Thematic Sessions
Organizers:
Ł. Madej,
G.Z. Voyiadjis,
Y. Sun,
J. Lian,
The thematic session focuses on non-conventional solid and fluid mechanics techniques, including experimental, theoretical and computational aspects. The attention is focused on heterogeneous, multiscale, multiphase, multifunctional materials and fluids, as well as their behaviour, especially within the framework of coupled field problems.
Topics:
- non-conventional theoretical/computational techniques for the description of heterogeneous/multiscale/multiphase/multifunctional materials and fluids,
- fractional continuum mechanics,
- tolerance and non-asymptotic modelling,
- peridynamics,
- fractal media,
- nonlocal continuum,
- relativistic continuum mechanics,
- non-conventional techniques for solving coupled field problems for heterogeneous/multiscale/multiphase/multifunctional materials and fluids (computational aspects, including implementation and hardware/software point of view),
- new setups for experimental testing of heterogeneous/multiscale/multiphase/multifunctional materials and fluids (miniaturized equipment, digital imaging, etc.).
A promising development in nanomechanics is the design of composite materials based on nanoscopic size particles, for instance carbon nanostructures. Carbon nanotubes, in particular, exhibit exceptional mechanical properties, such as Young’s moduli in the gigapascal range. When embedded into polymer matrices, these nanostructures enable the creation of high-performance composites with potential strengths up to 10 GPa.
The mechanisms of integrating nanomaterials into polymer-like matrices are not yet fully understood and represent a key focus of current research. Beyond mechanical properties, these composites also display novel electronic phenomena. As the characteristic size of system components approaches the nanometer scale, fundamental changes occur: energy levels become quantized, with levels' spacing significant enough to affect behavior at room temperature. Even when particle motion is partially unconstrained in one direction, the strongly restricted electron dynamics lead to regime where collective effects dominate and determine the properties of the nano-composite.
Such phenomena manifest in electronic behavior, including Coulomb blockade in quantum dots, and influence coupling to the atomic lattice, thereby affecting mechanical properties. Given rapid experimental advances, new theoretical frameworks are required to accurately describe nanoscale systems. This intersection of mechanics, electronics, and theory represents a central topic of current research and will be a focus of discussion at the conference.
Organizers:
Scope of the session:
- General biomechanics (the determination of external forces and internal forces acting on the biological systems, e.g. on the human body) and the effects that these forces cause. Multibody system modeling in biomechanics.
- Medical biomechanics, based on the use of results of general biomechanics research in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of organs.
- Biomechanical engineering, which applies the principles of general biomechanics for the analysis and design of technical devices.
- Biomechanics of work, the subject of which is the consideration of the causes and effects of workloads resulting from physical work for the human musculoskeletal system.
- Bio-heat transfer. Modeling of thermal processes proceeding in the domain of biological tissue. Interactions between skin tissue and the external heat sources.
- Growth and evolution modeling of the living tissues. Bone remodeling.
- Artificial Intelligence, neural networks and genetic algorithm-based modeling in biomedical engineering.
- Biomaterials.
Organizers:
The topic of the mini-symposium covers the civil and mechanical engineering issues among others, such as infrastructure safety, durability safety of mechanical systems, or crashworthiness abilities of materials and structures. The papers of various characters are welcome, that is, not only regarding modelling the phenomena or performing the simulations, but related with field or laboratory experiments. All papers should present the numerical solutions supported within the theoretical background or actual experiment.
The research paper may be devoted to (but are not limited to):
- High-speed loading scenarios in behavior analysis of materials and structures.
- Novel material and structural solutions for protective aims.
- Coupling loadings in engineering applications.
- Innovative approaches to the process simulation of failure of materials and structures under a complex system of loadings.
- Human factor in safety applications.
- Optimisation issues focused on engineering applications.
Organizers:
Computational solid mechanics integrates the principles of mechanics with mathematical modeling, numerical methods, and high-performance computing to simulate and enhance the understanding of mechanical phenomena and processes. This session will focus on both the development and application of advanced computational techniques in solid mechanics.
We particularly welcome contributions presenting recent advancements in methods such as the Finite Element Method, Meshfree Techniques, the Discontinuous Petrov–Galerkin Methodology, Virtual and Boundary Element Methods, the Finite Volume Method, Isogeometric Analysis, and the Generalized Finite Element Method.
Topics of interest include theoretical developments in algorithm design, adaptive methods and error estimation, high-order approximation, convergence and stability analysis, multiscale discretization techniques, and mixed formulation approaches.
