Towards a universal role for noise in thresholded biological systems. Students further a competition theory, developed here, for cause and effect in threshold systems forced by noisy subthreshold inputs, and are involved in the application of this theory to cardiac control through collaboration with experimentalists. Realistic modelling of soils requires accounting for spatial variation and uncertainty in soil properties. Students investigate realistic stochastic soil models and develop design criteria for the practising engineer with the aim of reducing cost without compromising safety. Research issues include liquefaction, slope stability, bearing capacity, and settlement.
Industrial collaboration is ongoing with large-scale plastics manufacturers.
Students build small scale physical models and write software to test ideas. Future research will also involve graduate students in larger scale industrial testing. Establishing fractal data characteristics is difficult as LRD can be easily confused with non-stationarity. Students develop and evaluate fractal models. Research will impact the speed and reliability of web information flow.