Abstract

Structural components serve the critical function of ensuring strength and serviceability, while sometime adding architectural benefits. The objective of this mini-symposium is to re-think conventional structural components into ones that can serve multiple functions. For example, a structural beam or wall can be augmented with self-sensing properties to predict remaining useful life, with supplemental damping to mitigate multiple types of hazards, or with self-healing mechanisms to improve structural resilience. Discussions are to focus on examples and demonstrations of multifunctional structural components, and on enabling technological advances, such as smart materials and high-performance control systems.

Abstract

Material and business selection and design involves seeking the best match between the property profiles of the materials with those required by design combined with cost analysis, Life Cycle Engineering (LCE), societal requirements, regulation, etc. The integration of modelling and simulations techniques to support material selection process is more and more impelling in the materials science and industrial domains, due to the need of effectively designing and producing increasingly sophisticated materials and structures with advanced performance on a competitive time scale. In this perspective, there is a particular need in industry for chemistry/physics-based materials models and modelling workflows that fulfill the following requirements: predicting relevant properties and indicators that capture the performance of materials, accounting for material internal microstructure and effects of processing, validation of predicted data, and relevant management of uncertainty. This implies the need for development and integration and of models to describe the behavior of the class of materials at different scales as well as material-processing-property relationships. In parallel, high performance requires not only comprehensive material properties modelling but also understanding of risks, costs, and business opportunities for a range of decisions, from material selection to designing functional structural components and systems, and for process optimization. In this session, we welcome contributions dedicated to:
- Integration Material and process modelling in business decision,
- Uncertainty management in material selection, design and business process
- Model reduction selection in business decision
- Business Decision and
- Multidisciplinary optimization.

Abstract

This special session of the EMI 2017 Conference will bring together researchers to discuss the latest advancements in topology optimization. Contributions discussing algorithmic developments in topology optimization, as well as novel applications in solid and structural mechanics, fluid flow, heat transfer, electro-magnetics and multi-physics problems are invited. Contributions focusing on topology optimization under uncertainty and its associated theoretical and computational challenges, and those pertaining to the design of material microarchitectures, devices and mechanisms are of particular interest. Contributions in the area of manufacturing-aware topology optimization as well as topology optimization for additive manufacturing are especially welcome. This MS is sponsored by the EMI Computational Mechanics and Probabilistic Mechanics Committees.

Abstract

This mini symposium will draw together researchers in the field of quantitative engineering sustainability to discuss state-of-the-art techniques and models developed for assessing the sustainability of engineering infrastructures. Latest contributions on developing mechanics-based models for assessing the energy efficiency of buildings and pavement systems, modeling of complex systems such as cities and transportation networks, incorporation of uncertainty in parameters affecting environmental footprint of engineering structures, application of big data analytics in building predictive models as well as application of novel sustainable design tools in maintenance and design practices are invited.

Abstract

The ability to fabricate materials with defined architectures, or topologies, has created new opportunities for materials development.  This mini-symposium will discuss the latest advancements in modeling, design, fabrication, characterization, and applications of architected materials, including but not limited to micro-lattices, multistable shape-reconfigurable materials, cellular materials, periodic materials, meta-materials and more complex material architectures, such as those that may be identified through topology optimization.  All materials systems (metals, ceramics, polymers, etc.) and manufacturing processes (additive manufacturing, subtractive manufacturing, etc.) are of interest.  Work related to computational methods for materials discovery and design optimization, characterization and modeling of uncertainty, multiphase material systems, and multifunctional materials are of particular interest, but any contribution related to architected materials is welcomed. This MS is sponsored by the EMI Computational Mechanics and Probabilistic Mechanics Committees.

Abstract

Multiscale materials modeling and characterization has been recognized as one of the fundamental tools to study the local damage and failure behavior of heterogeneous structures at the microscale and overall constitutive relations. This mini-symposium is to provide a forum to discuss recent advances and address the future prospects in the area of multiscale modeling/characterization of damage and failure mechanics. Interested researchers are invited to submit one-page abstracts on topics which include, but are not limited to:
- Microstructural damage/failure characterization of heterogeneous materials;
- Micromechanical damage analysis of materials;
- Multiscale constitutive relations with damage parameters;
- Microstructure – property relations of advanced materials and composites;
- Nanomechanical characterization, analysis and modeling of damage and fracture mechanics;
- Experimental determination of damage and failure at multi-length scales;
- Probabilistic damage/failure mechanics and mechanisms;
- Experimental characterization and validation of damage and failure mechanics.

Presented technical papers are encouraged to submit to International Journal of Damage Mechanics for publication.

Abstract

Beyond providing prescriptive fire protection for structures to protect them against fire, there is much that can be done by engineers and scientists to study and improve safety of structures in fire. This mini-symposium provides a venue to discuss this topic from different angles, including fire dynamics and propagation, response of different materials and structural components to fire, response of structural systems to fire, performance based fire engineering, testing, computational modeling, modeling exposure to smoke and heat, modeling egress, and any other related topics. Applications in commercial and residential buildings, industrial facilities, bridges, and special structures are welcome.

Abstract

Performance-based design and assessment approaches are taking root in civil engineering, and are poised to replace the existing prescriptive methods. These advances have provided the impetus for the development, as well as more routine use, of high-fidelity computational simulation tools in all areas of civil engineering. Moreover, even in physical testing, high-fidelity simulations are increasingly being used to complement and enhance experiments, leading to novel hybrid testing protocols.

In this mini-symposium, we aim to bring together researchers who develop or utilize advanced computational methods for analysis or design of civil structures (bridges, buildings, dams, tunnels, etc.). Areas of interest include, but are not limited to
- Performance- or reliability-based methods of design or analysis
- Methods for analysis of coupled problems in civil engineering, such as soil-structure and fluid-structure interaction problems
- Optimal design of structures
- Development and application of algorithms or tools for massive computational simulations in civil engineering applications
- Advanced methods for numerical simulation of various types of structures (wood, masonry, reinforced-concrete, steel, etc.) under extreme loads (seismic, impact, blast, wind)
- Reduced-order modeling in civil engineering applications (including the development of macro-elements)
- Development and validation of novel constitutive models for civil engineering materials
- Linear and nonlinear finite element model updating

Abstract

Understanding the mechanical behavior of rock, soil, shale, or methane hydrates bearing sands, and the physics of multiphase flow in porous media are the key to assessing the economic and environmental impact of subsurface technologies such as groundwater extraction, geothermal energy exploitation, oil and gas production in unconventional plays, geologic nuclear waste storage, and geologic carbon sequestration. This, in turn, requires advancing our knowledge of the coupling among fluid flow, rock deformation and fracture, heat transfer, and chemical reactions. Laboratory/field characterization, computational modeling, and field monitoring provide effective tools to investigate these coupled processes.

This mini-symposium aims at attracting contributions that discuss the study of coupled processes associated with, but not limited to, unconventional oil and gas development, geothermal energy exploitation, solid/fluid waste disposal, geological carbon sequestration, and underground gas storage. Contributions may address aspects that advance, for instance, material characterization, computational modeling, joint inversion of multimodal data (e.g., pressure and induced seismicity), or lessons learned from field campaigns. Abstracts on any of these or related topics are welcome. This MS is sponsored by EMI Poromechanics Committee.

Abstract

In recent years, topics such as robustness, resilience, sustainability, and life-cycle assessment have shifted into the focus of engineering societies. Many concepts have been developed. Yet, accurate and physically based prediction models and modeling concepts for the time dependent behavior and deterioration of concrete, which are quintessential inputs, are still scarce. This Mini Symposium will provide a forum for international experts and researchers to discuss recent developments in modeling time-dependent phenomena relevant to concrete structures. In particular, authors working on research related to creep and shrinkage, alkali-silica reaction, delayed ettringite formation, carbonization, freeze and thaw, corrosion, sulphate attack, and the age-dependent change of mechanical properties are encouraged to submit abstracts. Further topics of interest include coupled problems such as e.g. cracking damage and permeability or transport processes in ageing and deteriorating concrete structures.

Abstract

Testing full-scale civil engineering structures and structural members to failure is a very sophisticated research field. However, most models used by experimentalists to simulate these tests are phenomenological curve-fitting models that are quite crude in nature. On the other hand the fields of theoretical damage mechanics & theoretical fracture mechanics have seen great advances, such as Unification of Newtonian Mechanics and Thermodynamics, which allow predicting damage/failure without the need for curve fitting models. Unfortunately, these two research communities, testing and simulation, do not normally interact; they are almost two separate fields. The objective of this symposium is to bring together researchers who normally would be presenting in separate symposiums at any conference, one in full-scale testing of civil engineering structures and other in theoretical damage/fracture mechanics sessions.

Abstract

In recent years, computer vision-based structural health monitoring (SHM) has been gaining in popularity and attracted attention from industry and academia alike, due to the nature of the contactless, explicit images it provides of damage status and its robustness to temperature changes. It can be an alternative approach for overcoming traditional contact- and signal sensor-based SHM. This special session will discuss the current state-of-the-art in theoretical and experimental studies using any computer vision; advanced machine and deep learning; and mobile robots [i.e., unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV)] for system identification and health monitoring. Topics relevant to this session include, but are not limited to, the automation of SHM systems, including autonomous UGV and UAV for SHM; vision based damage detection; localization; quantification; dynamic measurements; scene reconstruction using 3D LIDARs and depth cameras; and newly emerging vision-based technologies.

Abstract

The mini-symposium deals with structural identification methods and applications, as well as structural health monitoring algorithms for damage detection and reliability prognosis. It covers theoretical and computational issues, applications in structural dynamics, earthquake engineering, mechanical and aerospace engineering, as well as other related engineering disciplines. Topics relevant to the session include: theoretical and experimental modal identification, operational modal analysis, linear and nonlinear system identification, statistical system identification methods (maximum-likelihood, Bayesian inference) for parameter and state estimation, model updating/validation and correlation, uncertainty quantification in model selection and parameter estimation, stochastic simulation techniques for state estimation and model class selection, structural health monitoring and fault detection techniques, optimal strategies for experimental design, optimal sensor and actuator location methods, structural prognosis techniques, updating response and reliability predictions using data. Papers dealing with experimental investigation and verification of theories are especially welcomed.

Abstract

In this symposium, we discuss recent breakthroughs in knowledge and understanding of crack propagation and crack initiation phenomena, based on experiments, analytical models, and numerical simulations. We are broadly interested in all aspects of fracture mechanics, e.g. linear elastic fracture mechanics, elastic-plastic fracture mechanics, dynamic, rate-dependent and time-dependent fracture. The following topics are of particular interest:
- dynamic fracture via peridynamics, unstructured polygonal meshes, extended finite elements, phase field models, or microplane models.
- lattice discrete particle modelling and other multi-scale computational fracture methods.
- quasi-brittle fracture mechanics, and stochastic fracture.
- novel fracture testing methods at the micro- and nano-scale such as scratch testing, nano-indentation fracture, microbeam testing, micropillar testing, or x-ray computed tomography.

