. The paper describes the salient outcomes of interest linked to firm level adoption and project based implementation of BIM and discusses the implications relative to measuring their return.

Jupp, JR & Nepal, M 1970, 'BIM and PLM: Comparing and Learning from Changes to Professional Practice Across Sectors', Product Lifecycle Management for a Global Market, IFIP WG . International Conference on Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Springer Berlin Heidelberg, Yokohama, Japan, pp. 41-50.
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This paper presents an analysis of PLM and BIM in relation to effects on professional practice. It draws on the experiences of both communities of practice to explain shifts in professional boundaries. A review of the literature explores the nature of changes triggered by PLM and BIM relative to new activities, roles and responsibilities, knowledge competencies, and relationships. The paper synthesises these changes and reflects PLM and BIM experiences against each other so as to discuss the continuing evolution of professional practice and identify lessons.

Kalhori, H, Ye, L, Mustapha, S & Li, J 1970, 'Impact force reconstruction on a concrete deck using a deconvolution approach', 8th Australasian Congress on Applied Mechanics, ACAM 2014, as Part of Engineers Australia Convention 2014, Australasian Congress on Applied Mechanics, Informit, Melbourne, Australia, pp. 763-771.
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In this study, impact force history applied to a steel-reinforced concrete deck has been reconstructed based on vibration response signals collected at random positions from the impact location. A deconvolution technique in time domain utilizing the responses recorded, from piezoelectric (PZT) sensors and accelerometers are used to reconstruct the impact force. As the deconvolution is an ill-conditioned inverse problem, the truncated singular value decomposition (TSVD) and the Tikhonov regularization are used to regularize the problem. The effect of different attachment methods of the PZTs/accelerometers on the structure is investigated including the use of Blu-tack and the 5-minnutes Araldite. It is found that with the use of the Blu-tack, the reconstructed force is not predicted precisely which can be attributed to the nonlinear behaviour of the Blu-tack. In addition, the effect of the location of the measurement point on quality of reconstructed impact force is investigated. It is found that when the measurement location is very close to the impact site, there is no need to use the regularization techniques and the pseudo-inverse method can provide acceptable results.

Karimullah Hussaini, SK, Indraratna, B & Vinod, JS 1970, 'An Experimental Investigation on the Deformation and Degradation Behaviour of Geogrid-Reinforced Ballast', Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance, The Second International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance, Civil-Comp Press.
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© Civil-Comp Press, 2014. Railroad ballast, owing to its unbounded granular nature, spreads laterally when subjected to large vertical axle loads, which influences the track stability. In this view, large-scale cyclic tests have been conducted on ballast to explore the role of geogrid in controlling the lateral deformation of ballast and hence improving the track performance. Fresh latite ballast having a mean particle size of 35 mm and geogrids with different aperture sizes was used for the investigations. Tests were conducted using a modified process simulation test (MPST) apparatus at a loading frequency of 20 Hz, with geogrid placed at the subballast-ballast interface and within the ballast. The laboratory experimental results indicate that the geogrid arrests the lateral spreading of ballast, reduces the extent of permanent vertical settlement and minimises the particle breakage under high-frequency cyclic loading. However, the improvement in track performance is directly influenced by the effectiveness of the ballast-geogrid interface. It is shown that the higher the shear strength at the ballast-geogrid interface, the lower is the deformation and degradation of ballast. In addition, the geogrid also reduces the extent of vertical stress in the subgrade soil. These test results highlight the role of geogrid in stabilising the ballast thus encouraging its use as track reinforcement in railway applications.

Khabbaz, H & Fatahi, B 1970, 'A critical and comparative review of ballasted and slab tracks: Where are we heading?', Civil-Comp Proceedings, International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance, Civil-Comp Press, France.
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High speed rail (HSR) is currently an experienced rail transport system, which has been recognised to deliver real benefits against road and air transportation. This paper highlights the geotechnical problems involved with HSR on ballasted tracks and how slab tracks can overcome these issues. There are many geotechnical issues surrounding the performance of high-speed trains on ballasted railway tracks. A number of noticeable issues include critical velocity effects, track vibration and large settlement due to ballast degradation. In comparison to ballasted tracks, slab tracks reduce the construction height, reduce track maintenance, reduce the wear down of rails, provide better riding comfort at high speeds, provide higher availability, reduce vibration and secondary airborne noises, improve load distribution, provide high lateral and longitudinal track stability and eliminate problems with vegetation control, which is essential for a rail track structure. Accordingly, many railway experts have concluded that it is time to say goodbye to the ballasted tracks. Based on several case studies, laboratory results and validated numerical analysis, this paper clearly elaborates that if ballasted tracks are designed and stabilised properly, they will be cost effective and can well-perform under dynamic loads of high speed rails.

Khabbaz, H, Lin, EX & Fatahi, B 1970, 'A Parametric Study on Shoring Structures with Multi-Row Anchors in Layered Soil', Earthwork Project Management, Slope Stability Analysis, and Wave-Based Testing Techniques, Geo-Hubei 2014 International Conference on Sustainable Civil Infrastructure, American Society of Civil Engineers, China, pp. 81-88.
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This paper examines two numerical methods commonly used in shoring design, namely the beams on elastic foundation method using WALLAP and the finite element method (FEM) using PLAXIS. Numerous design parameters are also investigated to study the effects of the parametric variations on each method. The shoring model analyzed in this study is based on a deep excavation project in the Sydney central business district. One of the significant findings of this study was that the results obtained from both WALLAP and PLAXIS showed marginal numerical errors, which, in turn, need to be examined closely. Generally, the beams on elastic foundation method are more conservative than the FEM. In comparison with the FEM, the soil modulus has more significant effects than the shear strength parameters in the beams on elastic foundation method. Moreover, the resulting shear forces, bending moments, and lateral displacements of the shoring are less sensitive to the variation of the soil friction angle than the cohesion. The findings of this study can be taken into consideration by practicing civil engineers when designing appropriate shoring systems in urban areas. © ASCE 2014.

Khorsandnia, N, Valipour, H, Foster, S & Crews, KI 1970, '1D Frame Element Formulation For Analysis Of Layered Composite Beams', Proceedings of the 23rd Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, Southern Cross University, Byron Bay, Australia, pp. 795-800.
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In this paper a numerical model for non-linear analysis of layered composite beams is developed. It takes advantage of an efficient 1D frame element with forced-based formulation. The developed element is equipped with lumped translational springs at the nodal points to model the partial shear interaction between the layers. Also, the proposed FE model can capture the material non-linearities as well as non-linear shear-slip behaviour of connections between the layers. The sections of frame element are discretised into fibres and the stiffness matrix of each section can be determined by integrating the stiffness of fibres over the section depth based on Navier-Bernoulli hypothesis. The superior performance of the developed FE model for capturing the behaviour of composite beams was demonstrated by comparing the numerically predicted results with experimental data. The proposed model can efficiently capture the global response (i.e. load vs deflection, slip, strain and stress) of the composite beams up to failure with adequate accuracy.

