{"links":{"self":"http://dataportal.arc.gov.au/NCGP/API/grants/DE260100339"},"data":{"type":"grant-details","id":"DE260100339","attributes":{"code":"DE260100339","administering-organisation":"University of Technology Sydney","announcement-administering-organisation":"University of Technology Sydney","scheme-name":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","grant-status":"Active","funding-commencement-year":2026,"years-funded":3,"project-start-date":"2026-01-01","anticipated-end-date":"2028-12-31","grant-summary":"Sustainable Future Railways Built with Recycled Tyres and Mine Waste . The project aims to develop a novel energy-absorbing capping layer (a carbon-friendly mix of recycled tyre fibre and coal rejects) for rail foundation. It is expected to alleviate track deterioration & buckling, and ground vibration due to increased axle loads & train speeds, meanwhile reducing natural materials exploitation, being environment-friendly and economically attractive. This project expects to bridge the knowledge gap in fundamental mechanics between traditional geomaterials and waste mix via rigorous analytical formulations amply supported by physical modelling. This should provide significant benefits including robust and sustainable railway of greater longevity, significantly reduced track maintenance and risk of derailment.","funding-current":532907.00,"funding-at-announcement":528678,"investigators-current":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Yujie","familyName":"Qi","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0002-3486-2130 "}],"investigators-at-announcement":[{"title":"Dr","firstName":"Yujie","familyName":"Qi","roleName":"Discovery Early Career Researcher Award","roleCode":"DECRA","isFellowship":true,"orcidIdentifier":"0000-0002-3486-2130 "}],"organisations-current":[{"organisationName":"University of Technology Sydney","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"NSW"}],"organisations-at-announcement":[{"organisationName":"University of Technology Sydney","roleName":"Administering Organisation","state":"NSW"}],"field-of-research":[{"isPrimary":true,"code":"4005","name":"Civil Engineering","type":"FOR20"},{"isPrimary":false,"code":"400502","name":"Civil Geotechnical Engineering","type":"FOR20"}],"socio-economic-objective":[{"code":"170503","name":"Management of Solid Waste From Energy Activities","type":"SEO20"},{"code":"270204","name":"Management of Solid Waste From Transport Activities","type":"SEO20"},{"code":"270303","name":"Heavy Rail Infrastructure and Networks","type":"SEO20"}],"international-collaboration":["England","Portugal","Sri Lanka"],"lief-register":[],"achievement-summary":null,"national-interest-test-statement":"With ever-increasing urban development and increasing demand for heavier and faster rail networks, current track maintenance costs more than $2 billion annually in Australia, while the loss in productivity due to regular track maintenance and upgrades can be threefold.  Australian railways (especially heavy hauls) often encounter accelerated deterioration that can lead to serious hazards including derailment. To address these problems, this project will develop an innovative track foundation to minimise track deterioration and narrow the gap in fundamental geotechnics between traditional and recycled materials, while contributing to sustainable track design embracing a circular economy using off-the-road tyre fibre and coal processing waste (coalwash). The research phases (analytical and experimental) executed for the proposed waste material mixture will demonstrate reduced degradation and deformation, thereby saving millions annually on track maintenance and repairs. The scientific advancement of energy-based computational modelling will place Australia at the forefront of future rail practices to cater for increased axle loads and speeds. The CI of this project will share the salient outcomes with the public through open-access platforms and foster collaborations with the rail industry to establish sustainable design guidelines incorporating recycled materials in future track construction."}}}