DST Group scientist Dr Long Nguyen received the Young Innovator prize at the 2016 Land Forces Conference in Adelaide. Supported through the DMTC scholarship program, Dr Nguyen’s doctorate research focused on modelling and predictive analysis of ballistic protection offered by new composites used in helmets and vests.
The application of Dr Nguyen’s research to Army land vehicles may provide protection against high lethality blast and ballistic threats encountered in theatre while maintaining reasonable vehicle weight.
DMTC postgraduate scholarships are awarded to those candidates whose research areas align with future defence capability requirements and the corresponding opportunities within defence industry. Sponsored postgraduates are supported through scholarships and professional development courses. In 2016 there were 16 active postgraduates involved in DMTC’s Education Program, with a further five conferred their PhD.
DMTC has been awarded the Maritime Australia – 2015 National Defence Innovation Award. This award was presented at the Pacific 2015 Conference in Sydney and recognises companies who are leaders in technology and innovation in the defence maritime domain.
The award recognises the work undertaken by DMTC to develop Tandem Gas Metal Arc Welding (T-GMAW) as a method to address weld induced distortion to improve the quality and productivity of naval manufacturing. The collaborative project, started in 2011, consisted of research and industry partners, including Forgacs Engineering, University of Wollongong, ANSTO and DST Group. The project successfully addressed a number of weld induced distortion issues associated with the fabrication of Air Warfare Destroyer modules, eliminating significant amounts of thermal rework whilst increasing productivity and weld quality.
DMTC is delighted with this award and congratulates all other winners and shortlisted candidates.
DMTC is delighted to announce that it has won the CRC Award for Excellence in Innovation 2015 for its work on Boron Carbide Ceramic Armour Technology. The award was presented to DMTC’s CEO Dr Mark Hodge by Minister Ian MacFarlane as part of the Cooperative Research Centres Association conference held in Canberra in May.
The award recognises the work undertaken in developing armour using boron carbide; a material which offers superior performance-to-weight over other armour materials, yet it is difficult to manufacture. The project successfully developed a unique process that allows for near-net shaping of thin, highly shaped, curved ceramic elements. For the first time, the ADF has the capability to incorporate the high ballistic resistance of boron carbide into components previously thought to be only suitable for manufacture from alternative materials which do not offer the same degree of ballistic protection for a given weight, such as tailoring for specific body shapes, including for front line female combatants.
A key component of the award criteria was research and industry collaboration. The DMTC was ideally positioned to bring together defence, academic and industry stakeholders essential to this project. A collaborative team was assembled comprising Defence partners; DSTO and the Army’s Diggerworks Program, industry partners; Australian Defence Apparel and BMT and research partners; CSIRO, VCAMM, The University of Melbourne and Swinburne University of Technology. The team reflected the benefits of multiparty collaboration with each partner contributing unique but critical elements required to achieve the outcome.
DMTC is delighted with this award and congratulates all other winners and shortlisted candidates.