Le, TM, Fatahi, B & Khabbaz, H 1970, 'Numerical solution to predict visco-plastic model parameters of soft clay during excess pore water pressure dissipation', NUMERICAL METHODS IN GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING, VOL 1, European Conference on Numerical Methods in Geotechnical Engineering, Taylor and Francis Group, Delft, the Netherlands, pp. 175-180.
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The elastic visco-plastic model with non-linear creep function may describe the long termbehavior of clayey soils more accurately. However, it is a challenging task to determine the parameters of the non-linear creep function using conventional oedometer data. This paper presents a numerical method to determine several model parameters simultaneously, while adopting consolidation data during excess pore water pressure dissipation by applying an advanced optimization tool embedded in MATLAB. Crank-Nicholson finite difference procedure is adopted to solve the partial differential equations of the consolidation equation in combined with the non-linear elastic visco-plastic model. As a result, the time dependent strain and excess pore water pressure dissipation in one dimensional compression are computed simultaneously. In this paper, a case study is presented to evaluate and validate the proposed method. © 2014 Taylor & Francis Group.

Li, J, Wu, C, Hao, H & Su, Y 1970, 'Numerical analysis of uniaxial compression and four bending tests of ultra-high preformance reinforced concrete', 6th International Conference on Protection of Structures against Hazards, Tianjin.

Li, JC, Li, Y, Askari, M & Ha, QP 1970, 'Future Intelligent Civil Structures: Challenges and Opportunities', Proceedings of the International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC), 31st International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction, International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC), Sydney, pp. 72-79.
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An intelligent civil structure offers ultimate protection to its structure, contents and occupants in terms of safety and functionality against undesired dynamic loadings and structural deficiency. In this paper, the concept of the future intelligent civil structure featuring self-adaptive, selfprognostic, self-sensing, self-powering and self-repairing abilities, is proposed. A decade research efforts from Centre for Built Infrastructure Research, University of Technology Sydney, towards the development and concept proof of such intelligent structure is reviewed.

Li, Y & Li, J 1970, 'Base isolator with variable stiffness and damping: design, experimental testing and modelling', Proceedings of the 23rd Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, Southern Cross University, Byron Bay, Australia, pp. 913-918.
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Vulnerability in base isolation system of civil structures originated from passive nature of the rubber material raises the urgency of developing smart base isolation system with adaptive and controllable properties, i.e. variable stiffness and damping. To address this issue, this paper presents comprehensive investigations on a novel adaptive base isolator, including design, experimental testing and dynamic modelling. Smart rubber with field-dependent modulus and damping property is incorporated into the laminated base isolator design. Experimental testing is conducted utilising an advanced shake table facility to examine its performance under cycling loading. Results show that the adaptive base isolator possesses a stiffness increase of more than 16 times and damping ratio between 10% and 27%. With such features, it can be developed into a smart base isolation system to protect civil structures against any type of earthquake. Results also show that this device has high nonlinear hysteresis, i.e. shear stiffening behaviour. A mechanical model is thus required to describe the complex behaviour of new adaptive base isolator. A new strain stiffening element is proposed for this purpose. Comparison between the model and the experimental data verifies the fidelity and effectiveness of the proposed model.

Li, Y, Li, J & ASME 1970, 'DEVELOPMENT AND MODELING OF A HIGHLY-ADJUSTABLE BASE ISOLATOR UTILIZING MAGNETORHEOLOGICAL ELASTOMER', PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASME CONFERENCE ON SMART MATERIALS, ADAPTIVE STRUCTURES, AND INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS - 2013, VOL 1, Conference on Smart Materials, Adaptive Structures and Intelligent Systems, ASME, Snowbird, Utah, USA, pp. 1-8.
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This paper presents a recent research breakthrough on the development of a novel adaptive seismic isolation system as the quest for seismic protection for civil structures, utilizing the field-dependent property of the magnetorheological elastomer (MRE). A highly-adjustable MRE base isolator was developed as the key element to form smart seismic isolation system. The novel isolator contains unique laminated structure of steel and MRE layers, which enable its large-scale civil engineering applications, and a solenoid to provide sufficient and uniform magnetic field for energizing the field-dependent property of MR elastomers. With the controllable shear modulus/damping of the MR elastomer, the developed adaptive base isolator possesses a controllable lateral stiffness while maintaining adequate vertical loading capacity. Experimental results show that the prototypical MRE base isolator provides amazing increase of lateral stiffness up to1630%. Such range of increase of the controllable stiffness of the base isolator makes it highly practical for developing new adaptive base isolation system utilizing either semi-active or smart passive controls. To facilitate the structural control development using the adaptive MRE base isolator, an analytical model was developed to stimulate its behaviors. Comparison between the analytical model and experimental data proves the effectiveness of such model in reproducing the behavior of MRE base isolator, including the observed strain stiffening effect. Copyright © 2013 by ASME.

Mansor, NS, Shafri, HZM, Mansor, S & Paradhan, B 1970, 'The influence of urban development and social mobility on socioeconomic level: The application of GIS on urban ecosystems', IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, IOP Publishing, pp. 012011-012011.
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Moshiri, F, Gardner, AP, Erkmen, E, Jarman, R & Khabbaz, H 1970, 'Enhancing Industry Exposure, Discovery-Based and CooperativeLearning in Mechanics of Solids', Australasian Association for Engineering Education Annual Conference 2014, Australasian Association for Engineering Education Annual Conference 2014, School of Engineering & Advanced Technology, Massey University, Turitea Campus, Palmerston North 4442, Wellington, NZ.
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BACKGROUND Mechanics of Solids is a second year undergraduate subject, undertaken by both Civil and Mechanical engineering students at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). Mechanics of Solids has been delivered for many years in a traditional format with lectures and problem solving tutorials. As part of a national Australian project “Enhancing Industry Exposure in Engineering Degrees”, UTS in partnership with other universities and industry partners in Australia has sought industry involvement to engage students with the real-world challenges of engineering practice. PURPOSEThe main objective of this project is to design, develop and implement learning modules in Mechanis of Solids that integrate industry exposure to provide context for the concepts included in this subject. DESIGNThe project consisted of six guest lectures by industry representatives on topics related to typical Mechanics of Solids subject matter and two seminars on using MDSolids software.Students completed a collaborative assignment aligned with one of the industry presentations. Their reports and presentations were assessed on assessment criteria which included contextual understanding, judgement, effective collaboration and creativity, and their perceptions were captured to evaluate the impact of industry engagement in this subject.RESULTSOne of the major benefits of this project was students’ better understanding of engineering practice. There were also positive effects on students’ motivation for learning engineering. CONCLUSIONS This paper reports the major findings, outcomes and challenges for implementing enhancing industry exposure approach in Mechanics of Solids subject at UTS. The main finding of this research concluded that this project is very valuable to both students as it promotes exposure to real-world engineering challenges. The students’ exposure to real and substantive challenges improves their contextual understanding, plus their judgement,...