Abstract

This symposium supported by the EMI Stability Committee is to provide a forum to discuss recent advances and address the future prospects in the area of stability and failure mechanics of structural components, systems and materials. Interested researchers are invited to submit abstracts on topics which include, but are not limited to:
- Instability in columns, beams, plates, shells and sandwich structures.
- Instability of members made from metallic and composite materials.
- Post-buckling analysis including analytical/computational modelling and methods.
- Dynamic stability problems including energy absorption systems or crashworthiness analysis.
- Interactive buckling in thin-walled structures.
- Failure mechanics of materials including cracks, delaminations and micro-buckling.
- Buckling of micro/nano and lattice structures. Wrinkling of thin-films.
- Progressive cellular buckling and snaking.
- Non-local mechanics including instabilities in systems with non-local effects.
- Orthotropic and anisotropic materials and related stability problems.
- Instabilities in layered and granular media including shear and kink band formation.
- Experimental techniques and fixture design for structural and material stability tests.

Abstract

Many modern engineering structures are composed of brittle heterogenous (a.k.a. quasibrittle) materials, which include concrete, composites, tough ceramics, rocks, ice, asphalt binders and mixtures (at low temperatures), and many brittle materials at the micro-scale. Fundamental understanding of fracture and failure of these engineering and natural materials is of paramount importance for assessing and/or improving the resilience and sustainability of various engineering structures including civil infrastructure, aircraft, ships, military armors, biomedical implants and MEMS devices. Meanwhile, brittle and quasibrittle fracture mechanisms also play a key role in ice shelf fracture and slow-slip earthquakes, and a better understanding of fracture can help us describe such geophysical processes of great societal relevance. This MS is intended to provide a forum for researchers to discuss the recent advances in modeling and characterization of brittle and quasibrittle fracture at different length and time scales. Research topics related to micromechanics-based modeling of softening damage, probabilistic modeling, nonlocal and gradient modeling, phase-field modeling, high strain-rate behavior, cyclic damage, and advanced multiscale and multiphysics computational modeling are welcome. Novel experimental studies on characterization of brittle and quasibrittle fracture processes are also strongly encouraged.

Abstract

This workshop aims to facilitate discussions on recent advances related to the Theory of Porous Media. Nonetheless, studies based on other modelling approaches are also welcome. Ideally, the presented research works will also include discussions on laboratory and field experiments used for verifications or for purely advancing knowledge. Moreover, works on fluid-only problems such as in seepage or classified as computational geometry for particle and microstructure representation are also welcome.Among the rational approaches in engineering, the Theory of Porous Media (TPM) has the broadest range of capabilities because it was developed aiming at representing an unlimited number of material constituents. Furthermore, the TPM follows strict rules from thermodynamics and can represent material behaviour with good accuracy in comparison with its ability to deal with large scale situations. Finally, the TPM allows for future and multiple extensions and is, in fact, an elegant solution due to its overall consistency.

Abstract

The objective of this MS is to present recent advances and emerging cross-disciplinary approaches in the broad field of numerical methods for stochastic engineering dynamics with a focus on uncertainty modeling, and propagation. Further, this MS intends to provide a forum for a fruitful exchange of ideas and interaction among diverse technical and scientific disciplines. Specific contributions related both to fundamental research and to engineering applications of computational stochastic dynamics and signal processing methodologies are welcome. A non-exhaustive list includes joint time/space-frequency analysis tools, spectral analysis/estimation subject to highly incomplete/sparse data, stochastic/fractional calculus modeling and applications, nonlinear stochastic dynamics, stochastic stability and control theory, multi-scale/multi-physics stochastic modeling and analysis, stochastic model/dimension reduction techniques, Monte Carlo simulation methods, and risk/reliability assessment applications.Ever-increasing available computational capabilities, development of potent signal processing tools, as well as advanced experimental setups have contributed to a highly sophisticated modeling of engineering systems and related excitations. As a result, the form of the governing equations has become highly complex from a mathematics perspective. Examples include complex nonlinearities, hysteresis, joint time/space-frequency representations, as well as generalized/fractional calculus. In many cases even the deterministic solution of such equations is an open issue and an active research topic. Clearly, solving the stochastic counterparts of these equations becomes even more challenging.

Abstract

This symposium will provide a forum to present topics related to structural control, with special emphasis on their effects on the life cycle performance improvement of aging structures.

High-rise structures, such as skyscrapers and wind turbines, are subjected to fatigue critical alternating loads induced especially by wind. In consequences of these dynamic loads, for instance, typical wind turbines can reach usually only a service time of 20 years, which is compared to design, fabrication and installation costs economically inefficient. Critical infrastructures, particularly the transportation structures, are jeopardized also by other dynamic loads, such as operational and traffic loads. Countless highway and railway bridges in both the USA and Europe require for the improvement of fatigue behavior urgent retrofitting measures.

In this context, the symposium covers, but not limited to, passive, active and semi-active structural control strategies using auxiliary damping devices, such as dissipators, tuned mass dampers, tuned liquid column dampers, tuned liquid dampers and other devices based on smart materials.

Furthermore, the symposium will mention the utilization of structural control for the improvement of structural reliability during natural hazards, such as earthquakes.

In this framework, calculation methods, computational simulations, testing methods, such as real-time hybrid simulations (RTHS), and application examples of structural control systems will be the main topics in this symposium.

Abstract

Advancements in design and application of materials and structures that can perform at large deformations, together with the increasing interest in deformation of biological materials, are continually revealing new mechanical phenomena that are beyond explanation by classical theories. This has led to a renewed interest in failure mechanisms that appear at large strains such as fracture, cavitation and delamination, and the identification of reversible instability patterns such as fingering, fringing, creasing and elastic necking, that can possibly be exploited for future engineering applications. The objective of this symposium is to provide a forum for researchers from academia, industry and national labs to present, discuss and exchange the latest development in theoretical, computational, and experimental studies on nonlinear solid mechanics across a wide range of length-scales. Both fundamental research and practical applications are welcome. Topics invited for this symposium include but are not limited to:
- Failure – fracture and cavitation
- Rate-dependent material response
- Material characterization
- Instabilities in solids and structures
- Interface phenomena – adhesion and peeling
- Biological materials and bio inspired systems
- Mechanics of 3D printed materials and structures
- Wave propagation phenomena

Abstract

Wind, wave, and seismic hazards, coupled with aging and vulnerable structures, pose the potential for damage and loss of life and property. Multihazard forces can wreak catastrophic damage to buildings, bridges, offshore structures, and the infrastructure in general. Although an individual hazard may be more significant than the other, the rapid population growth and economic development have greatly increased the potential of exposure to multiple hazards. Current design codes and hazard mitigation strategies treat hurricanes and earthquakes as completely independent, which does not account for the increased risk to structures in regions where both hazards are present. Consequently, vibration control of structures is indispensable for the safety and serviceability of the infrastructure under multihazard loads. To do so, several control techniques can be employed.

In this session, we solicit high quality presentations of original research focused on the state-of-the-art techniques and methods employed in the control of structures under multiple hazards.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:
- Vibration control in structures for wind and seismic hazards
- Vibration control in offshore structures for wind and waves
- Vibration mitigation in flexible structures for improved resilience and performance under synoptic and nonsynoptic wind loads

Papers presented in this session has the potential to expand knowledge in the areas of wind engineering, earthquake engineering, and structural control, useful to achieve the ultimate goal of building resilient, smart and sustainable infrastructure to survive multiple hazard brought by natural disasters and other types of stressors.

Abstract

Wind engineering is a multi-discipline field that analyzes the effects of wind on natural and built environments and studies the possible damage, inconvenience or benefits that may result from wind. Wind engineering draws upon fluid dynamics, meteorology, geographic information systems, and a number of specialist disciplines, including aerodynamics, and dynamics of structures. Atmospheric boundary-layer (ABL) simulation at a relatively high resolution (wind structure and turbulence) is essential for wind/structural engineering disciplines. The tools available for wind engineering investigations include atmospheric models, wind tunnels, open-jet facilities, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models. The physics involved in the ABL are essential for the reproduction of wind-induced loads on the built environment and the response of the infrastructure to extreme wind events. In this session, we solicit high quality presentations of original research focused on the state-of-the-art techniques and methods employed in ABL processes for wind engineering applications. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- Boundary Layer Wind Tunnels And Open-Jet Simulators;
- Scale Issues;
- Non-Synoptic Wind Processes: Tornadoes, Downbursts, etc.
- CFD Simulations
- Aerodynamic Optimization
- Aeroelasticity and Fluid-Structure Interaction
- Flow Induced Motions

Abstract

In recent years, advanced deep learning has gained popularity and attracted attention from industry and academia alike due to the solving of complex problems based on the nature of autonomous learning. Researchers in the structural health monitoring (SHM) discipline also showed innovative potential of the advanced deep learning through recent publications. Such an innovation can be an alternative approach for overcoming traditional damage-sensitive feature-based SHM. This special session will discuss the current state-of-the-art theoretical and experimental studies that use any advanced deep learning for system identification and health monitoring. Topics relevant to this session include, but are not limited to, the automation of SHM systems, including autonomous unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) and UAV for SHM; data-based and vision based damage detection; localization; quantification; dynamic measurements; scene reconstruction using 3D LIDARs and depth cameras; and newly emerging vision-based technologies.

Abstract

The objective of this symposium is to discuss recent advances in experimental oriented research and in modeling of cementitious materials across the scales, ranging from atomistic via molecular, nano, micro, and meso up to the macro scale, including also related applications in the field of engineering mechanics. Analytical and computational models for cementitious materials as well as related experimental techniques, addressing various length and time scales and physical phenomena relevant for the behavior of cementitious materials subjected to different environmental and loading conditions are welcome. Innovative approaches suitable to increase insight into complex phenomena as well as predictive models increasing safety, durability, and sustainability in practical applications are especially encouraged.

Abstract

There has been a resurgence of tornado-related research over the past seven years, in part a response to catastrophic impacts on human life and property from an active 2011 tornado season. In this mini-symposium, we solicit research papers on recent advances in near-surface tornado wind flow, its interaction with buildings and other structures, the response of structures to the tornado-induced wind loads, and the impacts of tornadoes at the community scale. Experimental, computational and empirical research is welcomed. Acceptable topics include the following:
- Experimental or computational modelling of tornado-like flows and tornado-induced loading,
- Near-surface tornadic wind characteristics (e.g., effects of ground surface roughness, velocity profiles in tornadoes, wind speed estimation techniques)
- Characteristics and magnitudes of tornado-induced wind loads,
- Fragility of structures and structural elements to tornadoes
- Response of structures to tornadoes from post-disaster observations
- Impacts of tornado research on community resilience (e.g. community engagement, impacts, predictive tools for tornado damage, mitigation strategies)

We particularly welcome papers related to the development of the ASCE Standard for Estimation of Wind Speeds in Tornadoes, which will replace the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale currently in use for estimating tornado wind speeds. The purpose of this meeting is to synthesize the growing body of research on tornadoes and tornado-structure interaction with direct engineering applications to community resilience.

This mini-symposium is submitted with the full support of the ASCE Wind Engineering Division.