Organizers:
Interfaces play a pivotal role across a broad spectrum of materials. They are not only omnipresent but also often decisive in determining the overall performance, resilience, and functional properties of many advanced materials and systems. This thematic session warmly welcomes contributions that explore the modelling and simulation of physico-mechanical phenomena at all types of interfaces and interphases. These encompass material and propagating interfaces at various scales, interphase layers, fracture mechanics of interfaces, and contact problems at interfaces, among others. The session is open to a broad range of modelling approaches, including analytical solutions, computational methods addressing interface-related challenges, multiscale modelling, sharp- and diffuse-interface strategies, constitutive modelling of contact and fracture phenomena and multi-field problems (e.g., thermo-, electro-, or chemo-mechanical coupling). Contributions highlighting emerging applications in advanced composites, biomaterials, or energy systems are particularly welcome. Moreover, submissions that employ experimental approaches targeting interface behaviour are also encouraged.
The session will focus on selected aspects of experimental mechanics of solid bodies, i.e.:
- highlighting latest innovations, R&D and industrial activities in area of experimental methods in mechanics;
- providing forum for discussion of the latest research results, new developments of concepts and technologies, proven techniques, as well as practical applications and standardization of the experimental methods in mechanics.
Main topics:
- Material characterization and testing: smart materials and structures, composite materials, additive manufacturing materials, functionally graded materials, advanced polymer materials, conventional metals and alloys;
- Creep, fatigue and fracture;
- Structural analysis: experimental tests, structural health monitoring, system identification, damage assessment, self-adaptive structures;
- Instrumentation: optical methods (DIC, ESPI), new sensors and actuators, advanced measurement systems, validation and reliability of instrumentation;
- Integration of mathematical/numerical methods with experimental mechanics.
- Practical applications and case studies;
- Microscopic observations (optical, SEM, TEM);
- Multi-scale and multi-physics experimental approaches;
- Biomechanics and experimental methods for biological and bio-inspired materials;
- Dynamic testing and impact mechanics;
- Vibration and control;
- Advanced imaging and tomography techniques.
Organizers:
W. Wu,
Contributions presenting geomechanics research and a wide range of granular materials, including soils, rocks, concrete, ice, snow, powders, and other similar materials, are encouraged for this session. Papers describing theoretical and computational approaches, along with related experimental validations, are invited. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, constitutive modeling, plasticity, flow, creep, strain localization, fracture, degradation, instabilities, multi-physics, micromechanics, and multi-scale methods. Practical geotechnical applications, such as soil-structure interaction, mining, rock and blasting engineering, underground structures, petroleum engineering, engineering geophysics, earthquakes, ice, and snow mechanics, are also encouraged to be presented using various numerical techniques, including, e.g., the finite element method, finite difference method, or discrete element method. The session also covers interdisciplinary subjects like fluid-particle fluxes, hydraulic fracturing, and liquid and gas flow through porous media. Papers on geomechanics for energy and environment are also invited.
Organizers:
A.D. Lantada,
The session will focus on recent advances in the mechanics of smart materials and structures, with an emphasis on both fundamental research and engineering applications. The proposed topics include the design, modeling, and characterization of new multifunctional shape memory materials that enable adaptive and responsive behavior in structures, thin films and functional coatings, composites, metamaterials, and high-entropy alloys.
The unique properties of these materials, such as high thermal and mechanical stability or the ability to undergo controlled shape transformations of the innovative alloys, polymers and composites by 3D and 4D printing, which provide the material/structure with special functionalities; e.g. self-healing, self-centering or high damping capacity, open new directions in the development of next-generation actuators, sensors, and structural components.
Different scales and techniques of investigation are considered, including micro-, meso-, and macroscopic levels, for example, optical and electron microscopy, digital image correlation, infrared measurements, or acoustic emission techniques.
Experimental studies and advanced characterization methods are particularly encouraged when presented in the context of these modern material systems, as they provide critical insights into the mechanisms governing performance, durability, and reliability across scales - from the nano- and microscale up to macroscopic applications.
Organizers:
S. Mercier,
G. Vadillo,
A. Srivastava,
The scope of session covers the micromechanical modelling of heterogeneous and multi-component materials, related to the description and analysis of the influence of material microstructure on their effective thermomechanical response. Contributions presenting experimental validation of micromechanical models are also welcomed. The session will cover the following topics:
- scale transition methods, both mean-field models and computational homogenization;
- multi-scale approaches and their applications in modelling of materials;
- frameworks related to functionally graded materials and other media with designed microstructures;
- modelling of formation and evolution of microstructures;
- efficient numerical implementation of multiscale models (model reduction techniques and other computationally efficient algorithms associated with implementation of multiscale methods in FE codes and its application to complex microstructures);
- methods for integration of experimental data (e.g. imaging) into multi-scale numerical algorithms;
- applications to composites, polycrystals and other heterogeneous materials in either elastic or inelastic range (plasticity, viscoplasticity, damage development, void growth and failure).