Nepal, MP, Jupp, JR & Aibinu, AA 1970, 'Evaluations of BIM: Frameworks and Perspectives', Computing in Civil and Building Engineering (2014), 2014 International Conference on Computing in Civil and Building Engineering, American Society of Civil Engineers, Orlando, Florida, USA..
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This paper examines the evaluation of BIM-enabled projects. It provides a critical review of the three main areas of measurement, namely technology, organization/people and process. Using two documented case studies of BIM implementation, the paper illustrates the benefits realized by project owners and contractors, and illustrates a lack of attention relative to contextual factors affecting the adoption and deployment of BIM. The paper has three main contributions. First, it identifies and discusses the lack of and difficulty surrounding standardized assessment methods for evaluating BIM-enabled projects. Second, it proposes a conceptual model that includes contextual attributes and demonstrates how the proposed framework reaches beyond simple evaluation to encompass the documentation of BIM’s benefits, lessons learned, challenges and adopted solutions. Third, it shows how the framework can account for existing business processes, organizational process assets, and enterprise level factors. The paper aims to provide a conceptual basis for evaluation and a starting point for benchmarking.

Ngo, N, Indraratna, B & Rujikiatkamjorn, C 1970, 'A study of the behaviour of fresh and coal fouled ballast reinforced by geogrid using the discrete element method', Geomechanics from Micro to Macro - Proceedings of the TC105 ISSMGE International Symposium on Geomechanics from Micro to Macro, IS-Cambridge 2014, 3rd International Symposium on Geomechanics from Micro to Macro, CRC Press, Univ Cambridge, Cambridge, ENGLAND, pp. 559-563.
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Geogrids are widely used in ballasted rail tracks for reinforcement and stabilisation. During train operation, ballast becomes contaminated or fouled due to infiltration of fines from the surface, mud pumping from the subgrade, and degradation, which decreases the performance of the geogrids. This paper presents the results of a laboratory and numerical simulation to study the effect that coal fines have on the interface between ballast and geogrid. The stress-strain behaviour of fresh and fouled ballast reinforced by geogrid was investigated via a series of large scale direct shear tests in the laboratory and numerical simulations using the Discrete Element Method (DEM). The geogrid was modelled by bonding a large number of small spheres together to form the desired geometry and apertures. Irregular particle shapes were simulated in DEM by connecting many spheres together in appropriate sizes and positions. Fouled ballast was modelled by adding a predetermined amount of miniature spheres into the voids of the fresh ballast. The DEM results were then compared qualitatively with the laboratory data, and the effects of fines on the resulting shear stress-strain of ballast and the contact forces developed in the geogrids are discussed. © 2015 Taylor & Francis Group.

Nguyen, HH, Khabbaz, H, Fatahi, B, Vincent, P & Marix-Evans, M 1970, 'Sustainability considerations for ground improvement techniques using controlled modulus columns', PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2014 AGS SYMPOSIUM, AGS Symposium on Resilient Geotechnics, The Australian Geomechanics Society, AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL MARITIME MUSEUM, DARLING HARBOUR, NSW AUSTRALIA, pp. 170-170.
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Sustainability is becoming an ever more important consideration for the selection of ground improvement methods on construction projects around the world. When considering this criterion, the controlled modulus column (CMC) technology emerges as one of the relatively novel technologies that are capable to deliver valuable and sustainable outcomes. CMC installation is a vibration free process and produces very limited soil cuttings, making CMC suitable for improvement of soft ground, contaminated sites and ones adjacent to sensitive structures. Besides, CMC uses grout only without the use of steel reinforcement; hence carbon footprint estimated for CMC is generally lower than those for traditional piling techniques. Besides these valuable aspects, it is believed that this technology can still be advanced to contribute more to the sustainable development, owing to ongoing research works and practical experience. This paper summarises the key sustainability aspects of using CMC technology and highlights some potential aspects for further development. Future research directions are discussed to enhance sustainable design practice. These include general discussions on the issues of economic design with trial field tests, the use of recycled industrial by-products for grout mix, improved design, maximising the resiliency of structures and the energy consumption. The CMC installation effects on the surrounding soils and environment are also discussed sensibly in this paper.

Nguyen, L, Fatahi, B & Khabbaz, H 1970, 'Modelling Behaviour of Cemented Clay Capturing Cementation Degradation', Ground Improvement and Geosynthetics, Geo-Shanghai 2014, American Society of Civil Engineers, Shanghai, China, pp. 168-177.
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This paper presents a constitutive model - referred to as the Cemented Cam Clay (CCC) model - to precisely simulate the cementation degradation of cement-treated clays. Various laboratory experiments show that the effect of cementation gradually diminishes as the confining pressure increases (particularly at high effective confining pressures) due to breakdown of cementation bonds. The main concepts and formulations of the CCC model, including elasto-plastic stress-strain relationships, are presented within the framework of the critical state concept and inspired by the Modified Cam Clay (MCC) model. The special characteristic of the proposed model includes a modified mean effective stress capturing cementation degradation. In addition, the failure envelope is formulated to describe the beneficial effect of cementation at low mean effective pressure range, while it merges with the Critical State Line of reconstituted cement-clay mixture as the confining pressure continues to increase. The performance of the proposed model is evaluated against triaxial test results from cement-treated Aberdeen soil. The model predictions provide good agreement with triaxial test results, particularly at high effective confining pressures. © ASCE 2014.

Nimbalkar, S & Indraratna, B 1970, 'Numerical and analytical modeling of particle degradation', Computer Methods and Recent Advances in Geomechanics - Proceedings of the 14th Int. Conference of International Association for Computer Methods and Recent Advances in Geomechanics, IACMAG 2014, International Conference of the International Association for Computer Methods and Advances in Geomechanics, CRC Press, Kyoto, Japan, pp. 261-266.
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Large cyclic loads are nowinevitable due to an increased demand for freight and public transport. The ballast layer subjected to these repeated traffic loads in a real track environment undergoes excessive deformation and degradation. Ballast degradation is influenced by various factors including the amplitude and number of load cycles, confining pressure, frequency, the angularity as well as fracture strength of individual grains. Given the complexities of the behaviour of the rail track, the current track analysis techniques are overly simplified. Considering this, an elasto-plastic constitutive model of a composite track is proposed. The largescale laboratory tests are simulated in a numerical model and the results are then analyzed to better understand the distribution of displacements and stresses inside the ballast layer. The advantages of the elasto-plastic finite element simulations when compared to conventional analytical methods used by practitioners that are primarily based on a linear elastic approach are demonstrated. © 2015 Taylor & Francis Group, London.

