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Key Centre for Teaching and Research in Bulk Solids and Particulate Technologies

The Centre was established in 1995 as a collaborative initiative with the University of Wollongong. Funding is for a six year period, and a successful mid period review of the Centre was conducted in March 1998.

The Centre's research is focussed on storage, flow and handling of bulk solids, instrumentation control, belt conveying, and industrial fluid mechanics. Such areas include the constituency relationships that describe complex stress states in bulk solids during storage and flow, pulsating loads in bins and silos, feeder performance, dust generation, segregation, blending and mixing. In terms of the related field of crushing and compaction of granular materials, research is actively being pursued in reducing friction and wear and in understanding and optimising the rheological properties of the material as a function of their particulate state. The Centre plays a major role in assisting Australian and overseas industries to maintain and enhance its competitive edge in international trade.

The Centre offers a number of coursework postgraduate degree programs, including the Master of Engineering Practice in Bulk Materials Handling. ARC funding support in 1998 was $441,000 with total funding from all sources reaching $2,279,973. This additional income is generated by the Centre's various research, professional development and industrial consultancy activities. The University received $271,140 in research support funding from this Centre in 1998.

Contact: Emeritus Professor A W Roberts (Director) 02 4921 6067
engar@cc.newcastle.edu.au

Website: http://www.bulk.newcastle.edu.au/cbs/