Abstract

The use of thin folded sheets can lead to novel applications in engineering ranging in scale from metamaterials to deployable architecture. In particular the principles of origami (folding thin sheets), and kirigami (cutting and folding) are now being used to enable self-assembly, deployment, reconfiguration, and tunable characteristics. The mechanics of the thin sheets can be harnessed to enhance behaviors and achieve multi-functionality through motion or planned instabilities. This minisymposium, aims to bring together researchers working in the areas of folding and adaptive structures, and to emphasize the mechanics of these systems. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Folding systems that employ concepts of origami and kirigami
- Deployable and reconfigurable structures
- Facades and other architectural systems with adaptive properties (e.g. shading, thermal conductivity)
- Development, design, and optimization of adaptive structures
- Analysis and physical testing of systems created from thin sheets (including kinematics, mechanics, multi-physical properties, etc.)
- Metamaterials with tunable and programmable characteristics
- Bi-stable and multi-stable structures
- Self-assembly and self-actuated systems

Abstract

Geomaterials, such as soil, rock, and concrete, are multiphase porous materials whose macroscopic mechanical behaviors are governed by grain size distribution and mineralogy, fluid-saturation, pore space, temperature, loading paths and rate, drainage conditions, chemical reactions, and other factors. As a result, predicting the mechanical responses of geomaterials often require knowledge of how several processes, which often take place in different spatial and temporal domains, interact with each other across length scales. This mini-symposium is intended to provide a forum for researchers to present contributions to recent advances in computational geomechanics problems. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to (1) development and validation of constitutive models that addressed multi-physical coupling effects, (2) discrete and continuum formulations for geomechanics problems, (3) iterative sequential couplings of fluid and solid solvers, (4) uncertainty quantification and spatial variability of soil properties, (5) multiscale mechanics, (6) modeling of weak and strong discontinuities, (7) regularization techniques to circumvent pathological mesh dependence and (8) techniques to model crack growth and fragmentation processes in geomaterials.

Abstract

The theory of Elasticity has become an important framework and a building block component in many developing fields of rational and applied mechanics. Fundamental concepts of Elasticity are in the base formulations of many presently growing areas of fundamental and applied mechanics. Examples can be found in Biomechanics, in Non-linear Wave Propagation, in Poroelasticiy, in the Modelling of Complex Materials, in the development of Green’s functions for Piezo-elastic and Piezo-electric and magnetic media and also in the foundation of Applied Numerical Methods. The aim of the present Mini Symposium, organized by the ASCE EMI Elasticity Committee is to report recent advances in the areas in which the concepts of the Theory of Elasticity play a major role. Applications in Numerical Methods, Modelling of Materials, Wave propagation phenomena, among others, are within the scope of the Symposium.

Abstract

With the unceasing development of both computational capabilities and advanced experimental setups, researchers and engineers are now facing the issues of identification, representation and simulation of material behavior at unprecedented levels of resolution. Such developments advocate for the construction of robust multimodel and multiscale predictors accommodating randomness and uncertainties in a high dimensional setting. This symposium aims at bringing together researchers involved in the development of stochastic methods and algorithms for the multiscale analysis of engineered or natural heterogeneous materials.

Contributions to the following topics are specifically encouraged: (1) algebraic, functional and morphological representations in high dimensional spaces; (2) applications in multiscale mechanics and uncertainty quantification; (3) concurrent or sequential coupling of stochastic models defined at different scales; (4) simulation algorithms for stochastic processes, random fields and random sets; (5) statistical inverse identification of multiscale systems; (6) stochastic (space/time) homogenization and related numerical methods.

Abstract

This mini-symposium will provide a forum for engineers, mathematicians and computer scientists to discuss recent developments in the broad field of Hierarchical and Multiscale Methods and their application to the Modeling of Materials. A real challenge in this important and emerging area of mechanics is to get the real materials integrated with mechanics to the satisfaction of materials engineers. Given the importance of Simulation Based Design of Materials, the growing interest in the emerging field of Additive Manufacturing that is prompting new developments, and wide application of these methods, this symposium promises to bring together a wide variety of disciplines for the exchange of state-of-the-art technical information on the subject.

The topics to be covered will include:
- Mathematical theory and models for advanced engineered materials,
- Emerging hierarchical and multiscale approaches and applications,
- Integrating real materials with mechanics,
- Process modeling of materials,
- Novel material systems
- Parallel computations with advanced material models and methods, and
- Use of advanced methods in industrial applications.

Abstract

The objective of this mini-symposium is to bring together researchers and engineers working in areas of advanced analysis, modeling, and simulation of structures to determine their responses for earthquake risk reduction. Topics of advanced analysis for earthquake engineering cover a wide range of special areas and interests, including but not limited to engineering and computational mechanics, ground motion and modeling uncertainties, reliability of response estimations, simulation of collapse, structural control techniques, and engineering utilization of simulated ground motions. Of particular interests are measurement science issues related to analytical techniques, structural dynamics, damping, stability, nonlinear material component modeling, and computational challenges. Solutions to special earthquake engineering problems encountered in research and industry making use of cutting edge engineering mechanics approaches are also very much welcomed.

Abstract

As the name implies, asset resilience is the resilience of a single asset. In general, a civil infrastructure asset can be a building, a bridge, a mass transit station, a tunnel or an electric transmission tower. Civil infrastructure assets does not exist in vacuum, each is interlinked with other assets. A group of linked assets would form a community of assets. As the name implies, a community (network) is comprised of several assets (nodes) interconnected via links that may be assets themselves. Thus, as an essential step of community resilience management, there is a need to have a greater understanding of the resilience of nodes and links. In addition, community resilience will depend on the topology of the network and the linkages between different nodes.

The size of the community is completely subjective. A community could be a simple campus comprising a small number of buildings (such as a small hospital or college). A community could be a transportation network, a small town, a region, a whole county -- or even a state. Obviously, resilience management of a community depends on the resilience management of each of its asset components, and the reverse is true.

The purpose of this mini-symposium is to explore different aspects of asset and community resilience management, or any of its five components (assessment, acceptance, treatment, monitoring, or communications). Some of the presentations will address those issue with an eye on the recent experiences of hurricane Harvey.

Abstract

This mini-symposium will be series of presentations that focus on state of the art experimental, numerical and analytical studies on the impact of various hazards on the resilience of critical civil infrastructure systems. Papers are solicited on topics covering advanced analytical and experimental methods and approaches to better assess and mitigate hazards and risks to improve infrastructure resilience. These topics include, but are not limited to: new techniques for simulation, testing and system identification methods for load and response assessment of structures including buildings, bridges, transportation system and other infrastructure/lifeline elements; new testing approaches related to tornadoes, hurricanes, thunderstorms/downbursts, earthquakes and other hazards; experiments and simulations to determine the performance of sustainable buildings and transportation systems; wind energy related experiments and simulations including study of wind load on renewable energy devices and wind turbines.

Abstract

The mitigation of the effects of natural and man-made hazards on the built environment is one of the core challenges of civil engineering. Over the past decades, numerous methodologies have been developed/formulated to this end, incorporating reliability-/risk-/performance-based concepts and, more recently, resiliency principles. While these approaches may appear diverse, they all have in common the need for efficient propagation of uncertainty through computational models (i.e., finite element models) of complex structures and systems. These models are inevitably characterized by nonlinear behaviors, heterogeneous design parameters and high dimensionality, therefore defining complex computational environments. Recent advances in computational methodologies, such as surrogate/metamodeling approaches and high performance computing, are leading to unprecedented possibilities in predicting, designing, operating, and monitoring engineering or environmental systems modeled within these complex computational environments.

The aim of this mini-symposium is to provide an opportunity for researchers in the fields of reduced-order/-dimensional modeling, surrogate/metamodeling approaches, multi-fidelity simulation, Bayesian inference, numerical methods for large-scale optimization, and high performance computing to present their current research efforts as well as future directions. Contributions addressing theoretical and computational developments, numerical algorithms and practical applications from different sub-fields of engineering where uncertainty and complex computational models occur (e.g. risk management and optimization, modeling of hazards and extreme events, stochastic dynamics, robust optimization, topology optimization under uncertainty, risk-based design, applications involving Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations) are welcome. The mini-symposium will provide an opportunity to bring together researchers, academics, and practicing engineers active in these topical areas to share their experience and latest research results.

Abstract

The purpose of the mini symposium is to seek recent research contributions in the areas of fluid-structure interactions (FSI) for incompressible and compressible fluid flows, as well as the motions and movements of suspended solids and flexible structures induced by flows and turbulence. The mini symposium highlights industrial applications and developments in the targeted areas. Numerical, experimental and theoretical investigations for problems in civil, environmental, mechanical, wind, and other engineering disciplines are welcomed. Authors are invited to submit abstracts and participate in this mini symposium to expand international cooperation, understanding and promotion of efforts in the areas of this mini symposium on Fluid-Structure Interactions and Flow-Induced Motions.

Abstract

On the forefront of structural engineering mechanics problems today lays the problem of robustness or progressive collapse. The aging of infrastructures and the very high multilevel consequences associated with the phenomenon have raised progressive collapse as one of the most important structural engineering mechanics problems. Progressive collapse can be initiated by numerous sources including construction or design flaws which surpass the common design base of current codes. Triggering events can be extreme events such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, abnormal loads not included in the design like gas explosions, vehicle impacts, fire or extreme environmental loads which push the structural system well beyond its strength envelope. In this framework, all infrastructure is vulnerable to progressive collapse at some level. This mini-symposium will bring together the structural engineering industry with academia aiming to provide insights on the actual engineering mechanics of progressive collapse.

Abstract

Bayesian inference method is widely used in many engineering disciplines for probabilistic risk assessment and management, such as structures, infrastructure systems, electronic systems, energy power plants, and aviation systems. This mini-symposium aims to provide a forum to present recent studies for the broad area application and development of Bayesian methods for large scale engineering systems. Possible topics include, but not are not limited to, classification, calibration, model updating, information fusion, and prediction using Bayesian method and Bayesian network. Special interest is on the recent advances on dynamic Bayesian networks, Bayesian learning, and other types of Bayesian big data analytics.

Abstract

The uplifting and rocking of specially design structural components or entire slender, free-standing/weakly-restrained structures when subjected to ground shaking may limit appreciably the seismic moments and shears that develop at their base; therefore, achieving a superior seismic response. In view of the need to minimize seismic stresses, permanent displacements, damage and cost, rocking isolation is receiving increasing attention as an alternative seismic protection strategy. This mini-symposium aims to attract recent contributions on the dynamic response of articulated/rocking structures in an effort to bring forward the major advances together with the unique advantages of rocking isolation.

Abstract

Performance-Based Engineering (PBE) is an established philosophy for design, construction, and maintenance of engineered systems, which is finding recognition in the development of modern design codes. PBE moves from the prescriptive perspective that is common to current design codes and focuses on the engineering system performance from the viewpoints of different stakeholders. In structural engineering, this modern concept and the design methodologies derived from it allow for cost-effective design, construction, and maintenance of facilities. PBE approaches require to estimate accurately the mechanical response of structures subject to dynamic loadings, and to account rigorously for the uncertainties in material properties, geometry, construction methodologies, modeling assumptions, and loading environment. Thus, PBE needs advanced analysis methods that can balance accuracy and cost efficiency requirements.

This session provides an opportunity to present current research findings in dynamic response analysis methods and techniques to assess the performance of real-world structural systems subject to single or multiple natural and man-made hazards. Contributions regarding different sub-fields of structural engineering (such as earthquake, wind, hurricane, blast, and fire engineering) involving both deterministic and probabilistic approaches are welcome The main objective of this session is to bring together researchers and engineers active in these topical areas to share their experiences and latest results. Papers that address conceptual, theoretical, computational, and/or methodological developments in both dynamic response analysis and performance assessment/prediction, as well as novel and/or large-scale applications, are appropriate for this session.