Ong, HC, Silitonga, AS, Mahlia, TMI, Masjuki, HH & Chong, WT 1970, 'Investigation of Biodiesel Production from Cerbera Manghas Biofuel Sources', Energy Procedia, 6th International Conference on Applied Energy (ICAE), Elsevier BV, Taipei, TAIWAN, pp. 436-439.
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Parsa-Pajouh, A, Fatahi, B, Khabbaz, H & Vincent, P 1970, 'Evaluating Proposed Solutions for Equivalent Plane Strain Modeling of PVD Assisted Preloading', Advances in Transportation Geotechnics and Materials for Sustainable Infrastructure, Geo-Hubei 2014 International Conference on Sustainable Civil Infrastructure, American Society of Civil Engineers, China, pp. 9-16.
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In this study, a numerical code has been developed using free lossless audio codec (FLAC) 2-D to model the prefabricated vertical drain (PVD) assisted preloading process considering the smear zone, and evaluate the efficiency of the proposed equations for the conversion of permeability coefficient from axisymmetric state to plane-strain condition. A laboratory PVD assisted preloading test has been conducted employing a fully instrumented large Rowe cell to verify the developed numerical code. The results of the numerical plane-strain and axisymmetric simulations have been compared using four methods of permeability conversion from axisymmetric to plane-strain condition. © ASCE 2014.

Pathirage, U, Indraratna, B, McIntosh, G & Banasiak, L 1970, 'Modeling of mineral fouling in an alkaline permeable reactive barrier in Australia', COMPUTER METHODS AND RECENT ADVANCES IN GEOMECHANICS, Computer Methods and Recent Advances in Geomechanics, CRC Press, KYOTO, JAPAN, pp. 623-628.
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Podder, PK, Paul, M, Murshed, M & Chakraborty, S 1970, 'Fast Intermode Selection for HEVC Video Coding Using Phase Correlation', 2014 International Conference on Digital Image Computing: Techniques and Applications (DICTA), 2014 International Conference on Digital Image Computing: Techniques and Applications (DICTA), IEEE.
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© 2014 IEEE. The recent High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) Standard demonstrates higher rate-distortion (RD) performance compared to its predecessor H.264/AVC using different new tools especially larger and asymmetric inter-mode variable size motion estimation and compensation. This requires more than 4 times computational time compared to H.264/AVC. As a result it has always been a big concern for the researchers to reduce the amount of time while maintaining the standard quality of the video. The reduction of computational time by smart selection of the appropriate modes in HEVC is our motivation. To accomplish this task in this paper, we use phase correlation to approximate the motion information between current and reference blocks by comparing with a number of different binary pattern templates and then select a subset of motion estimation modes without exhaustively exploring all possible modes. The experimental results exhibit that the proposed HEVC-PC (HEVC with Phase Correlation) scheme outperforms the standard HEVC scheme in terms of computational time while preserving-the same quality of the video sequences. More specifically, around 40% encoding time is reduced compared to the exhaustive mode selection in HEVC.

Rujikiatkamjorn, C & Indraratna, B 1970, 'Environmental Sustainability of Soft Soil Improvement via Vacuum and Surcharge Preloading', Geo-Congress 2014 Technical Papers, Geo-Congress 2014, American Society of Civil Engineers, pp. 3658-3665.
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Due to environmental concerns, sustainable ground improvement is considered a critical part of modern infrastructure development. Current policy on environmental sustainability often expects noise-free, chemical-free, and low carbon emission processes, while being economical. In this context, the application of prefabricated vertical drains (PVD) with vacuum preloading is regarded as one of the most sustainable ground improvement techniques. Compared with other ground improvement methods such as piling and chemical stabilization, this method will not only save a considerable cost in embankment construction, but will also improve the construction rate of coastal highways and rail tracks and their load-carrying capacity. The utilization of vacuum preloading will also minimize environmental impact by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the need for mining natural surcharge fill. The FEM code ABAQUS with the equivalent approach is employed to study the performance of a full-scale test embankment constructed in Thailand. A comparison of the performance of the vacuum system with the standard surcharge fill is elucidated including its benefits and environmental impact. © 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.

Sanjid, A, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Abedin, MJ & Rahman, SMA 1970, 'Experimental Investigation of Mustard Biodiesel Blend Properties, Performance, Exhaust Emission and Noise in an Unmodified Diesel Engine', APCBEE Procedia, Elsevier BV, pp. 149-153.
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Sanjid, A, Masjuki, HH, Kalam, MA, Rahman, SMA, Abedin, MJ, Reza, MI & Sajjad, H 1970, 'Experimental Investigation of Palm-jatropha Combined Blend Properties, Performance, Exhaust Emission and Noise in an Unmodified Diesel Engine', Procedia Engineering, Elsevier BV, pp. 397-402.
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Schluessel, M, Shrestha, R & Crews, K 1970, 'Acoustic performance of timber and timber-concrete composite floors', WCTE 2014 - World Conference on Timber Engineering, Proceedings.
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A major problem in light-weight timber floors is their insufficient performance coping with impact noise in low frequencies. There are no prefabricated solutions available in Australia and New Zealand. To rectify this and enable the implementation of light-weight timber floors, a structural floor was designed and built in laminated veneer lumber (LVL). The floor was evaluated in a laboratory setting based on its behaviour and then modified with suspended ceilings and different floor toppings. Twenty-nine different floor compositions were tested. The bare floor could not reach the minimum requirement set by the Building Code of Australia (BCA) but with additional layers, a sufficient result of R'w+Ctr53 dB and L'nT,w+ CI50 dB was reached. Doubling of the concrete mass added a marginal improvement. With concrete toppings and suspended ceiling it is possible to reach the goal in airborne and impact sound insulation. The best result was achieved by combining of additional mass and different construction layers. KEYWORDS: Acoustics, acoustic insulation, light weight floor, timber floor, timber-concrete composite.

Shrestha, R & Crews, K 1970, 'Development of engineered bamboo', WCTE 2014 - World Conference on Timber Engineering, Proceedings, World Conference on Timber Engineering (WCTE), Quebec City, Canada.
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Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants and has mechanical properties similar to timber. Application of bamboo in construction is, however, limited to low cost housing and temporary structures due to a number of growth characteristics such as irregular shapes, hollow circular cross-sections, etc. To overcome these limitations in bamboo, an experimental study was undertaken to investigate the potential of developing an engineered bamboo product by cutting bamboo into smaller strips and gluing them together into rectangular cross-sections. Results of the tests showed that higher strength and stiffness and much lower variation in these properties, compared to natural bamboo, can be achieved when bamboo is fabricated into such an engineered product.

