A Monte Carlo simulation approach to glass-resistive plate chamber response to e+ / e
- Authors: Rhee, J. T. , Jamil, M. , Hall, Stephen , Jeon, Christopher , Jeon, Y. J.
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Radiation Measurements Vol. 42, no. 9 (2007), p. 1545-1551
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Resistive plate chambers (RPCs) have been chosen as a part of the muon trigger detectors in the CMS experiment. They are used both in the endcaps and in the barrel regions, and they have to work in an extreme radiation background. Test of glass-RPC detectors have been performed in order to investigate their performance in such situations. In the present work, the simulation response of glass-RPCs exposed to positrons/electrons is evaluated. As expected a lower sensitivity of glass-RPC with respect to the bakelite-RPC has been observed since the glass density is higher and therefore a lower fraction of electrons can reach the gas gap. The obtained results were applied to CMS/RPC endcap and barrel regions, and their respective sensitivities to those particles are reported together with hit rates. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- Description: C1
Backcasting : Planning a sustainable energy success story for central Victoria by 2020
- Authors: Hall, Stephen
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 2005 Environmental Engineering & Sustainability National Conference, Sydney : 18th July, 2005
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance (CVGA) has aset a goal of zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2020. Recent completion by all local government members of CVGA of the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) energy auditing stage (Milestone 1) together with the establishment of significant energy efficiency, renewabale energy and carbon sequestration projects has allowed backcasting to be commenced.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001070
CFD and its contribution in mineral separation
- Authors: Siddique, Hanif , Hall, Stephen , Islam, Mofakharul
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at The 2006 International Conference on Computational Science and its Applications (ICCSA 2006), Glasgow, UK : May, 2006 p. 110-112
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper aims to provide a scenario about what is going on with the CFD especially in mineral separation industry. In fact it's a review paper based on recent achievements by the researchers working on CFD in mineral separation around the world along with the real world implementation of CFD in equipment and process design.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001574
Concepts of accident causation and their role in safe design among engineering students
- Authors: Hall, Stephen , Culvenor, John , Cowley, Stephen , Else, Dennis
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 18th conference of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education, Melbourne, Victoria : 9th-13th December 2007
- Full Text:
- Description: Safe design is a strong theme at present in Australia. To ‘eliminate hazards at the design stage’ is one of the five national priorities set out by the National OHS Strategy. The Australian Safety and Compensation Council have recently released both a guideline for safe design and an engineering education package. Safe design is not only about engineering decisions. Engineers are however an important group. This paper reports on a survey to evaluate perceptions of student engineers on topics relevant to the advancement of safe design including perceptions of: control versus fatalism; accident causation; and perceptions of the role played by engineers.
- Description: 2003004787
Effects of electrokinetic treatments on the properties of a salt affected soil
- Authors: Jayasekera, Samudra , Mewett, John , Hall, Stephen
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Geomechanics Vol. 39, no. 4 (2004), p. 33-46
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper presents experimental results of a study undertaken to investigate the effects of electrokinetic treatments on selected chemical and physical properties of a salt contaminated (saline) soil. The study was conducted as a laboratory scale pilot project using locally available saline soil samples. The soil was subjected to an electric gradient by passing a direct current between inserted electrodes. After certain electrokinetic treatment periods, the properties of the soil were evaluated. The experimental data reveals that electrokinetic techniques could offer a low cost. rapid solution to treat saline soils. The removal efficiency of sodium ions was found to be greater than 90% within a relatively short time period of 14 to 30 days, using low current and voltage systems. After 14 to 30 days, the degree of salinity and sodicity decreased to a very low or negligible level. The unconfined compression strength of the soil increased by between 30 % to 100% in 30 days of electrokinetic treatment indicating the improvements in the physical properties, especially in the stress-strain characteristics of the soil. The liquid limit (LL) and plastic limit (PL) increased at the cathode.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000726
Evaluation of learning outcomes for the Engineering Resource Package (ERP)
- Authors: Culvenor, John , Cowley, Stephen , Else, Dennis , Hall, Stephen
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Report
- Full Text: false
- Description: The Australian Safety and Compensation Council recently released "Safe Design for Engineering Students - A Resource Package". This package won the Society of Technical Communication Excellence Award for technical communication. Much of the Resource Package was drawn from The Principles of Safe Design (Culvenor, 2004). The report above was an evaluation of the implementation trial and it lead to the identification of improvements - one which was the inclusion of substantial additional material on accident causation and prevention concepts and activities (Culvenor, J. 2005, Editing the final stage of the Safe Design: An Engineering Resource Package).