Abstract

Nearly every product, commodity, or infrastructure is constituted from, derived from, or supported by granular materials through mining, agriculture, or chemical processing. Granular materials are also central to geomechanics and the design of foundations and earthworks. As ubiquitous constituents of industrial processes and geophysical phenomena, these materials exhibit behaviors ranging from rapid, collision-dominated flows to quasi-static deformations. Granular systems also share common properties over a wide range of particle sizes, from rockfills to fine powders, and for colloidal multi-phase materials. On the other hand, their macroscopic properties are entirely dependent on the microstructural and micromechanical properties of their grains and their interactions. As such, suitable attention should also be paid to grain shape and cohesive forces.

This symposium will be composed of multiple sessions and will be engaged in five themes:
- Behavior and Modeling of Granular and Particulate Media (Matthew R. Kuhn & Anil Misra)
- Computational Approaches to Granular Materials (Ranganathan Parthasarathy, Marcial Gonzalez, and Payam Poorsolhjouy)
- Geophysical and Flow Processes (Tony Rosato & Jidong Zhao)
- Packing of Granular Materials (Shunying Ji & Ali Daouadji)
- Multiscale approaches in particulate systems (Mahdia Hattab & Payam Poorsolhjouy)

The symposium will address granular media viewed at all scales, including granular modeling, continuum modeling, discrete micro-mechanics, and the micro-macro transition. Contributions will include experimental, analytical, computational and theoretical studies.

Abstract

This mini-symposium aims to attract participation of leading researchers and scholars who have worked on fundamental physics-mechanics-chemistry of various types of stone-based civil infrastructure materials (such as hydrated cement concrete, bituminous materials, unbound aggregates, human-augmented soils, etc.). Presentations are invited on topics related to the investigation on the genome of infrastructure materials using various approaches including modeling, simulation, testing, and data analytics. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Multiscale modeling/simulation/experiments of stone-based infrastructure materials;
- Coupled mechanics modeling/simulation/experiments of stone-based infrastructure materials;
- Chemo-mechanics and atomistic/continuum coupling;
- Inelastic behavior and damage-fracture of stone-based infrastructure materials;
- Advanced nanotechnology and nanomaterials for stone-based infrastructure materials;
- Microstructural analyses/modeling of stone-based infrastructure materials with interface behavior and/or environmental effects;
- Data sharing and database, and data analytics.

Abstract

Growth is critical in living systems during development, physiological adaptation, disease, and even aging. In recent years advancements in modeling capabilities have revealed the significant role of mechanics in these processes. For instance, the convoluted structure of the brain has been shown to arise due to a mechanical instability, the heart has been shown to grow in volume in response to mechanical overload, and the skin increases its area when put in tension, as observed during pregnancy. Man-made systems can also be designed to grow and remodel by various mechanisms (i.e. polymerization, deposition, 3D and 4D printing, and swelling, to name a few), however the autonomous and highly robust nature of biological growth processes remains elusive. Hence, to better understand growth in living systems and to use this knowledge in the design and implementation of new engineering applications, research on growth of materials and structures is being heavily researched. It is the goal of this symposium to bring together three different fronts: theory, experiments and computation, to discuss the current state-of-the-art, challenges, and future directions of this growing field. Contributions related to both microscopic and macroscopic aspects of growth that are related to biological systems or engineering systems are welcome.

Abstract

In recent decades, modern civil engineering has the unprecedented progress and innovation thanks to new, state-of-the-art sensing technologies. Part of this is due to a revolutionary shift from wired sensors to miniature networked wireless sensing devices, enabling dense instrumentation with reduced maintenance costs. Emerging sensing technologies, such as non-contact, mobile, and crowd sourcing approaches further proliferate information about our complex structural systems standing in the field. The confluence of both increasing number and types of sensors has led to an explosion of data for the civil structures.

Towards efficiently utilizing the vast and unprecedented amount of structural sensor data, finite element (FE) model updating has the advantage over pure data-driven or physics-based techniques due to its ability to incorporate fusion of real-world sensing data and underlying physics. For example, structural dynamics features can be first extracted from the sensor data and then used towards FE model updating. This proposed mini-symposium aims to attract a diverse group of researchers and stakeholders including problem owners, application practitioners, sensor experts, data scientists as well as researchers from traditional structural modeling domains. With such cross-domain experts, we aim to share the latest development and innovation in the topic area, as well as spur cross-domain discussions to generate ideas and directions for the next decades.

Abstract

The safety assessment of any infrastructure system requires knowledge of the expected demands on the system, and a measure of its current capacity. Using such information, the safety of the system can be assessed, and, if necessary, appropriate retrofitting/control strategies can be designed to counter any capacity loss or unexpected growth in demand. With the rapid advancement in data measurement technologies, many present day approaches for demand and capacity estimations are data-driven. This mini-symposium aims to provide a platform for discussing this multi-faceted nature of data-based structural safety assessment. Abstracts are invited on:
- identification and statistical modelling of input excitations from measured infrastructure response data and/or direct input measurements
- using continuous monitoring data for modelling global and/or component level deterioration of aging infrastructure systems, and data-based methods for updating such deterioration models
- efficient data-based approaches to quickly detect degradation in condition or performance of aging infrastructure
- approaches for identifying or updating physics based models of infrastructure systems using monitoring data
- approaches to quantify uncertainty in identified input models, infrastructure deterioration models and updated structural models
- use of identified input, deterioration, and updated structural models in infrastructure safety assessment
- assessing the effect of localised deterioration on structural stability of members and systems
- stability-induced collapse of aging systems
- quantifying uncertainties in safety assessment of aging infrastructure
- experimental and real-life applications of new/existing methods in the above areas
- case studies on use of measured data in designing of retrofitting or control strategies

Abstract

While active and semi-active structural control devices have shown promise at effectively controlling the vibration of structures, the adoption of these devices in many structural applications has been slow due to the complexity of these devices, their demand for power, and a conservative construction industry. Because of this, the continued development of passive structural control devices and passive control techniques, which have seen more widespread application, is crucial. This mini-symposium focuses on recent advances and innovations related to passive structural control. Of interest are presentations related to new or improved passive control devices, such as mass dampers, base isolation systems, and supplemental damping devices, including those which utilize innovative materials, inerters, nonlinear geometry, or nonlinear materials. Furthermore, of interest are advances related to the utilization of passive devices to increase the sustainability, robustness, or resilience of structures. Additionally, advances in the optimization or implementation of passive control devices are of interest.

Abstract

Innovations in mid-rise and tall buildings and resulting complexities in their design and construction provide significant challenges for the application of performance-based structural fire engineering. Defining design fires to establish the structure-fire environment, characterizing material behavior at elevated temperatures, and developing system-level understanding of the fire-structure interaction are major challenges in implementing effective design strategies for structural fire protection. More importantly, significant uncertainties exist in fire load data, high-temperature material properties, and other input parameters necessary in quantifying the fire performance of structures. Despite all these uncertainties, currently, there are no universal guidelines for acceptable levels of safety, and no well-established general methodologies to quantify reliability and fire performance of entire structures.

This session will provide an opportunity for researchers (at both analytical and experimental levels) and practitioners to identify the challenges in implementing research findings into real-world practice of structural engineering, and in integrating fire safety and sustainable design. The emphasis will be on evolution of reliability analysis and structural safety under fire loading, the necessary experimental data and models, and the required developments in structural mechanics and computational tools to better understand and quantify the problem of fire-structure interaction.

Abstract

Porous materials relevant for civil infrastructures, geophysical applications and energy technologies are often exposed to a wide range of environmental factors, such as moisture changes, thermal fluctuations and chemical reactions. Such agents involve a number of multi-physical feedbacks, as well as the need to employ modeling, computational and characterization techniques able to handle coupled processes. This MS will provide a forum for researchers, engineers, and students in the area of Poromechanics to present recent and future work pertaining the simulation and characterization of porous solids exposed to environmental interactions. The scope of the MS is broad, and it includes any applied or fundamental topic related to multi-physical couplings in porous media, such as the constitutive modeling of couplings, their experimental characterization, and the computational solution of coupled problems.

Abstract

The aim of this minisymposium is to provide a forum for discussing the novel computational methods and applications that pertain to solid and structural mechanics problems. This minisymposium seeks to bring together students, academicians and professionals working on computational solid and structural mechanics.

In particular, contributions on the following topics are of significant interest:
- Novel computational methods for contact, fracture, interface modeling and other important engineering problems.
- Multiscale modeling and methods for heterogeneous materials including composites, concrete, wood, and others.
- Novel discretization techniques for complex constitutive models and complex geometry
- Multiscale modeling and methods for structural mechanics problems.
- Computational methods for time dependent structural and material response (collapse, creep, fatigue, etc.).
- Modeling of multiphysics phenomena (e.g., coupling of mechanics with electromagnetic, chemical, or transport effects).
- Solution techniques, error estimation, algorithmic analysis and convergence studies in computational mechanics

This MS is sponsored by the EMI Computational Mechanics Committee.

Abstract

Failure of structures usually starts from the initial diffuse damage and ends with the eventual localized rupture. During the last half century, a large volume of theoretical models has been proposed to characterize material and mechanical behaviors with softening regimes. Meanwhile, various computational approaches have also been developed for modeling localized failure of engineering materials and structures. However, despite the recent noteworthy contributions, physically sound and mathematically well-posed models and methods for the description of the entire failure process in solids and structures still lack. The purpose of this mini-symposium is to stimulate an exchange of ideas among researchers working on the computational fracture/failure mechanics of solids and structures, including but not limited to, the following approaches:
- discrete crack approaches such as zero-thickness interface elements, enriched finite element method with nodal (XFEM/GFEM) or elemental enrichments (E-FEM), cohesive zone models;
- smeared crack approaches implemented in a novel numerical context, e.g., mixed finite elements, mesh-free methods, discontinuous Galerkin method, isogeometric analysis, etc.;
- regularized crack approaches such as phase-field models, thick level-set method, variational approaches to damage and fracture, nonlocal and gradient-enhanced models, and peridynamic models;
- combined continuous and discontinuous approaches that characterize the entire failure process from the initial diffuse stage to the final fully localized failure;
- multi-scale and stochastic analysis of fracture such as FE2, computational homogenization, etc.

Abstract

Computational biomechanics has become an essential component for patient-specific diagnostics and better understanding of physiological and pathological conditions in the human body. Development of predictive and reliable biomechanical models has been greatly facilitated by recent advances in medical imaging modalities and image segmentation techniques. However, there still remain open questions about tackling the immanent complexity of physiological processes and multiscale linking of mechanics across cellular, tissue, and organ levels, which requires interdisciplinary thinking, sophisticated modeling, and advanced numerical methods. This mini-symposium therefore aims at bringing together researchers from the computational biomechanics community to discuss latest achievements in the development of innovative and advanced numerical methods applied to biological tissues and improved treatments for human body diseases.