Shrestha, R & Crews, KI 1970, 'Development of engineered bamboo using a low-tech method', Proceedings of the 23rd Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, Southern Cross University, Byron Bay, Australia, pp. 613-618.
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Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants and has mechanical properties similar to softwood timber. Bamboo has been commonly used for many years as a traditional construction material for low rise houses, foot bridges, roofs and construction platforms, especially in Asia and Latin America. The main reasons for the popularity of bamboo in construction can be attributed to its low cost, general availability locally and adequacy of simple, local tools and skills for fabrication.Application of bamboo in construction is, however, normally limited to low cost housing and temporary structures due to a number of factors including irregular shapes, hollow circular cross-sections and durability issues. This paper presents the results of an investigation into production of an engineered bamboo product using a low tech method. Bamboo culms were cut into smaller strips and were re-constituted into rectangular beam sections by gluing. Such a process overcomes the presence of the inherent hollow core and randomises the inter-nodes and other growth characteristics found in natural bamboo – in much the same way that engineered wood products such as plywood and LVL are produced. Flexural properties of the manufactured engineered bamboo were then compared with natural bamboo. Higher flexural strength and stiffness and lower variation in these properties, compared to natural bamboo, were achieved by re-constituting the bamboo into a manufactured product.

Shrestha, R, Lewis, K & Crews, KI 1970, 'Introduction to cross laminated timber and development of design procedures for Australia and New Zealand', Proceedings of the 23rd Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials (ACMSM23), Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials, Southern Cross University, Byron Bay, Australia.
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Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is an engineered wood product which is gaining popularity in Europe and North America as a sustainable alternative to concrete and steel construction in commercial and multi-residential buildings. CLT is a panel type product made up of 3 or more layers of timber boards each layer running in orthogonal directions and can be used as wall or floor panels.Investment in sustainable softwood plantations over the past few decades has meant that there is now an abundant supply of renewable timber resources ready to be utilized, to produce light weight buildings with low carbon footprints, smaller foundations and transport requirements and increased speed and ease of construction.There is an increasing interest within the construction industry in Australia to start producing CLT panels. Research at the University of Technology Sydney has shown that CLT panels manufactured within Australia from Australian grown timber can compete with international products. CLT floor panels have been found to have significant strength to weight benefits, the potential to be used as two-way spans, higher than predicted char ratios and can comply with Building Code of Australia (BCA) requirements for acoustic design.This paper presents an overview of research and work completed to date, and a discussion of issues that have been identified and addressed to establish design procedures for CLT to meet Australian building standards and code requirements.

Siahaan, F, Indraratna, B & Rujikiatkamjorn, C 1970, 'Three dimensional modelling of the behaviour of stone columns using the discrete element method', Geomechanics from Micro to Macro, Vols I and II, 3rd International Symposium on Geomechanics from Micro to Macro, CRC Press, Univ Cambridge, Cambridge, ENGLAND, pp. 553-558.
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Silitonga, AS, Ong, HC, Mahlia, TMI, Masjuki, HH & Chong, WT 1970, 'Biodiesel Conversion from High FFA Crude Jatropha Curcas, Calophyllum Inophyllum and Ceiba Pentandra Oil', Energy Procedia, 6th International Conference on Applied Energy (ICAE), Elsevier BV, Taipei, TAIWAN, pp. 480-483.
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Sinha, A & Wang, J 1970, 'An implementation of the path integrator mechanism of head direction cells for bio-mimetic navigation', 2014 International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN), 2014 International Joint Conference on Neural Networks (IJCNN), IEEE, Beijing, pp. 1984-1991.
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© 2014 IEEE. Head direction cells are thought to be an integral part of the neural navigation system. These cells track the agent's current head direction irrespective of the host's location. In doing so, they process a combination of inputs: angular velocity and visual inputs are major effectors; to correctly encode the agent's current heading. There are close to fifteen models of head direction cell systems found in literature today. Very few of these models have been implemented for bio-mimetic navigation in robots. In this paper, we describe an implementation of the head direction cell system on the robot operating system (ROS) robotic platform as a first step towards a bio-mimetic navigation system for Willow Garage's personal robot 2 (PR2) robot.

Sorourian, S, Keshavarzi, A, Ball, J & Samali, B 1970, 'Location of the maximum scouring depth at the outlet of partially-blocked and non-blocked box culvert', RIVER FLOW 2014, International Conference on Fluvial Hydraulics (River Flow), CRC Press/Balkema, Lausanne, Switzerland, pp. 1475-1480.
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Among various hydraulic structures, culvert is the most likely one which usually blocks by the debris that are carrying by flow during large flood events. The size of the structure and its location where a waterway crosses a road or railway increases the possibility of clogging. The blockage of culvert accelerates bed scouring at the outlet hence affects bed scouring profile. This leads to increase the risk of culvert collapsed and produce different kinds of damages to the society. The present study concerns the effect of upstream blockage on the scouring profile at the outlet of a box culvert. Therefore, the experimental program was designed to investigate the relationship between the scouring geometry and blockage ratio. The experimental tests were carried out under non-blocked and partially blocked conditions. The sediment material used in this study was uniform non-cohesive sand material. Results showed that the scouring bed profile is different in partially blocked condition when compared to the non-blocked condition. Additionally it was found that the maximum scouring depth in a partially blocked culvert occurred at a distance very close to the outlet of the box culvert. © 2014 Taylor & Francis Group, London.

Sorourian, S, Keshavarzi, A, Samali, B & Ball, J 1970, 'Prediction of Scouring Depth at the Outlet of Partially Blocked Box Culvert', World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2014, World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2014, American Society of Civil Engineers, Portland, Oregon, USA, pp. 1352-1361.
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© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers. Culverts are built at a location in a waterway that crosses a road or railway. The narrowing cross section of waterway creates a limitation to flow passage and therefore blockage occurs during flood events with accumulation of debris at the inlet. The blockage of the culvert can accelerate bed scouring and consequently causes failure of the culvert. It subsequently produces high damage to private properties and public assets. This article concerns scouring at the outlet of partially blocked culverts. In this context the blockage of culverts is studied as an important factor in the scouring pattern of culverts. Therefore, experimental tests were conducted to investigate the effects of culverts blockage on scouring downstream of a culvert. The experimental program was designed to investigate the relationship between the maximum scour depth, blockage ratio of the culvert, and flow characteristics. The experimental tests were carried under nonblocked and partially blocked conditions. The sediment material used in this study was uniform noncohesive sand particles. Results showed that the scoured area and maximum scour depth increases in partially blocked condition compared with the nonblocked condition. The results were compared with the previous developed models, and it was found that the previous model predicts scouring depth less than the scouring depth at blocked condition.

