Architecture and built environment research

Explore an interdisciplinary area of research that includes architecture, building science, ubiquitous computing, and interaction design.

STRATA (Sustainable Transformation of Resources for Advanced Technology Applications) is a Faculty of Engineering Research Group which provides solutions to industry by integrating Sustainable Process Engineering practices with fundamental science.

Mechanical meta-materials, also known as architectured or architected materials, are an emerging class of materials in which mechanical properties can be tailored by altering their internal architectures. Analogous to these materials, the same concept has been used to modify devices and surfaces, leading to mechanical meta-devices and mechanical meta-surfaces. For example, robotic pick-and-place devices can be architectured to tune their shape and stiffness in situ so they can interact with objects with various shapes and hardnesses. Or surfaces of biomedical implants can be nano-architectured (nano-structured) to lyse the bacteria cells, a strategy pioneered in nature, for example, in insect wings. This website showcases our research in new classes of mechanical meta-materials, -devices, and -surfaces. For design, we use analytical and finite element models. We develop novel manufacturing techniques for fabrication, including ceramic 3D/4D printing. And we use state-of-the-art characterisation techniques, such as mechanical testing under in-situ stereo-imaging and in-stu computed tomography, to understand the architecture-property relationships, which can then be used for optimisation.

Our centre is working to solve some of the greatest medical challenges of our time

The QUT-Sealy Centre for Biomechanics and Sleep Research aims to combine real-world biomechanics and sleep research into mattress creation and production. The centre is based on the collaboration between QUT's Biomechanics and Spine Research Group and leading mattress manufacturer Sealy Australia.