Topics of interest for this minisymposium include, but are not limited to the following:
-Novel numerical methods & concepts for biomechanics problems and their algorithmic implementations in predictive biomechanical simulations
-Advanced fluid-structure interaction modeling algorithms and techniques for organ-level hemodynamic simulations in biomedical applications
-High-order, isogeometric, and coupled methods for multiphysics and multiscale biomechanical modeling
-Inverse methods for characterization of functional biomechanical properties of biological tissues under their physiological, diseased, and surgically treated conditions
-Reduced-order modeling for fast personalized surgery simulations and pre-operative treatment planning
-Verification, validation and uncertainty quantification in patient-specific simulations based on novel diagnostic medical imaging technologies
-Growth, remodeling and repair in biological tissues
-Molecular and cellular biomechanics informed tissue constitutive models, including multiscale mechanics of protein assemblies, lipid membrane, and cytoskeleton

Abstract

In the past decade, there have been exciting developments in understanding the mechanics of nano- and bio- structures and materials, such as biological materials and two dimensional materials. These materials have shown great potential for a wide range of engineering applications. Design of nanostructured and self-assembled materials to achieve materials with higher strength and performance for mechanical and energetic applications is currently receiving significant attention. Understanding the mechanics of these materials and their fundamental mechanisms are crucial for the design of innovative materials. This symposium will focus on the computational mechanics of nano- and bio- structures and materials, with an aim to represent the cutting edge research in materials across multiple length scales to enable the development of novel materials for a wide range of engineering applications.

Abstract

Starting with localized cracking and ending with structural collapse, the progressive failure of engineering structures is usually governed by damage evolution in different levels. To this end, theoretical models and numerical methods for predicting the damage behaviour of structures play increasingly important roles in the design of structures, although their current status lag far behind engineering practices. This symposium aims to promote collaborations among academic researchers and industrial engineers in developing and applying damage models and related numerical methods to the prediction of nonlinear behaviour of engineering structures. Those who have been working on related fields are cordially invited to exchange their ideas and research outcome in this mini-symposium.

Abstract

Wood offers excellent advantages as a building material: in addition to being lightweight, economic and strong, it is renewable, biodegradable, and carbon sequestering. As such, contemporary wood structures are revolutionizing the construction industry, rising to 18 stories and beyond. Yet despite these advances, the field of wood mechanics and associated computational modeling is still very much in its infancy stages. There is still much to explore and learn, for example, about wood’s complex brittle and ductile failure modes, its variability and heterogeneity, as well as its dependencies on time, moisture, temperature and size. Cutting-edge computational and experimental research in this regard will lead to new generations of wood products and applications, as well as help produce reliable engineering tools for design and detailing of these new timber structures. As with any biologically-based material, uncertainty quantification and reliability analysis are of particular importance.

This symposium entitled is a forum for scientists and engineers working in the field of wood mechanics and timber engineering.

Possible topics include:
- Mechanical response of wood and wood-based composites (eg. time and moisture dependent behavior)
- New and advanced modeling approaches (eg. probabilistic, macroscopic constitutive modeling, micromechanics and multiscale modeling)
- Analytical or numerical modeling of experiments, including interpretation and comparison of numerical and experimental results
- Geometric modeling of wood and wood-based materials (eg. automated laser scanning and knot ID in 3D)
- Mechanical behavior of innovative timber connections
- Novel test setups for complex loading cases (eg. biaxial, non-static, dynamic, moisture, temperature)

Abstract

Granular materials are widely present in nature and many areas of human activity. They show complex behaviors inherent in their discrete nature that have been a subject of intensive modeling effort in soil mechanics, powder technology and more recently soft-matter physics. While the framework of continuum mechanics has successfully hosted several local and nonlocal elasto- plastic models accounting for specific features of granular behavior such as Coulombic friction, dilatancy and anisotropy, the key issue of relating these features to the particle interactions remains remains largely open. These interactions involve excluded-volume effects and disorder, which lead to rich kinematics, including large-scale velocity correlations, and force concentration along contact chains, and they vary on particle size distributions and shapes. In order to address these issues, we propose a Mini Symposium focusing on all these aspects under the general topic of « micro mechanics of granular materials ». All experimental and numerical investigations into particle-scale phenomena, upscaling models based on particle interactions and coarse-graining approaches based on statistical and averaging techniques as well as discrete numerical methods are welcome.

Abstract

The uncertainty quantification of mechanical systems involving epistemic and aleatory uncertainty present within the systems and/or external excitations has been the focus of numerous research efforts in the past several decades. Although fundamental progresses have been made for linear systems, stochastic dynamic analysis of general multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) nonlinear mechanical systems still poses significant technical challenges. Among various uncertainty quantification methods developed for nonlinear mechanical systems, the families of Monte Carlo simulation and equivalent linearization methods have gained wide popularity due to their wide applicability and ease of implementation. However, Monte Carlo simulation techniques typically suffer from efficiency issues if the performance state of interest is characterized by rare event, while conventional equivalent linearization techniques often suffer from accuracy issues if the mechanical system of interest is highly nonlinear or the failure event of interest is located at the tail region of the distribution. In this context, this mini-symposium aims to stimulate discussions on recent achievements with regards to the use of Monte Carlo simulation and equivalent linearization based methods for analyzing nonlinear stochastic mechanical systems, with particular reference to advanced variance-reduction Monte Carlo techniques and novel equivalent linearization methods.

Abstract

Civil structures/infrastructures nowadays are frequently impacted by multiple hazards including seismic, wind, wave, current, storm surge, flooding and etc. Due to the combined loading effect, the structural dynamic behaviors become more complex and severe, which will inevitably damage the structural integrity and cause potential loss of property and lives. To prevent such damage and disasters, a better understanding of the complex structural dynamics as well as the corresponding vibration control strategies are required to be investigated and developed. This mini-symposium aims to advance open discussions on dynamics modeling and vibration control of structures subjected to multiple hazards. Specific topics include, but are not limited to the following:
- Dynamics modeling of structures under combined multiple hazards;
- Vibration control of buildings and bridges under combined multiple hazards;
- Dynamics modeling and control of onshore and offshore wind turbines;
- Dynamics modeling and control of offshore oil platforms;
- Dynamics modeling and control of cables/moorings and other flexible structures.

Abstract

The symposium is to bring together researchers working on various aspects of mechanics, micro and nanostructure, and synthesis and processing of materials and structures inspired by biology including but not limited to following themes:
- Modeling and simulation of mechanical properties of biological materials,
- Materials design, synthesis and processing based on biological materials,
- Scale transition methods for bio-inspired or biological materials,
- Nano and micro scale characterization of interfaces in biological and bio- inspired materials,
- Experimental investigation of bio-inspired or biological materials,
- Poromechanical problems in bio-inspired or biological materials,
- Constructs for tissue engineering
- Biomechanics

This symposium is supported by three EMI committees, 1) Biomechanics, 2) Properties of Materials and 3) Poromechanics.

Abstract

The symposium will seek papers on topics pertaining to fundamental and applied research in the field of molecular scale modeling and experimentation and their applications to engineering mechanics and materials characterization. Of particular interest are models and/or experimental techniques that enable atomistic control or assessment of mechanistic behavior, or are based on novel mechanistic response. Some of the topics included in the symposium but not limited to are:
- Atomistic molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate the mechanical behavior of materials,
- Molecular simulations of transport phenomena including diffusion, electrical and thermal transport and coupled behavior,
- Ab-initio and DFT computations for potential field development,
- Techniques to bridge molecular scale responses to higher length and time scales,
- Hybrid modeling approaches, combining atomistic representations with non-atomistic elements
- Spectroscopy techniques to evaluate molecular scale interactions and conformations,
- Single molecule force spectroscopy, incl. Atomic force microscopy, lateral force spectroscopy, etc.

Abstract

Development of offshore wind energy generation poses challenging and novel questions in solid and fluid mechanics, fluid structure interaction, and probabilistic methods including hazard assessment and reliability and risk based design and analysis. This mini-symposium (MS) seeks to bring together researchers from the broad range of mechanics disciplines that support offshore wind energy development to explore advances and generate synergies. The MS is open to any and all mechanics and probabilistic methods research that has the potential to support offshore wind energy development. Example topics include: Blade aero-elasto-dynamics, wave loads on structures, breaking wave mechanics, soil-structure interaction and geomechanics, failure and reliability analysis of offshore structures, dynamics of floating systems, health monitoring techniques, etc. This list is not intended to be exhaustive and contributions from other areas are encouraged.

Abstract

The experimental characterization of mechanical, hydraulic and thermal properties of porous materials and coupling effects in different geomaterials (rocks, soils, shales, cement-based materials) is of great importance for various applications in petroleum, civil and geo-environmental engineering and in geophysics. This is particularly a challenging task in the case of low-permeability porous materials, anisotropic materials or in multi-phase porous materials with more than one saturating fluid. This session tries to gather researchers from different communities (civil engineering, geomechanics, petroleum engineering, engineering geology, geophysics, biomechanics, …) working on the experimental characterization of coupled thermos-hydro-mechanical phenomena in complex porous materials to present the advances in testing procedures and protocols, new experimental developments, instrumentation and measurements, analysis methods, and parameters evaluation.

Abstract

This mini-symposium provides a platform for knowledge dissemination and exchange of innovative ideas concerning the latest developments in the field of nano- and microstructured materials contributing to form the next generation of materials superseding conventional materials. Computational modeling and experimental test methods providing new insights into e.g. the thermal, mechanical, electrical properties of different phases of nano- and microstructured materials and findings on how composition and nano/microstructure affect bulk material behavior are expected contents of this mini-symposium. New findings in processing, testing, measuring and installation of nano- and microstructured materials are of interest. The design of many nano- and microstructured materials is based on empirical approaches and the fundamental materials physics is still unknown. Contributions which shed light on the fundamental physics of nano- and microstructured materials are of particular interest. This mini-symposium welcomes contributions across industries which involve computational and/or experimental studies of the nano- and microstructure of materials affecting the macroscale performance.

Abstract

Infrastructure systems built out of conventional or new materials undergo aging and deterioration. Continuous information on the condition, the performance level, and the remaining service life of the infrastructure system is required to ensure system safety and is of economic value since maintenance costs increase non-proportionally the longer the defect stays undetected. Most defects are on the micro-length scale when becoming critical, hence are difficult to detect per visual inspection or with conventional sensing technology. This mini-symposium is inviting innovative sensing technologies which enable defect detection and characterization of micro-size defects or so called damage precursors through real-time automated or on-demand sensing. Further, the mini-symposium provides a platform for time-efficient and reliable damage prognostics working with the sensed data. The proof of conceptual ideas, computational approaches, and particularly laboratory and field test results of damage precursor sensing, damage diagnostics and prognostics methodologies are of interest. The mini-symposium invites contributions from all industries and is expected to raise interest among attendees from academia, government agencies and industry.

Abstract

Recent advancements in material synthesis and additive manufacturing have enabled a shift from a traditional materials selection approach to meet engineering standards, to the design of novel materials with superior properties. Architected materials, including cellular solids, micro- and nano-lattices, multi-phase composite structures, self-assembled material systems and others, are at the core of this shift. This is due to their unique properties that are derived from their intricate architecture- a combination of topology, material distribution, and base material(s) behavior. The complex interplay of these features leads to a wide range of deformation mechanisms beyond the elastic regime that include instabilities, plastic collapse, brittle fracture, shock-type crushing, deformations at the nanoscale and many others.