Stewart, M & Mueller, J 1970, 'Terrorism risks for bridges in a multi-hazard environment', Bridge Maintenance, Safety, Management and Life Extension - Proceedings of the 7th International Conference of Bridge Maintenance, Safety and Management, IABMAS 2014, CRC Press, pp. 746-753.
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The paper will assess terrorist threats to bridge infrastructure and the cost-effectiveness of protective and counter-terrorism measures. This analysis will consider threat likelihood, cost of security measures, risk reduction and expected losses to compare the costs and benefits of protective measures to bridges to decide which protective measures are cost-effective. In this paper, a break-even cost-benefit analysis determines the minimum probability of a successful attack, absent the protective measures, that is required for the benefit of the protective measures to equal their cost. It was found that unless terrorist threat probabilities are high, then typical protective measures are not cost-effective. Bridges and other critical infrastructure are subject to a range of natural and man-made hazards, and terrorism is most likely not as important a threat as natural hazards. Economic risks due to terrorism are then compared with risks from flood and seismic hazards. It was found that economic risks to bridges from floods, earthquakes, and ship impact are significantly higher than threats from terrorism. © 2014 Taylor & Francis Group.

Sun, L, Awadallah, M, Chi, L & Zhang, N 1970, 'An Electric Scooter with Super-Capacitor Drive and Regenerative Braking', SAE Technical Paper Series, SAE 2014 World Congress & Exhibition, SAE International, Detroit, Michigan, USA.
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This paper presents a smart electric scooter system consisting of a microprocessor based vehicle controller (integrating an embedded regenerative braking controller), a 300W Permanent Magnet (PM) DC motor, two low-power DC-DC converters to form a higher power DC-DC converter pack, a motor controller, a supercapacitor bank and a capacitor cell balancing sub-system. During acceleration or forward motoring mode, the vehicle controller sets the DC motor into motoring mode to further utilizing motor controller regulate wheel speed and acceleration torque, whereas during deceleration or forward braking mode, sets the DC motor into braking mode and further utilizing regenerative braking controller regulate wheel speed and braking torque, as well as functions as a constant current (whose reference value is adjustable via a potentiometer) generator to charge the supercapacitor bank in a controllable fashion, hence not only successfully replacing frictional braking to certain degree, but also increasing the total energy efficiency dramatically owing to the low internal resistance and larger capacitance of the supercapacitor compared with other conventional regenerative braking systems via batteries. General structure of the smart system, control principle of the controllers, realization of measurement platform, experimental test setup as well as validation with results are all presented within this paper. Copyright © 2014 SAE International.

Tennakoon, N, Indraratna, B & Nimbalkar, S 1970, 'Impact of Ballast Fouling on Rail Tracks', Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance, The Second International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance, Civil-Comp Press, Ajaccio, Corsica, France, pp. 1-11.
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© Civil-Comp Press, 2014. Ballast fouling is understood as major cause of track deterioration in many countries over the world. It decreases the drainage and load bearing capacity of the ballast layer. A series of large scale hydraulic conductivity tests were conducted with different proportions of fouling to access the drainage capacity of the track. A numerical analysis was conducted using SEEP/W to quantify the drainage capacity of ballast under different degrees of fouling. Subsequently, track drainage classification in relation to the degree of fouling, which is a very useful tool for practical engineers, is presented in this paper. The analysis showed that both the location and extent of fouling played an important role when assessing the overall drainage capacity of track. In order to establish the relationship between the extent of fouling and the associated strength-deformation properties, a series of large scale monotonic triaxial tests were carried out for different levels of fouling for three different confining pressures. Based on the laboratory findings, a novel empirical relationship between the peak deviator stress and VCI has been proposed to assist the practitioner in their preliminary track condition assessment. By considering drainage and strength aspects, a critical level of fouling to assist in track maintenance planning has been considered.

Thomas, D, Ding, G & Crews, K 1970, 'Sustainable timber use in residential construction: perception versus reality', Energy and Sustainability V, ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY 2014, WIT Press, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, pp. 399-410.
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Close to 90% of new project homes in NSW, Australia are constructed with reinforced concrete flooring and brick veneer envelope whereas many traditional Australian homes were built of timber floor structures with timber walls and cladding. The adoption of concrete and brick homes originated from a perceived advantage of longevity, low maintenance and thermal comfort. Innovation in wood treatments, wood protection and insulation have provided solutions to these issues so that timber is once again a viable option with added benefits such as environmental sustainability and erection speed. This paper reviews literature and analyses the results of a home occupants survey on the perception of timber use in new homes in NSW, Australia. It also investigates the comparative performance of a timber veneer/structural timber home to a concrete floor/brick veneer home to evaluate whether perception of timber performance matches reality. This paper highlights Australian homeowners reluctance to use timber as a sustainable building product for homes even when they are willing to pay for a more environmentally sustainable home. It also discusses the time and environmental advantages of a timber home over a concrete and brick home based on the results of a test case study.

Trani, LD & Indraratna, B 1970, 'A Procedure to Assess Subballast Filtration under Cyclic Loading', Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance, The Second International Conference on Railway Technology: Research, Development and Maintenance, Civil-Comp Press.
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© Civil-Comp Press, 2014. Occurrences of inadequacies of subballast as a filtration layer of the ballasted rail tracks would become persistent if inappropriate criteria were still being used in the design. Traditionally, the subballast is considered mainly to act as a stress dissipation layer, more commonly known as a capping layer. Attention towards its function as a granular filter is proven by the fact that common design practice uses design criteria that are primarily based on steady seepage loading that is common in embankment dams. The seepage hydraulics through porous media is influenced by the cyclic mechanical loading generated by passing trains. Under the influence of cyclic train loading, subballast particles rearrange and attempt to attain a more stable configuration through the process of vertical compression, lateral spreading, and particle degradation. The deformability of the pore medium itself would then affect the filter condition due to the changes in porosity and its subsequent impact on hydraulic conductivity. This paper presents a procedure that combines a family of formulations and configuration charts that considers the effectiveness of the subballast as a granular filter being dependent on the reduction of its porosity and hydraulic conductivity over time.

Vakhshouri, B & Nejadi, S 1970, 'Limitations and Uncertainties in the Long-Term Deflection Calculation of Concrete Structures', Vulnerability, Uncertainty, and Risk, Second International Conference on Vulnerability and Risk Analysis and Management (ICVRAM) and the Sixth International Symposium on Uncertainty, Modeling, and Analysis (ISUMA), American Society of Civil Engineers, University of Liverpool, UK, pp. 535-546.
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© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers. There is no distinctive boundary in RC members when the short-term deflection ends and long term begins. Simplified procedures for predicting deflections in design codes are not compatible with actual deflection under service loads, especially in sensitive elements such as floor slabs. Design codes generally predict the time-dependent deflection by multiplying an empirical amplification factor by an instantaneous deflection. Despite the negligible difference in instantaneous and short-term deflection, the calculated value for long-term deflection that is due to decrease in stiffness overtime due to the inelastic deformation of concrete shrinkage and creep, is sometimes significantly less than the actual deflection. In this paper, simplified calculations for the ratio of long-term to short-term deflection in codes and some empirical works have been compared. Based on the comparison between simplified methods and data obtained from experimental investigations of Gilbert and Guo (2005), it is evident that the long-term/ short-term ratio is sometime significantly beyond the range of codes of practice.