- Description: K1
- Description: 2003002681
Fine coal recovery utilizing landfill-derived liquids
- Authors: Hall, Stephen
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Environment Vol. 16, no. 1 (2002), p. 40-47
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Liquid effluents that arise in the landfilling of municipal solid wastes, both leachate and gas condensates, can replace some or all of the conventional coal flotation reagents. The waste management industry currently must treat these effluents, to destroy contained organics, prior to their discharge to the environment and hence they are available at no cost, or even with "dollars attached". These landfill-derived liquids contain valuable short-chain fatty acids (e.g. valeric and caproic acids) that act as both frother and collector in flotation processes. They can be further concentrated by membrane filtration to reduce the transport costs of such liquids and the ease of their use in coal recovery systems. This paper will discuss how these liquids are formed in landfills, their typical compositions and how they can be employed to recover fine coal. Data from both conventional flotation feeds (-0.5 mm) and column flotation feeds (-0.1 mm) is presented.
- Description: 2003000130
Flexibility : The key to delivering engineering education for regional Australia
- Authors: Hall, Stephen
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 10th WCCEE IACEE World Conference on Continuing Engineering Education, Vienna, Austria : 19th April, 2006
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper discusses the structures of the engineering programs at the University of Ballarat, a small dual-sector regional Australia University. Program structures have evoled to suit the student backgrounds and career aspirations, resulting in sigificant flexibility in the modes of delivery, industry uptake of graduates, the use of single units of continuing education purposes and the potential for student exchange.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001622
Flexibility and community engagement in the delivery of engineering education for regional Australia
- Authors: Hall, Stephen
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 4th International Forum on Engineering Education: Integration of Teaching & Research with Community Service, Sharajah, United Arab Emirates : 25th-27th April 2006
- Full Text: false
- Description: Skill shortage in many areas has been identified as a significant factor limiting sustainable development in regional Australia. In engineering, this is impacting mining projects, transport and water infrastructure, and even manufacturing in regional centers. It is proving increasingly difficult to attract urban-bred and educated graduates into regional engineering careers. Many students entering University from regional Australia are from lower socio-economic groupings; meaning that the normal four-year Bachelor of Engineering program is a durational and financial barrier that many fail. The University of Ballarat has over the past five years moved in consultation with industry and the professional body (Engineers Australia) to a linked three-year Bachelor of Engineering Science and follow-on coursework Masters of Engineering Technology (similar to the European Bologna process). These programs are accredited at Engineering Technologist and Professional Engineer levels respectively. This structure allows the three-year graduates to enter the work place with a recognized award if they wish, and/or to continue their engineering education. Community engagement is an increasingly important element of the curriculum process, both in training the engineers of the future in this area together with leadership skills. Collaborative agreements with industry are also being entered into to formalize staff development through higher education programs on-site, on-campus and via distance delivery. This paper will discuss the structures of the academic programs, the modes of delivery, industry uptake of graduates, the use of single units for continuing education purposes and the potential for student exchange.
- Description: 2003001623
GEANT4 simulation of gamma ray in a double-gap resistive plate chamber
- Authors: Rhee, J. T. , Jamil, M. , Hall, Stephen , Jeon, Y. J.
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Chinese Physics Vol. 15, no. 1 (2006), p. 108-115
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: For more than 20 years nuclear physicists have used the GEANT code to simulate particle-matter interaction. In most recent version, GEANT4 is a toolkit for simulating the passage of particles though matter, which contains a complete range of functionality including tracking, geometry, physics models and hits. In this article, an attempt to use GEANT4 to model a double-gap resistive plate chamber (RPC) with its improved efficiency is presented. The efficiencies of the double-gap RPC have been evaluated as a function of gamma energy range 0.005-1000MeV. A comparison to available previous simulation package GEANT3 data is also performed. © 2006 Chin. Phys. Soc. and IOP Publishing Ltd.