This minisymposium will discuss the latest advancements on the extreme mechanics of architected materials, where “extreme” here encompasses large deformations, failure, high strain rates, high temperatures, as well as mechanics at the nanoscale.

Topics of interest include but are not limited to:
- Mechanical properties of architected materials at their theoretical limits
- Mechanics-based design for nonlinear properties
- Material systems for acoustic absorption, shock absorption, and thermal insulation
- Mechanical Metamaterials
- Programmable matter and self-assembled materials
- Bio-inspired and nanostructured architectures.

Abstract

Recently, there has been increasing interests/foci and developments on the multiphysics-multiscale nature of materials research in many different disciplines. It is because many engineering problems have multiple length/time scales and are subjected to multiple physical phenomena (e.g., kinetic, hydraulic, thermal, etc.). Even though multiphysics-multiscale problems have long been studied in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry, the current excitement is driven mainly by the use of the models in the applied science and engineering. In addition problems are often multiscale in nature; namely, the processes at different scales are governed by physical laws of different phenomena: for example, quantum mechanics at one scale, classical continuum mechanics at another, and the material behavior at nanoscale or mesoscale often crucially depends on the bridging techniques of different scales. Properly executed multiphysics-multiscale modeling techniques can vastly improve accuracy and efficiency in solutions which were never possible in the past, in many cases, with very reasonable experimental-computational costs.

Given the technological significance and increasing interests, we have continued this mini-symposium for the last few years, and are excited to offering this symposium again at the EMI 2018 conference. More specifically, this mini-symposium will provide an interactive channel to discuss/introduce various (physical, mathematical, computational, and experimental) approaches and their integration into the multiphysics-multiscale modeling of various engineering materials. Presentations are invited on topics related to multiphysics and/or multiscale modeling of various engineering materials that may also be incorporated with inelastic constitutive behavior.

Abstract

Additive manufacturing is on its way to become the next industrial revolution. The growing interest on the subject has undoubtedly attracted many scientists in diverse areas of expertise. This attractively is justified by the large degree of freedom allowed by these technologies to design features of unequalled level of complexity with limited dependence on tooling. This symposium will address the new trends in additive manufacturing. New manufacturing concepts, process optimization, materials for 3D printing, design applications, microstructural and mechanical characterization are all topics of interest.

Abstract

Beneath the constitutive behavior of particulate media lies an underlying microscopic source influenced by finite grain size and shape effects, grain-grain interactions, and global contact network dynamics. The interplay of these various factors is certainly non-trivial, belying the famous complexity of granular material. This mini-symposium aims to make progress on this issue both from the top down and the bottom up approach by seeking to identify (a) rheological principles that robustly describe granular motion, (b) common microscopic and mesoscopic motifs in granular deformations, and (c) connections between macroscale rheology and subscale behavior and features.

Abstract

The goal of this mini-symposium is to provide a unified forum for researchers and engineers to disseminate information and studies on the response characterization of structural and geotechnical systems to non-naturally occurring extreme loads. These loads may include vehicular crash, blast and explosions, impact, fire, and many others. Extreme loads such as these are anticipated to cause the structural or geotechnical system to respond nonlinearly, with distinct plastic response and the potential for collapse or failure of the system creating life-safety hazards. These characteristics make full-scale experimentation challenging and limits knowledge of the underlying mechanics. While the probability of a system being subjected to these load scenarios is relatively low, the high consequence of these life-safety hazards makes their study particularly relevant. Topics of interest to this mini-symposium may include: reconnaissance efforts and studies following an extreme event; experimental or controlled tests of systems under extreme loads; numerical studies or validation exercises of systems under an extreme load; system identification or remote sensing of damaged structures; case studies of individual structures or systems; any other topics related to non-naturally occurring natural hazards.

Abstract

The macroscopic mechano-physical properties of materials are a complex function of their chemical composition and textural characteristics across several length scales down to the atomistic one. To address this complexity, researchers have developed a diverse set of computational, analytical, and experimental tools to explore the composition-structure- property correlation in materials. This mini-symposium calls for interdisciplinary research on materials at the interface of physics, chemistry, material science and solid mechanics. We are interested in a wide range of materials including but not limited to civil engineering materials (e.g., cementitious, bituminous, geo-materials), glasses, ceramics, and nanocomposites. Physical properties of interest may be stiffness, strength, toughness, creep, heat and mass transport, permeability, and other relevant properties across time and length scales. The multiscale computational studies of interest include quantum chemistry, classical and semi-classical force-field molecular dynamics, Monte Carlo methods, potential of mean-force, coarse-grained mesoscale modeling. Relevant analytical approaches include micro-mechanics-based homogenization techniques and continuum mechanics approaches. From the experimental point of view, we encourage submissions related to materials’ synthesis and characterization via neutron and X-ray scattering techniques, tomography, nanoindentation, and scanning probe microscopy.

Abstract

The materials and structures of our past provide unique insights into structural design and the long-term behavior of materials. In some cases, the ancient techniques of construction and material production could prove more sustainable than modern approaches. Understanding the behavior of these ancient materials is required to understand both how historic structures can be preserved or rehabilitated, and how these unique objects can inform the future. Multi-scale characterization and computational modeling approaches are required to evaluate materials properties (mechanical, optical, structural, etc.), linking the macro-scale behavior to the micro- and nano-scale evolution of the materials over time. This mini-symposium seeks to provide an interdisciplinary forum about historic and ancient technologies and their applications in future design. Areas of interest in this field include, but are not limited to, multi-scale innovations in characterization and modeling of materials in cultural heritage; sensing and health assessment of cultural heritage; the past and future environmental impact of historic structures; improved understanding of material durability; and advances in techniques to evolve ancient technologies for modern applications, including both new design and historic rehabilitation.

Abstract

The minisymposium welcomes all contributions (theoretical, experimental, and/or computational) related to large deformation bio-poro-mechanics, referring primarily to soft biological tissues or hydrogels that deform in a large manner and whose solid skeleton/phase deformation is coupled to pore fluid flow. Examples of such tissues include the brain, cartilage, lung parenchyma, hydrogels, etc. Applications are numerous.

Abstract

This ASCE Aerospace Division (ASD) sponsored mini-symposium has been planned to initiate recently agreed collaboration between ASD and the Engineering Mechanics Institute (EMI). The mini-symposium focusses on novel engineering concepts, designs and technologies with applications to aerospace, extraterrestrial exploration, and extreme environments. The symposium will cover a wide range of topics including, but not limited to, the following. Special consideration will be given to engineering and science topics that have potential for dual technology development and promote transfer of technologies and know-how in various civil engineering disciplines between terrestrial and extraterrestrial applications and between civil and other engineering and science areas.

Topics:
- 3-D Printing for aerospace and rapid deployable space structures
- Advanced materials and structures for aerospace applications
- Analytical, experimental, and computational methodologies for aerospace and extreme environments
- Asteroid exploration
- Dynamics and controls, sensors and condition monitoring of aerospace structures
- Green and high performance materials for application in extreme environments
- Human and robotics space and planetary exploration
- Microgravity research, including those done in the International Space Station
- Regolith, mining, and drilling on Moon and Mars
- Space biomechanics
- Space Engineering and construction, including human habitats on Moon and Mars
- Spacecraft, satellites, and propulsion

Other relevant topics in the areas of materials and structures related to aerospace, extraterrestrial exploration, and extreme environments

Abstract

Multiphase flows refer to flow and transport of solid, liquid, and gas mixtures. Many engineering problems, including particulate transport in rivers, oceans, and atmosphere, air-sea interaction, infragravity wave dynamics in the nearshore, can be categorized as multiphase flows. The increased availability in computational power and further development of novel sensor and optical method technologies have facilitated the advancement of both computational and experimental studies in multiphase flow research. These, in turn, are expected to improve the current state of knowledge in classical engineering problems at the fundamental level. Given these advances and the potential of future research opportunities, this symposium aims to bring researchers together and thereby provide a common ground for idea exchange and foster collaboration among disciplines such as civil, chemical, and mechanical engineering.

Abstract

Meshfree and particle methods have emerged as a new class of numerical methods for solving challenging mechanics problems which are difficult to solve with traditional finite element methods. These methods utilize a point-based approximation and discretization constructed directly in the physical domain without fixed mesh connectivity. This in turn releases the strong tie between the quality of the discretization and the accuracy of the numerical solution. In addition, the approximations employed in meshfree and particle methods allow controllable orders of continuity and completeness, independent from one another. These unique properties offer versatility in constructing approximation functions, so that rough or smooth characteristics in physical problems can be captured. These properties also allow the development of paradigms in solving PDEs without being restricted to Galerkin-type procedures.

Topics of interest for this minisymposium include, but are not limited to the following:
- Fundamental developments
- Handling stationary and transient strong and weak discontinuities
- Formulations for extreme material distortion, fragmentation, contact and impact, and material instability
- Numerical integration
- Strong form collocation meshfree methods
- Rank stability, kernel stability, and other stability issues
- Simulation of classes of problems for which meshfree, peridynamics, and particle methods are superior to conventional mesh-based methods
- Parallel-computing, scalable algorithms, and large-scale simulations
- Multiple and coupled physics
- Multiple time and/or length scales
- Multi-phase (solid, fluid and gas) interactions
- Structural responses to extreme loading conditions such as blast, impact, and penetration
- Simulation of natural disasters like tsunamis, earthquakes, and landslides
- Simulation of manufacturing processes
- Simulation of bio and nano mechanics and material system responses

Abstract

It is generally accepted that artificial intelligence (AI) enabled computer vision will drive the next revolution in information modeling and decision making. Furthermore, due to the recent advances in sensors and computing technologies, the use of vision-based approaches provides an unprecedented opportunity to complement traditional structural health monitoring (SHM) and nondestructive evaluation (NDE) technologies, which will ultimately improve the resilience of structural systems. Moreover, vision methods are generally contactless and appropriate to be incorporated in mobile sensing robots such as unmanned aerial or ground vehicles, providing a transformative monitoring platform for civil structures. This mini-symposium will provide the opportunity to discuss recent theoretical, computational and experimental advances in using computer vision and machine learning approaches for structural identification, control, damage detection, and health monitoring. Topics relevant to this session include, but not limited to, innovative imaging for structures, image/video data collection and analysis, damage detection, classification, quantification and localization, change recognition, displacement and dynamic measurements, deep visual learning, sensor calibration, fusion and optimization, scene reconstruction, activity monitoring, robotics integration, and other new emerging vision-based technologies.