Vinod, JS, Hyodo, M, Indraratna, B & Kajiyama, S 1970, 'Three-Dimensional Translucent Segregation Table (3D-TST) test for soil particle size and shape distribution', Geomechanics from Micro to Macro, Vols I and II, 3rd International Symposium on Geomechanics from Micro to Macro, CRC Press, Univ Cambridge, Cambridge, ENGLAND, pp. 1056-1061.
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Wei, W, Yin, J, Li, J & Cao, L 1970, 'Modeling Asymmetry and Tail Dependence among Multiple Variables by Using Partial Regular Vine', Proceedings of the 2014 SIAM International Conference on Data Mining, Proceedings of the 2014 SIAM International Conference on Data Mining, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, Philadelphia, USA, pp. 776-784.
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Modeling high-dimensional dependence is widely studied to explore deep relations in multiple variables particularly useful for financial risk assessment. Very often, strong restrictions are applied on a dependence structure by existing high-dimensional dependence models. These restrictions disabled the detection of sophisticated structures such as asymmetry, upper and lower tail dependence between multiple variables. The paper proposes a partial regular vine copula model to relax these restrictions. The new model employs partial correlation to construct the regular vine structure, which is algebraically independent. This model is also able to capture the asymmetric characteristics among multiple variables by using two-parametric copula with flexible lower and upper tail dependence. Our method is tested on a cross-country stock market data set to analyse the asymmetry and tail dependence. The high prediction performance is examined by the Value at Risk, which is a commonly adopted evaluation measure in financial market. Read More: http://epubs.siam.org/doi/abs/10.1137/1.9781611973440.89

Wijayaratna, KP, Labutis, LN & Waller, ST 1970, 'Dynamic User Optimal traffic assignment with recourse', Proceedings of the 19th International Conference of Hong Kong Society for Transportation Studies, HKSTS 2014 - Transportation and Infrastructure, pp. 525-532.
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Limitations of static network equilibrium models have led to numerous research efforts in predicting the temporal and spatial traffic conditions throughout road networks. Static models do not account for the dynamic nature of traffic. Accordingly, new approaches to depict these scenarios have been formulated, such as Dynamic User Optimal (DUO). This study extends DUO to DUO with recourse (DUOR) where a user can also alter their journey en-route dependent on the traffic conditions and the available information through ITS technology. This study proposes the modelling framework Dynamic User Optimal with Recourse using a Cell Transmission Model (DUOR-CTM). The model focuses on initially understanding whether a Dynamic User Optimal with Recourse (DUOR) solution arises and also determines the impact of information on the user optimal travel cost. The study presents the results of a sample network and highlights the need to account for information in a dynamic context.

Wonschik, C-R, Brennan, J, Ding, G, Heilmann, A & Vessalas, K 1970, 'Implications of Legal Frameworks on Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling – a Comparative Study of the German and Australian Systems', Proceedings of the International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC), 31st International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction, International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC), Sydney, Australia, pp. 523-530.
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This comparative study between German and Australian legislation demonstrates that legal frameworks impact on the way in which recycling systems work. Both Australia and Germany operate as Federations and the autonomy of states influences common federation wide practices and standards. In Germany's case however, it is obliged to comply with European Union guidelines which result in German federal legislation being binding for all German states and to common industry practices across all of Germany. Purely industry regulated systems are not always sufficient to cater for societal and environmental needs, and political intervention can sometimes be necessary to achieve desired outcomes. The construction and demolition (C&D) waste recycling industry is a good example. In Australia C&D waste recycling is mostly industry regulated, while the state has greater influence in Germany. A statistical analysis illustrates legislative impact on recycling outcomes. Nonetheless, any legislative efforts can also have effects contrary to the intended ones. A study of such cases is conducted and other influencing factors also considered. In conclusion, the study outlines the importance of interstate coordination and regulation; and the need for the incorporation of industry requirements and other potentially influencing factors into the legal frameworks in order to meet desired outcomes.

Woo, Y, Tijing, LD & Shon, HK 1970, 'Hydrophobic/hydrophilic dual-layer electrospun nanofibrous membranes for air gap membrane distilltation', 4th IWA Regional Conference on Membrane Technology 2014, IWA Regional Conference on Membrane Technology, Vietnam.
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In the present study, we fabricated and optimized a multi-component nanofiber membrane produced by simple electrospinning and investigated its performance for desalination by air gap membrane distillation (AGMD). Neat and composite two-layer nanofiber membranes composed of polyvinyidene fluoride (PVDF), PVDF/nylon-6 or PVDF/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) were fabricated with and without heat-press post-treatment at 170 ˚C. Different characterization and measurement techniques such as contact angle and liquid entry pressure (LEP) measurements, scanning electron miscroscopy and AGMD tests were used to characterize the resultant electrospun nanofiber membranes (ENMs) and its desalination performance. Surface characterization showed that all ENMs exhibit a rough and superhydrophobic surface (>142 ° water contact angle). Heat-pressing the membrane resulted to thinner thickness (<25 µm thickness) and smaller pore sizes. The AGMD experiments in a cross-flow set up were carried out with constant inlet temperatures at the feed and permeate sides of 60±1.5 and 20±1.5 ˚C, respectively. The feed and permeate velocity were both maintained at 2.4×10-3 m/s. The AGMD module had a membrane area of 21 cm2 and the thickness of the air gap was 3 mm. The ENMs were able to present a water permeate flux of about 19-21 LMH using de-ionized water as feed, which was much higher than that of a commercial PVDF membrane (~14 LMH). The current superhydrophobic and highly porous membranes showed good potential for AGMD application.

Xu, J, Wu, C, Xiang, H, Su, Y, Li, Z-X, Fang, Q, Hao, H, Liu, Z, Zhang, Y & Li, J 1970, 'Experimental study on the response of ultra-high preformance reinforced concrete columns under blast loading', 6th International Conference on Protection of Structures against Hazards, Tianjin.

Yokota, H 1970, 'Practical application of life-cycle management system for shore protection facilities', Life-Cycle of Structural Systems: Design, Assessment, Maintenance and Management - Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Life-Cycle Civil Engineering, IALCCE 2014, CRC Press, pp. 109-114.
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A changing climate may result in more intense tropical cyclones and storms, more intense rain events and flooding, and other natural hazards. Moreover, increases in CO2 atmospheric concentrations, and changes in temperature and humidity, may reduce the durability of concrete, steel and timber structures. There is increasing research that takes into account the changing climate risks and life-cycle costs in engineering to reduce the vulnerability or increase the resiliency of infrastructure - we define this as ‘climate adaptation engineering’. The paper will describe how risk-based approaches are well suited to optimising climate adaptation strategies related to the construction, design, operation and maintenance of built infrastructure. Stochastic methods are used to model infrastructure performance, risk reduction and effectiveness of adaptation strategies, exposure, and costs. These concepts will be illustrated with state-of-the-art research on risk-based lifecycle assessment of climate adaptation strategies. Uncertainties of climate projections are also discussed. This will pave the way for more efficient and resilient infrastructure, and help ‘future proof’ new and existing infrastructure to a changing climate.

