Effect of the manufacturing process on the interlaminar fracture toughness of 2/2 twill weave fabric carbon/epoxy composites

A 2/2 twill weave fabric carbon fibre reinforced epoxy matrix composite MTM56/CF0300 was used to investigate the effect of different manufacturing processes on the interlaminar fracture toughness. Double cantilever beam tests were performed on composites manufactured by hot press, autoclave and 'Quickstep' processes. The 'Quickstep' process was recently developed in Perth, Western Australia for the manufacture of advanced composite components. The values of the mode I critical strain energy release rate (G1d were compared and the results showed that the composite specimens manufactured by the autoclave and the 'Quickstep' process had much higher interlaminar fracture toughness than the specimen produced by the hot press. When compared to specimens manufactured by the hot press, the interlaminar fracture toughness values of the Quickstep and autoclave samples were 38% and 49% higher respectively. The 'Quickstep' process produced composite specimens that had comparable interlaminar fracture toughness to autoclave manufactured composites. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to study the topography of the mode I interlaminar fracture surface and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was performed to investigate the fibre/matrix interphase. SEM micrography and DMA spectra indicated that autoclave and 'Quickstep' produced composites with stronger fibre/matrix adhesion than hot press.

Characterization and analysis of delamination fracture and nanocreep properties in carbon epoxy composites manufactured by different processes

Delamination resistance and nanocreep properties of 2/2 twill weave carbon epoxy composites manufactured by hot press, autoclave, and Quickstep^TM process are characterized and analyzed. Quickstep is a fluid filled, balanced pressure heated floating mold technology, which is recently developed in Perth, Western Australia for the manufacture of advanced composite components. Mode I and Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness tests, and nanoindentation creep tests on matrix materials show that the fast ramp rate of the Quickstep process provides mechanical properties comparable to that of autoclave at a lower cost for composite manufacturing. Low viscosity during ramping process and good fiber wetting are believed to be the reasons that this process produces composites with high delamination and creep-resistant properties. Nanocreep properties are analyzed using a Kelvin–Voigt model.

Measuring wellness through interdisciplinary community development: linking the physical, economic and social environment

The aim of this study is to answer the question: Is there evidence that the quality of life of residents in a community that has had community development intervention is different as compared to the quality of life of residents in a nearby community that did not have community development initiatives? This was done by administering community development initiatives in a local area and comparing it to a similar community that did not receive this intervention. The residents of these communities rated the quality of their lives and communities in two purposively selected suburbs in Perth, Western Australia using the Australian Unity Wellbeing Index to measure individual and neighbourhood well-being. The quality of life of residents in both communities is then compared to national averages for quality of life or well-being. Answering this question provides empirical evidence of variation between ratings of quality of life of residents in different communities and highlights the utility of the Wellbeing Index for the evaluation of interdisciplinary community development

Housing price diffusion pattern of Australia's state capital cities

The ripple effect of house prices within metropolitan areas has recently been recognised by researchers. However, it is very difficult to formulate and measure this effect using conventional house price theories particularly in consideration of the spatial locations of cities. Based on econometrics principles of the cointegration test and the error correction model, this research develops an innovative approach to quantitatively examine the diffusion patterns of house prices in mega-cities of a country. Taking Australia's eight capital cities as an example, the proposed approach is validated in terms of an empirical study. The results show that a 1-1-2-4 diffusion pattern exists within these cities. Sydney is on the top tier with Melbourne in the second; Perth and Adelaide are in the third level and the other four cities lie on the bottom. This research may be applied to predict the regional housing market behavior in a country.

Unique marine Permian-Triassic boundary section from Western Australia

A unique marine Permian-Triassic boundary section containing rich oil source rocks has been continuously cored in a petroleum borehole from the Perth Basin of Western Australia. Such sequences, which provide a biostratigraphic and environmental record at the time of the largest extinction event of the past 500 million years, are globally rare, and this is the first to be documented in Australia. Throughout geological history there have been periods of global marine anoxia that commonly resulted in the widespread deposition of petroleum source rocks, most notably in the mid-Cretaceous and Late Jurassic. An apparent paradox is that, previously, source rocks have not been recognised in association with the Permian-Triassic boundary, despite widespread marine anoxia at this time. The Perth Basin source rocks contain abundant and unusual biomarkers, apparently related to the highly specialised and limited biota that flourished in the aftermath of the end-Permian extinction event. Local conditions may have favoured source-rock development, either due to higher productivity resulting from coastal upwelling or through enhanced preservation under strongly anoxic conditions.

Housing price diffusion pattern of Australia's state capital cities

The ripple effect of house prices within metropolitan areas has recently been recognised by researchers. However, it is very difficult to formulate and measure this effect using conventional house price theories particularly in consideration of the spatial locations of cities. Based on econometrics principles of the cointegration test and the error correction model, this research develops an innovative approach to quantitatively examine the diffusion patterns of house prices in mega-cities of a country. Taking Australia's eight capital cities as an example, the proposed approach is validated in terms of an empirical study. The results show that a 1-1-2-4 diffusion pattern exists within these cities. Sydney is on the top tier with Melbourne in the second; Perth and Adelaide are in the third level and the other four cities lie on the bottom. This research may be applied to predict the regional housing market behavior in a country.

Wellbeing index

Discussion concerning Deakin University's Wellbeing index and why Perth residents feel separated from the rest of Australia.