- Description: C1
Improving engineering properties of soft clayey soils using electrokinetics : A laboratory based investigation
- Authors: Jayasekera, Samudra , Hall, Stephen
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Proceedings of the 4th International Conference on Soft Soil Engineering - Soft Soil Engineering, Vancouver, BC p. 643-648
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: In this project, an in-situ soil treatment technique using electrokinetics was tested using laboratory experimental models in order to identify the potential of this approach to modify and improve the engineering properties of soft, low permeable clayey soils, with and without the introduction of a stabilising agent. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory using soils collected from soft alluvial soil deposit and basaltic soil deposit in central Victoria, Australia. A layer of soil was placed in glass tanks (900 mm x 350 mm plan area) and compacted to a known density and water content typical of field conditions. Using electrodes inserted into the soil, a direct current was passed across the soil under a voltage gradient of 0.5 V/cm for period of 14 days. In separate experiments, distilled water and a saturated lime solution were introduced to the soil via the anode electrode throughout the experimental duration with the aim of identifying the effectiveness of introduction of stabilising agents to soil using electrokinetics. After electrokinetic processing, soil specimens across the soil were tested for various engineering properties such as compressive strength, consistency limits, linear shrinkage, free swell index and compression index. From the results it was observed that the plasticity index of the soil decreased appreciably indicating increases in soil compressive strength and workability. Both the linear shrinkage and free swell index decreased by 70% without stabilising agents and by 90% with lime introduction, indicating the reduction in the potential for volumetric changes in the soils. With electrokinetic treatment alone, the unconfined compressive strength of the soils increased at least by 30% while in some locations the strength increase was in excess of 100% while the lime-enhanced electrokinetic treatment led to an almost 200% strength increase. The decrease in the compression index was between 10% and 15%. These results suggest the potential of developing this technique to improve the engineering properties of soft clayey soils more effectively and efficiently with or without the introduction of a stabilising agent. © 2007 Taylor & Francis Group.
Inference of bulk properties and particle size data in coal preparation plants using low-cost imaging techniques
- Authors: Hall, Stephen , Jones, T. F, , Booth, D. W, , Langston, P. A
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at XIV International Coal Preparation Congress and Exhibition, Johannesburg, South Africa : 11th March, 2002
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: 2003000036
Modification of the properties of salt affected soils using electrochemical treatments
- Authors: Jayasekera, Samudra , Hall, Stephen
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Geotechnical and Geological Engineering Vol. 25, no. 1 (2007), p. 1-10
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: In this project, an in situ soil treatment technique using the principles of electrokinetics was tested using laboratory experimental models in order to identify the potential of this approach in modifying and reinstating the physical properties of salt affected soils. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory using saline-sodic soils collected from two salt affected regions in central Victoria, Australia. Soil specimens were compacted in glass tanks to reproduce in situ density and in situ water content. Using mild steel electrodes inserted into the soil, a direct current was passed through the soil under a constant potential gradient of 0.5 V/cm for a period of 14 days. In separate experiments, distilled water and a saturated lime solution were introduced to the soil via the anode over this experimental period. It was observed that the soil dispersion, otherwise known as soil sodicity (measured as ESP - Exchangeable Sodium Percentage and SAR - Sodium Absorption Ratio) decreased by up to 90% in most regions of the soil between the electrodes. The compressive strength of the soil increased in excess of 100% with electrokinetic treatment alone while the lime-enhanced electrokinetic treatment led to an almost 200% strength increase. The liquid limit and plastic limit of the soil increased causing the plasticity index to decrease, indicating increases in soil compressive strength and workability. These results indicate the potential of this technique for improving the physical properties of salt affected soils both effectively and efficiently, and in particular gives hope for the remediation of salt affected land for infrastructure management and development. © Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2006.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003004772
New dimension, new paradigm : Engaging engineering students in sustainability through practical actions
- Authors: Hall, Stephen , Hall, Nina
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at Engineering Leadership 2004 a New Paradigm, Sydney : 23rd September, 2004
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000821
Perceptions of engineering from female, secondary college students in regional Victoria
- Authors: Darby, Linda , Hall, Stephen , Dowling, Kim , Kentish, Barry
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at Engineering Education for a Sustainable Future 2003, Melbourne : 29th September - 1st October, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Survey and focus group interviews with female students in regional Victoria resulted in identification of four perceived barriers that influence them to exclude engineering as a career choice. These barriers were identified as a lack of interest in the perceived image, a lack of knowledge, a traditionally male-dominated industry, and limited recognisable role models. This paper reports on what Year 10 females are saying about the barriers and, consequently, how engineering can be promoted to overcome these barriers.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000550
Single-gap RPC Monte Carlo simulation studies of photons
- Authors: Jamil, M. , Rhee, J. T. , Chun, Christopher , Hall, Stephen , Jeon, Y. J.
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Physica Scripta Vol. 75, no. 4 (2007), p. 431-435
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The resistive plate chamber (RPC) is a very successful wireless gaseous detector which is able to give >98% efficiency and 1 ns response. The absence of wire technologies and the cheap material involvement makes the production costs very low and therefore it can be used to build very large area detectors. This study describes the performance of a single gap sensitive RPC for a photons detector. The aim of this study is to understand the behaviour of a single gas gap RPC, in particular with 2 and 3 mm thickness, and to observe their response estimation at relatively small detection areas. The simulation studies have been performed using the GEANT3 and GEANT4 Monte Carlo packages. Good agreement is obtained between the experimental and simulated results. © 2007 The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
- Description: C1
Study of neutron sensitivity in CMS-RPC using MC simulation for two different setups
- Authors: Jamil, M. , Rhee, J. T. , Hall, Stephen , Chun, Christopher , Jeon, Y. J.