Yu, Y, Li, Y & Li, J 1970, 'A New Hysteretic Model for Magnetorheological Elastomer Base Isolator and Parameter Identification Based on Modified Artificial Fish Swarm Algorithm', Proceedings of the International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC), 31st International Symposium on Automation and Robotics in Construction, International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC), Sydney, pp. 176-183.
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Magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) base isolator is a new semi-active control device that has recently acquired more attention. This paper proposes a new model for MRE base isolator to portray the nonlinear hysteresis between generated force and the displacement. In this model, a hyperbolic expression is proposed to compare with the classical Bouc-Wen model, which includes internal dynamics represented by a nonlinear differential equation. For the identification of model parameters, a modified artificial fish swarm algorithm is adopted using the experimental force-displacement/velocity data under different testing conditions. In this algorithm, a self-adaptive method for adjusting the algorithm parameters is introduced to improve the result accuracy. Besides, the behaviours in the algorithm are simplified to descend the algorithmic complexity. Parameter identification results are included to demonstrate the accuracy of the model and the effectiveness of the identification algorithm.

Yusof, NM & Pradhan, B 1970, 'Landslide susceptibility mapping along PLUS expressways in Malaysia using probabilistic based model in GIS', IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, IOP Publishing, pp. 012031-012031.
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Zhang, Y, Zhao, Y, Xiong, R, Wang, Y, Wang, J & Chu, J 1970, 'Spin observation and trajectory prediction of a ping-pong ball', 2014 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), 2014 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA), IEEE, Hong Kong, China, pp. 4108-4114.
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For ping-pong playing robots, observing a ball and predicting a ball’s trajectory accurately in real-time is essential. However, most existing vision systems can only provide ball’s position observation, and do not take into consideration the spin of the ball, which is very important in competitions. This paper proposes a way to observe and estimate ball’s spin in real-time, and achieve an accurate prediction. Based on the fact that a spinning ball’s motion can be separated into global movement and spinning respect to its center, we construct an integrated vision system to observe the two motions separately. With a pan-tilt vision system, the spinning motion is observed through recognizing the position of the brand on the ball and restoring the 3D pose of the ball. Then the spin state is estimated with the method of plane fitting on current and historical observations. With both position and spin information, accurate state estimation and trajectory prediction are realized via Extended Kalman Filter(EKF). Experimental results show the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method.

Zhu, X & Jayawardhana, M 1970, 'AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY FOR DECENTRALIZED DAMAGE DETECTION USING WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS', PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTEENTH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING, VOLS 1 AND II, 13th International Symposiums on Structural Engineering (ISSE), SCIENCE PRESS BEIJING, Hefei Univ Technol, Hefei, PEOPLES R CHINA, pp. 1768-1777.

Ahmadian Mazraeh, A, Ismail, FB & Alta'ee, AF 2014, RFEC pig designed for long-distance inspection, International Petroleum Technology Conference [IPTC] (Doha, Qatar, 1/19-22/2014) Proceedings.
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This paper presents an innovative approach for the design and development of pipeline inspection gauge (PIG) which can inspect pipes from 26 in. up to 50 in. with a simple change of shirts using the latest technologies such as electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) sensors as well as remote field eddy current (RFEC) sensors for oil pipes inspection, through the creation of a simulation tool capable of generating simulated images from pipeline using inertial navigation system (INS) for highest accuracy and precision inspection to protect the environment and equipment from any unexpected accident. There are several dynamo motors utilized to regenerate green efficient power from the flow of the medium inside the pipeline to elongate the distance of investigation by the means of reduction of the number of individual pigging processes to save time and cost for companies. The INS uses accelerometers and gyroscopes of the type Integrated Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems (iMEMS), with these it can be carried out mapping corresponding to the inspected pipes. Water hammer effect is another factor which has been considered during designing this pig. The design has been revised and several arms has been devised around the robot to maintain the speed and position of pig all the way through the pipeline.

Bui, DT, Tran, CT, Pradhan, B, Revhaug, I, Seidu, R, Paudel, D, Thakur, JK, Singh, SK, Srivastava, PK & Elmahdy, SI 2014, 'Geocarto International', Thư viện Taylor & Francis.

Jebur, MN, Pradhan, B, Shafri, HZM, Yusof, Z & Tehrany, MS 2014, 'An integrated user-friendly ArcMAP tool for bivariate statistical modeling in geoscience applications', Copernicus GmbH.
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Rasekh, H 2014, 'Delivering the Vision of Sustainable Buildings'.
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This research concerns the delivery of sustainable building projects. These projects are defined as those which either attempt to achieve a green rating or try to address certain sustainability issues. Two sustainability rating systems, Green Star from the Green Building Council of Australia and the Living Building Challenge are considered.The research examines a number of completed projects and looks at one project nearing completion. These include 18 residential buildings which were the subject of television documentaries in the series Grand Designs. One completed university multi-purpose building (the SMART Infrastructure Facility) and an advanced research facility, the Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC) are examined. The methodology used for these two projects is semi-structured interviewing of key participants and stakeholders. The 18 residential buildings were studied by reviewing the television series episodes against a number of sustainability and construction criteria.The results show that an additional contingency of 40% of the estimated cost should be considered for residential buildings to enable the project to be successfully constructed. Using professional groups for building design and construction is another key factor to achieve the aim.The outcome confirms that the SBRC is more innovative and challenging than the than SMART Infrastructure Facility because it achieves the highest sustainability features such as net zero energy and net zero water. On the other hand, achieving net zero energy and net zero water need requires certain specialist equipment which makes the SBRC significantly more expensive than the SMART Infrastructure Facility per square metre. Finally, the results from the interviews show that environmental rating systems are useful tools to construct reasonably sustainable buildings. The interviewees believe, however that for their next project, their concern would be to go beyond strict criteria of the envir...

Surawski, NC, Sullivan, AL, Meyer, CP, Roxburgh, SH & Polglase, PJ 2014, 'Greenhouse gas emissions from laboratory-scale fires in wildland fuels depend on fire spread mode and phase of combustion', Copernicus GmbH.
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van Emmerik, THM, Li, Z, Sivapalan, M, Pande, S, Kandasamy, J, Savenije, HHG, Chanan, A & Vigneswaran, S 2014, 'Socio-hydrologic modeling to understand and mediate the competition for water between agriculture development and environmental health: Murrumbidgee River Basin, Australia', Copernicus GmbH.
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