Ł. Figiel,
The session addresses multiphysics and coupled problems involving different physical phenomena such as solid and fluid mechanics, thermal, electrical or magnetic fields.
The session aims to gather contributions presenting developments of theoretical description of multiphysics phenomena, numerical modelling of multiphysics problems, coupled solution algorithms, experimental investigation of multiphysics phenomena, and industrial applications.
The topics will span fluid-solid interaction, thermal-stress coupling, fluid-solid-thermal coupling, thermo-electro-mechanical coupling, and others. The session is open for different practical applications, including mechanical and civil engineering, materials science, chemical engineering, metallurgy, geomechanics, biomechanics.
Experimental parametrization and validation of multiphysics models and the multi-field coupling in those models across material time and length scales are of particular interest in this session, along with the use of data-driven approaches for parameter and constitutive law identification.
Organizers:
J. Hou,
K. Kęcik,
K. Mendrok,
P. Perlikowski,
This session invites theoretical and experimental contributions dealing with all aspects of nonlinear dynamical systems, as well as structural control and monitoring, in the area of mechanical, structural and civil engineering.
Mechanical systems with nonlinearities represent a large group of dynamical systems. Nonlinearity can be introduced in a variety of ways: through geometry, characteristics of springs and dampers, friction, impacts, etc. The dynamics of such systems is complex and can lead to unexpected behavior, and detailed knowledge about stability and coexistence of solutions becomes the crucial issue. In many applications, nonlinear systems outperform linear ones, which allows them to be used for significantly broader purposes. We welcome all submissions focused on nonlinear dynamical systems and their applications in mechanical and structural systems.
We also invite contributions on mechanical and structural control systems, including active, adaptive, distributed, and semi-active control strategies, as well as related actuators. Such systems can be designed to employ smart strategies of structural adaptation to external excitations and vibration patterns. Adaptation may be implemented through a variety of physical mechanisms and smart materials (magnetorheological fluids, tuned inerter dampers, piezoelectric actuators, bistable valves, etc.). Various control objectives are possible, such as dissipation of vibration or impact energy, protection of specific substructures, modal energy transfer, and minimization of displacements and accelerations. The nonlinearity or bilinearity of the involved control encourages nonstandard optimization approaches.
Finally, we encourage contributions in the area of structural health monitoring. This field involves local nondestructive testing, global monitoring systems, and their applications for damage detection, localization and quantification. Topics of interest include related problems of indirect input estimation and tracking, lifetime prediction, optimization of sensor systems, sensing technologies, as well as reports on practical applications.
Organizers:
The theories and applications of plasticity remain in the focus of interest in mechanics of materials and structures. This includes the microscopic background of plasticity, the description of anisotropy, the couplings with other constitutive theories and the representation of unstable material response. Alternative mathematical frameworks and algorithmic aspects of plasticity are also considered. Moreover, new plastic models are developed for multi-scale phenomena and multi-physics research, in particular for thermo-plasticity. Papers related to any of the above aspects of plasticity are in the scope of this thematic session. Within the damage and fracture mechanics part of the session, research communications are welcome on the influence of defects at different scales on the mechanical response of materials and structural components. Contributions which provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of crack nucleation and growth are of particular interest. Multiscale models of damage and fracture are also in the scope of the session. Finally, papers on engineering applications of plasticity, damage and fracture are invited.
Organizers:
The purpose of this thematic session is to provide a forum for presenting and discussing recent advances in the fields of structural optimization and optimum material design. The session organizers welcome contributions dealing with both theoretical and computational aspects of structural optimization.
Topics of interest include, though are not limited to:
- size, shape and topology optimization;
- design optimization and inverse problems;
- design under uncertainty;
- robust and reliability-based design optimization;
- optimization of composite structures and
- numerical optimization techniques.
Organizers:
This thematic session is intended as a forum for the presentation and discussion of results and problems related to mathematical modelling, numerical simulation, and experimental testing of innovative materials and advanced structures. Emphasis will be placed on plates and shells, as well as beam and truss structural systems on both macro- and micro-scales. Of great interest are adaptive (smart) fibre-reinforced composite materials and/or laminated structural members capable of providing special functionalities, such as self-healing, self-centring, or high damping capacity.
Different scales of observation, including electron and optical microscopy, digital image correlation, and descriptions via multiscale averaging methods and computational homogenization, will be considered. This includes microscopic, mesoscopic, and macroscopic scales, along with various finite-dimensional approximation methods (FEM, VEM, BEM,…). The main goal is to determine constitutive relations and develop efficient computational models (digital twins) and solution algorithms that account for the special features of modern materials and structures.
Presentations of both deterministic and uncertainty models, including those generated using deep learning techniques, as well as solution techniques for coupled chemo-hygro-thermo-mechanical processes and deterioration processes in advanced materials and smart structures, are welcome within the framework of this mini-symposium.