Abstract

Many civil engineering infrastructures (such as roads, bridges, rails, dams, etc.) and their materials are subjected to multi-modal loading scenarios that are often associated with multiphysical phenomena. These problems are usually multi-scales in time and length and are governed by multiple physics (e.g., chemical reactions, fluid flow, thermal, kinematic, damage, etc.). An additional layer of complexity is added when one considers the influence of different sources of uncertainty in the mechanical response, performance and degradation of these infrastructures, such as that related to the heterogeneous nature of several construction materials. In an era where civil engineering community seeks innovative solutions, it is imperative to more finely characterize the materials and describe the infrastructural responses by considering all complex interacting mechanisms and their associated uncertainty at multiple time- and length- scales. The aim of this mini-symposium is to provide a platform to discuss recent developments in multi physics/scale modeling, stochastic approaches, and the application of stochastic approaches in mechanistic modeling for various critical civil engineering infrastructures and their materials. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Coupled thermo-chemo-mechanical modeling/simulation/experiment.
- Multi-scale modeling/simulation/experiments.
- Numerical methods for stochastic mechanics with a focus on uncertainty modeling.
- Multi-scale/multi-physics stochastic modeling and analysis.
- Effect of heterogeneity on the mechanical response of infrastructure materials.
- Microstructural analyses/modeling of environmental-mechanical responses of infrastructure materials.
- Inelastic behavior and damage-fracture of infrastructure materials.
- Bond breakage and interface properties incorporated with environmental effects.
- Mechanistic approaches for fuel consumption estimation.

Abstract

Polymeric materials have been extensively used in aerospace, petrochemical, environment and energy industries. Comparing to classical metallic materials, polymers demonstrate some interesting and unique mechanical properties. In particular, polymers with dynamic bonds have shown great capability in adapting their environment and exhibiting unprecedented properties, such as high-toughness, self-healing, and mechanochromism. In this emerging field, dynamic bonds, including reversible covalent bonds and non-covalent bonds (such as ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds, metal-ligand coordinations and hydrophobic interactions), have been utilized to program macroscopic responses of polymers by regulating their molecular architectures. From a fundamental perspective, development of predictive models that connect the macroscopic mechanical behavior of these polymers to the corresponding molecular mechanisms is a challenging endeavor. The proposed symposium will address recent experimental, computational and theoretical advances in this burgeoning field. Topics of particular interest include: (a) Tough hydrogels and elastomers; (b) Self-healing polymers; (c) Mechanochemically responsive polymers; (d) Covalently adaptable polymers; (e) Photoresponsive polymers; and (f) Electromagnetically responsive polymers. The goal of this symposium is to bring together researchers with a variety of backgrounds to exchange ideas, identify and address grand challenges, and to initiate new areas of research.

Abstract

The time-temperature equivalence is often applied to describe time and temperature coupled effects in temperature accelerated processes, e.g., creep rupture or relaxation at normal and high stresses over a long period under different temperature conditions. Various time-temperature relationships were developed for those matters, for example, the time-temperature superposition principle is used to calculate the time-temperature shift factor for polymer materials according to the Arrhenius or William-Landel-Ferry equation. Furthermore, the time-temperature equivalence parameters for metallic materials are determined with the Larson-Miller, Manson-Haferd, Mendelson-Roberts-Nanson, Orr-Sherby-Dorn and Manson-Succop equation etc. All those relations are based on specific assumptions and therefore the applicability for diverse phenomenological surveys should be restricted.

This Minisymposium will provide a forum for international experts and researchers to discuss recent developments in modeling time- and temperature-dependent phenomena regarding thermo-viscoelastic or thermo-viscoplastic effects on different materials and structures.

Abstract

Nanomaterials are coming into use in different domains like healthcare, electronics, cosmetics, civil engineering and other areas. Applications of nanomaterials in civil engineering can generate construction materials with many specific characteristics as: self-cleaning, lighter and Stronger, photocatalytic effect , good thermal and acoustic insolation, high mechanical performance, pozzolanic reactions activation. According to the several definitions given to the nanomaterials, we can propose: Nanomaterials are materials, which have nano size less than 100 nm at least of one extern dimension or have nano size less than 100 nm in extern or interne structure. This nanometric size gives to them unique or exceptional properties and could propose or contribute to the smart materials. The objective of this symposium is to show the benefic uses of nanomaterials and their applications in cement, geopolymers and soil/sediment treatment in point of view:
- Structural and microstructural of Materials
- Chemistry of cement, geopolymer and soil/sediment treatment
- Solidification and stabilization
- Low-CO2 cements
- Workability, rheology, early ages,...,
- Mechanical properties, creep, fracture and cracking,
- Fire-resistant materials
- Biosourced materials
- Nano composites
- Durability and transport phenomena’s.
- Environment and Recycling

Abstract

To date, the tools available to structural inspectors to perform structural inspections have been very limited. In many cases inspectors are limited to using their eyes, ears, a tape measure and a hammer to perform an inspection. Notes are taken using a pad of paper and a pencil. In some cases, a tablet computer might be used to take notes along with a digital camera for documentation. Unfortunately, these techniques are clumsy and result in very few data points being measured and recorded. In this session we will how to use augmented reality for structural inspection applications based on emerging technologies and real applications. Further applications of augmented reality in the field of structural inspection are also discussed in this mini-symposium.

Abstract

Physical structures (such as aerospace, civil, marine, and mechanical systems) are designed to serve and be operated by humans and other living systems. Traditionally, the interactions between living systems and physical structures have been considered as separate entities. However, history has demonstrated that the behavior and health of the human operator, for example, can influence (or even jeopardize) structural performance and safety. Similarly, human-induced structural responses can be used to diagnose underlying issues (or damage) in both the structure and human operator. There is a need to sense and augment human behavior and human-structural interactions to ensure optimal system performance and functionality.

This session is soliciting contributions related to algorithms, theory, modeling, Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies, implementation, evaluation, and deployment experiences of monitoring, assessing, or controlling human performance and human-induced structural responses. Topics of interest include but are not limited to: (1) understanding and modeling of structural responses induced by humans or animals; (2) analysis of everyday and/or extreme activities of humans in the structure; (3) wearable sensors and IoT technologies for monitoring human activity, behavior, health, and mental states; (4) improving structural performance through mitigating human effects; (5) enabling human-centric structural management to improve human comfort and productivity; and (6) innovative applications, laboratory studies, and field validation.

Abstract

Cracking is one of the major issues that affect both serviceability and safety of civil infrastructure. Examples include cracking of concrete structures under mechanical or environmental loading and rebar corrosion, fatigue cracking of steel, and pavement cracking, etc. Detection and tracking of these cracks are essential to ensure structural integrity and functionality. Recently, advanced strategies based on novel nondestructive testing and sensing techniques, signal processing, and computer vision algorithms have greatly advanced frontiers in crack detection of civil infrastructure. This mini-symposium aims to foster exchange of ideas and discussion about current developments and open problems in crack detection and monitoring of civil infrastructure. Topics of interest include, but not limited to:
- Crack detection and quantification of concrete structures
- Fatigue crack detection and monitoring for steel structures
- Pavement crack detection and quantification
- Crack detection in nuclear power plants
- Nondestructive Testing (NDT) methods for crack detection
- Novel sensing techniques such as fiber-optic, large-area electronics for crack detection
- Computer vision and machining learning for crack detection
- Vibration-based crack detection
- Long-term crack monitoring

Abstract

The goal of the minisymposium is to collect research and application studies that focus on performance and resilience evaluation of civil structures using measured data. We invite contributions from the fields of modeling, system identification and model inversion, uncertainty quantification, and risk estimation that are gauged towards performance and resilience assessment. The breadth of proposed topics promotes looking at the subject of performance and resilience assessment through structural identification, estimation, simulation, and prediction considering real-world complexities and uncertainties.

Topics relevant to this minisymposium include: inverse modeling, estimation, identification, and sensing for monitoring and condition assessment of structural systems; modeling and response simulation for probabilistic demand prediction and capacity assessment of civil infrastructures; stochastic modeling techniques for damage prognosis and propagating the uncertainties to the response of civil infrastructure to future loads; assessment of pre-event aging and deterioration, and post-event remaining useful life, reliability, and risk of operation of civil infrastructures and systems; risk- and reliability-informed methods to guide emergency response, inspection, retrofit, and rehabilitation considering community-level resilience enhancement strategies (i.e., resources, time, cost, and performance optimization); modeling, prediction, and uncertainty quantification of system-level financial, and community-level economical, and/or societal post-disaster consequences. Research studies that address experimental investigations and validation of theories or analytical approaches are especially welcome.

Abstract

The aim of this mini-symposium is to discuss recent development and application of multi-functional (smart) composites for the candidate for next-generation industrial materials. The mini-symposium deals with various multi-functional composites for engineering applications such as advanced structural components, sensors, soft robotics, and actuators. It covers theoretical, experimental, and computational issues related to any kind of smart or multi-functional composites. Topics relevant to the mini-symposium include:
- Sensor-integrated construction materials in civil engineering;
- Multi-functional coating materials for industry application;
- Self-healing composites for aerospace and mechanical engineering;
- Smart composites for soft robotics;

Also, we welcome other topics related to smart materials.

Abstract

As sensor technology becomes more ubiquitous, structural monitoring becomes more widely adopted within the structural engineering community. As a result, structural monitoring is increasingly a key tool for engineering projects with high performance requirements. This symposium will provide a discussion about various structural design and forensic analysis projects that utilize structural monitoring. The focus will be disseminating examples of sensors being used to advance structural design or forensic analysis. Potential examples include:
-Structural Control
- Vibration Monitoring
- Isolation
- Structural Identification
- Condition Assessments
- FEM Model Updating

Abstract

This symposium will present advances in experimental mechanics with a focus on damage detection, identification, and sensing methods. Recent advances in experimental methods in the field, in microscale laboratory tests, and in nanoscale studies require a better understanding of damage development near and far from sensing equipment. Papers are solicited on topics covering damage detection and identification methods that advance experimental mechanics for civil infrastructure and material applications. These topics include, but are not limited to: elastic wave methods – ultrasound, acoustic emissions and vibration; electromagnetic methods – ground penetrating radar, magnetic methods and eddy current techniques; modern physics methods – neutron scattering, muon detection, quantum entanglement detection, and positron annihilation; information processing methods – inverse algorithms, multisensor fusion, deep learning, data registration, and large database and large data stream management; data quality – probability of detection estimates; embedded sensing methods; and theoretical modeling.

Abstract

In mechanics, a model is a catch-all term referring to mathematical representations of some physical phenomenon: e.g., hysteretic structural behavior can be modeled with bilinear or smooth hysteresis, or "equivalent" linear models; polycrystaline specimen deformation can be approximated with different finite element meshes. While many model forms are often available to describe behavior, model choice is generally made based on evidence from measured data or on the practical consideration of ease of model use.

Model validation techniques provide tools to streamline selecting model(s) and judging their quality. Once validated, these models can then be used for future predictions in design, analysis, and failure prognosis. In recent decades, several probabilistic and information-theoretic frameworks have been proposed to validate models. Probabilistic frameworks can be based on statistical hypothesis testing or applications of Bayes' Theorem. Information-theoretic approaches have their foundation in Shannon's entropy to form a selection criterion for models. However, computational limitations exist for validating very large-scale models, a growing concern given the ever-increasing demands of model fidelity. Significant progress must be made to make these validation frameworks a regular part of every modeling exercises. Further, experiments providing data for model validation must be designed to provide measurements that can be efficiently used for accurate model validation. Progress continues in model development for myriad problems across mechanics but, for these models to truly become useful to the community at large, the aforementioned research needs must be completed.

Presentations on all such aspects of model validation are invited for this mini-symposium.