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment Vol. 556, no. 1 (2006), p. 192-196
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: In order to investigate the neutron sensitivity we applied a realistic MC simulation based on GEANT3 code with MICAP and FLUKA interfaces for two different types of resistive plate chambers for CMS/LHC. In the present studies sensitivity calculations have been performed as a function of neutron energy in the range of 100 eV to 1 GeV. In the first setup using aluminum (GND+strips), the sensitivity for an isotropic neutron source was obtained to be Sn<9.04×10-3 at <100 MeV, while for the second setup using copper (GND+strips) sensitivity for the same source configuration is Sn<9.91×10-3 at <100MeV. Both the results are relative to an RPC in double-gap configuration with an isotropic neutron source. Additionally in these setups similar characteristics have been observed for parallel neutron source configuration. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001086
Sustainability : Change and challenge for teachers, learners and the engineering curriculum
- Authors: Hall, Stephen
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at Creating Flexible Learning Environments 2004 Conference, Toowoomba, Queensland : 27th - 28th September, 2004
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper endeavours to examine the challenges that introducing sustainability into the curriculum brings for academics, students and engineering programs. The paper addresses the various international, national and regional drivers for increasing curriculum sustainability content and environmentally responsive behaviour by Universities. Finally, the consideration of triple bottom line reporting within a common first year engineering subject at The University of Ballarat is discussed as a recent curriculum development to incorporate current sustainability thinking.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000715
The biological oxidation of carbonaceous material in the treatment of a refractory gold bearing ore
- Authors: McKnight, Stafford , Hall, Stephen , Rowe, James
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at Refractory Gold Ore Bioxidation 2004, Bendigo, Victoria : 8th November, 2004
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000721
The development of heavy suspension techniques for high density sink-float separations (replacement of Clerici's solution)
- Authors: Klutke, Cameron , Koroznikova, Larissa , McKnight, Stafford , Hall, Stephen
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at The AusIMM new Leaders Conference 2006, Kalgoorlie : 11th April, 2006
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Mineral sands represent an important new resource being developed in the Murray Basin, including parts of western Victoria. This paper will outline a simple methodology for mineral sands characterisation, developed as part of the AMIRA-managed project P777 ‘The Development of Heavy Suspension Techniques for High Density Separations (Replacement of Clerici’s Solution)’. This project is currently sponsored by three multinational mining companies (De Beers Consolidated Mines, Iluka Resources Limited and Rio Tinto Limited) and is developing an innovative laboratory mineral characterisation procedure that will allow the replacement of the currently employed highly-toxic chemicals. Mineral sand resources almost always contain more than one valuable (and relatively heavy) mineral. Titanium minerals are found with a large range of titanium contents, giving rise to density variation and often subjective mineralogical descriptions. Companies tend to rely on laboratory heavy liquid separation in the evaluation of samples arising from exploration, mining or metallurgical processes. Unfortunately, there are only a limited number of high density (‘heavy’) liquids and these tend to be more toxic as their density increases. Low-toxicity inorganic solutions, based on tungsten compounds, have been developed that can be utilised at relative densities (RD) up to 3.0. However, beyond this value currently only organic liquids can be used. Diiodomethane (methylene iodide) having a relative density of 3.31 is commonly used; however, this presents significant health and safety hazards. Mixtures of thallium formate and thallium malonate were found in the early 1900s by Clerici to provide liquids having specific gravities between 4.0 and 5.0, hence ‘Clerici’s solution’. For the characterisation of the heavy components of mineral sand deposits (eg anatase sg 3.9, rutile sg 4.2, ilmenite sg 4.4 – 4.7 and zircon sg 4.6 – 4.8) there is currently no heavy liquid alternative to Clerici’s solution. Clerici’s solution is highly toxic and testing is now conducted by very few laboratories worldwide with costs reflecting the chemical costs (though extensive efforts are made to recover and reuse the liquid, plus the requirement of its removal from the mineral samples), the infrastructure costs and health and safety regimes (eg blood testing of exposed staff, inventory management). A simple laboratory technique of density fractionation is being developed, employing suspensions of fine tungsten carbide particles in lithium heteropolytungstate (LST) solutions, that can replace Clerici’s solution in the evaluation of fine mineral sands samples (eg -250+150 microns). The developing methodology that can achieve low-cost, low-toxic separations at relative densities above 5.0 will be outlined and the comparison of results with Clerici’s solution presented.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001621