Abstract

Metamaterials consist of a special class of media or structures characterized by passive filtering properties: when the frequency of the incoming waves falls into their “blind” zone, their propagation is mitigated or even arrested, forming thus a “band-gap”. These band gaps have allowed obtaining materials for low-frequency (albeit narrow) wave steering or devices for optical and acoustic cloaking. Inspired from the fields of optics and acoustics, the use of metamaterials for the attenuation of structural and mechanical vibrations is increasingly attracting the interest of scientists and engineers.

The aim of this mini-symposium (MS) is to present and discuss the recent advances in the field, ranging from purely theoretical investigations, to numerical simulations and experimental case studies. MS topics include, among others: theoretical background, dispersion analysis of infinite lattices, performance of finite lattices, wave filtering, scattering and mode conversion, soil-structure interaction, nonlinear and uncertain metamaterials, design and optimizations.

Applications in structural dynamics, earthquake engineering, geotechnical engineering, as well as mechanical and aerospace engineering are welcomed, while papers covering experimental investigations in both laboratory tests and free field are particularly appreciated.

Abstract

The symposium brings together characterization, modeling, synthesis and manufacturing of biological and bioinspired materials and structures. By covering the study of natural processes and new engineering efforts across several scales – ranging from molecular to macro – the symposium will highlight the structure-form-function relationships of biological and bioinspired materials and their applications. Multiscale analysis of soft and hard materials will be covered together with self-assembly and de novo design of building blocks processes, bioinspired design of structures and materials with enhanced mechanical properties, biomineralization and biomanufacturing.

Abstract

Petroleum-related geomechanics serves to describe the mechanical properties and behavior of geological formations. With rapid growth in development of unconventional shale resources, petroleum geomechanics has come to find much significance in drilling, completion, and production operations of the upstream energy industry. The subsurface rocks, in particular, shale often comprise complex structures of porosities and natural/induced fractures that host a multitude of coupled processes including fluid flow, heat transfer, and species/ions transport, in addition to their nonlinear plasticity and mechanical anisotropy by very nature.

This mini-symposium calls for abstracts on analytical and/or numerical solutions to the applied problems of petroleum geomechanics that address the coupling between linear/nonlinear rock deformations and one or more of the described processes. The topics of interest will include wellbore stability and integrity, hydraulic fracture modelling, reservoir geomechanics, subsidence prediction, carbon dioxide sequestration, as well as mechanical and physico-chemical characterization of unconventional reservoirs.

Abstract

During the past two decades, significant progress has been made in development and validation of constitutive and numerical modeling techniques that can be used to predict soil response and liquefaction. Advances in element, centrifuge, and 1G shake table testing as well as numerous field observations of soil response after major earthquakes have also provided unprecedented new information for the assessment of these modeling techniques.

The main objective of this mini-symposium is to bring together researchers who are working on development, verification, and validation of advanced constitutive and numerical modeling techniques to discuss the latest advances in modeling soil response and liquefaction. The following areas are of a particular interest:
- Evaluation, development, and side-by-side comparison of constitutive models for cyclic response of nonliquefiable and liquefiable soils.
- Verification, validation, development, and side-by-side comparisons of advanced numerical techniques used to analyze boundary value problems of infrastructure systems containing liquefiable soils.
- Assessment of current numerical modeling capabilities using field data.
- Verification and validation protocols that convey to non-experts the strengths and weaknesses (capabilities and limitations) of numerical methods being used in research and practice.

Sponsoring Committees:
Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics committee
Computational Geotechnics committee
Granular Materials Committee

Abstract

Recent developments in data science provide new opportunities to tackle built environment problems with the aim of improving infrastructure resilience under "normal" operating conditions, intermediate stress conditions, and hazard events. Nowadays, state-of-the-art sensing systems generate Big Data which promises to supply numerous valuable information for assessing the state of infrastructure systems. This mini-symposium provides a forum for advancing scientific knowledge of structural health monitoring and discussing recent developments of innovative machine learning algorithms and big data analytics for integrity and safety assessment of infrastructure systems. Applications in mechanical and aerospace engineering and other related disciplines are also welcome. Potential topics may include, but are not limited to: 
- Machine Learning for System Identification;
- Big Data Analytics: Fusion, Mining, Modeling and Feature Extraction;
- Deep Neural Networks: Convolutional, Recursive and Recurrent Neural Networks;
- High Performance Computing in Signal Processing;
- Data-Driven Structural Risk and Reliability Assessment;
- Data-Driven Quantification of Infrastructure-Environment Interaction;
- Damage and Disturbance Detection;
- Seismic Interferometry;
- Uncertainty Quantification.

Abstract

This mini-symposium presents research on the use of penetrating and related methods for sensing the subsurface conditions of civil infrastructures (e.g., bridges, buildings, roadways) and geotechnical formations with time and spatially-varying electromagnetic waves. Penetrating radar is one of the few available techniques for non-contacting and nondestructive sensing of subsurface features and conditions. Recent advances in miniaturization, signal processing and autonomous systems are rapidly extending the use of penetrating radar to applications with increased sensitivity for broader coverage of structures, often in remote and difficult to access locations. The presentations will cover methods of detecting and assessing subsurface damage, corrosion, water intrusion, delaminations, voids, reinforcing bars and stiffening elements. This will include advancements in signal processing methods and hardware developments, along with case studies on the application of penetrating radar techniques.

Abstract

During their operational or service life structures suffer deterioration from usage (aging) and severe loading, which might compromise their performance and ability to safely fulfill their design objectives. To prevent a catastrophic failure it is essential to predict their remaining useful life (RUL) and potential collapse mechanisms using the information available. This mini-symposium is aimed at presenting and discussing recent developments and methods for estimation of the RUL of complex structures and its uncertainty. Applications in mechanical, civil, aerospace, naval, and biomedical engineering are welcomed. 

Relevant topics of interest include, but are not limited to: fatigue usage monitoring, model-based prognostics, damage and crack propagation models, low-cycle and high-cycle fatigue life estimation, model-data fusion, probabilistic methods for damage prognosis and RUL estimation, parameter estimation, design and analysis of fatigue experiments, model verification/validation/calibration, and case studies.

Abstract

Catastrophic events, particularly natural disasters occur worldwide in the form of earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, landslides, flooding, and others. These disastrous events have devastating impacts on our society in terms of dollars and lives lost. What makes the situation worse is that, due to global climate change, the frequency and intensity of these events and the chances of simultaneous occurrence of multiple natural disasters have unprecedentedly increased. The prediction and mitigation of these disastrous events, therefore, has become an immediate need for safeguarding our society. The state-of-the-art numerical methods integrated with knowledge from earth science and engineering offer an effective means to simulate the process of a disaster and predict the impact it may cause. This symposium aims to promote collaboration among researchers and engineers from academia and industry in developing and applying advanced numerical methods for natural disaster prediction and mitigation. Of interest are subjects relevant to numerical disaster simulation, which include but are not limited to the following:
- Advanced natural disaster simulation methods such as finite element methods, meshfree and particle methods, isogeometric analysis, discrete element methods, etc.
- Constitutive modeling of earth materials and disaster debris
- Coupled solid and fluid mechanics approaches
- Fluid-structure interaction in natural disastrous events
- Multiscale natural disaster simulation
- Numerical algorithm implementation and simulation software development
- Large scale and parallel computation
- Probabalistic approaches to disaster prediction, risk, and hazard

Abstract

Real-time hybrid simulation (RTHS) is a novel, powerful and cost-effective experimental technique for examining the global behavior of complex, large-scale structural systems under realistic dynamic loading conditions. This technique is developed by coupling both physical and simulated components, and applying advanced algorithms to interface these two components to provide real-time loading rate as the experiment progresses. Recent advances in RTHS are offering better understanding to the fundamental issues in RTHS, and enabling more efficient and cost-effective solutions to the investigation of global structural system behavior under realistic conditions. The goal of this mini symposium is to provide a forum for RTHS researchers to exchange information, disseminate recent findings, and identify future key focus areas in RTHS. This symposium invites papers related to the following aspects of RTHS: numerical integration, actuator control, noise treatment, assessment criteria, stability analysis, innovative hybrid simulation framework, recent RTHS implementations and applications.

Abstract

The aim of the mini-session is to bring together academics and practitioners from all areas of civil engineering and other related fields in pertaining to the application of biomimicry in the development of structural forms, novel infrastructural materials, and analysis methods. The intent is to introduce academia and practitioners to newly inspired modern bioinspired structures, materials, and sensing technologies. It aims to link traditional structural engineering to bio-inspired structures and to discuss their generic properties. The link between materials design, strength and structural behavior at different levels (material, element, structural and system levels) will be covered by selected presentations.

Abstract

The two hundred-plus extreme climatic events since 1980 have incurred US economy 1.2 trillion dollars, not to mention their nearly ten thousand death tolls. The intensity and frequency of such extreme anthropogenic events are on the rise in virtue of the global warming phenomenon; and our aging civil infrastructure is the only barrier that shields us from these growing extreme events. The over-arching goal of this mini-symposium is to convene scientists and engineers from the civil engineering community to disseminate their latest scholarly findings at the interface of engineering mechanics and meteorological extreme event. We are interested in computational, theoretical, experimental, field measurement and reconnaissance studies that address the impact of hurricane, tornado, hale as well as heat waves and extended droughts on the civil infrastructure. These contributions include and are not limited to the modeling structural and non-structural elements, reliability analysis, fluid-structure interaction, real time hazard modeling and risk prediction, multi-hazard risk analysis, environmental and wind chamber measurements as well as reconnaissance studies in the wake of recent hurricanes such as Irma and Harvey.

Abstract

There is a rapidly growing interest in soft materials due to their interesting properties enabling development of innovative multifunctional materials and structures in a wide array of applications. Large deformation arising from multiphysical processes has presented interesting research challenges in soft materials. Additionally, a key component of biological materials can be represented by soft materials. Abstracts are sought (but not limited to) that address the experimental, theoretical, and computational efforts in one or more of the following:
- Hydrogels and soft wet materials
- Liquid crystal elastomers
- Shape-memory polymers
- Physically sensitive polymers
- Deformation instabilities and fracture
- Adhesion
- Soft biological materials and bioinspired materials
- Multiphysics phenomena in soft Materials
- Additive manufacturing of soft materials

Sponsoring Committees: Experimental Analysis and Instrumentation Committee, Computational Mechanics Committee, Biomechanics Committee.

Abstract

Recent growth in additive manufacturing processes have established architecture materials as an emerging and exciting class of materials and composites with the promise of extreme performance and multifunctional properties. These materials are currently characterized by structural features that are larger than what is typically considered a microstructural length scale but smaller than the size of the final component made of the architectured material. This class of materials includes but is not limited to lattice materials and cellular material systems, dense material systems composed of building blocks of specifically designed size and shape.

The key characteristic distinguishing architectured materials from other materials is their very high morphological control. The morphological characteristics can be pricesly controlled to introduce specific mechanisms of local stress transfer, elastic/plastic buckling, gliding of building blocks or propagation of cracks along desirbale paths. Well-designed architectured materials can generate new and attractive combinations of properties that can be programmed in the material. In particular, the empty spaces and gliding interfaces contained in architectured materials can be exploited to overcome the theoretical bounds that apply to monolithic materials and composites.

This EMI symposium will provide a state of the art on the engineering science of architectured materials and focus on the mechanics, design, fabrication and mechanical performance of all categories of architectured materials including but not limited to lattice materials, metamaterials and topologically interlocked composites.