Sessioni tematiche e minisimposi

• Meccanica generale
• Meccanica dei fluidi
• Meccanica dei solidi
• Meccanica delle strutture
• Meccanica delle macchine

Organizers:

S. Marfia, G. Garcea, S. de Miranda

Computational Mechanics is becoming a primal research field for most engineering branches, in particular for Civil, Mechanical, Aerospace, Naval, Environmental, and Biomedical Engineering. An active and constantly increasing research effort toward innovative and highly efficient computational techniques that make it possible to tackle new mechanical problems as well as classical ones with a higher level of reliability. An example is the development of innovative discretization methods as Isogeometric Analysis, Mimetic Finite Differences and Virtual Elements, X‐FEM, Immersed Methods, SPH and Particle Methods, and others. New methods for the analysis of complex engineering problems, such as phase‐field modelling, fluid‐structure interaction and multiphysics simulations, have been developed in the last years. Numerical tools for structural optimization, computational design and stochastic simulations are also topics of active research. 

The Italian Group of Computational Mechanics – GIMC – organizes this minisymposium with the aim to provide a forum for discussing advantages, drawbacks, new possibilities and applications of the forefront of Computational Mechanics. The minisymposium seeks at gathering researchers and scholars working on conception, development, mathematical analysis, and validation of advanced numerical methods and modern computational techniques. The MS also welcomes researchers devoted to the development of innovative applications of more classical computational techniques. 

A special prize will be awarded to the best presentation delivered by a young researcher (under 35).

Organizers:

Paolo Bisegna¹, Vincenzo Parenti Castelli², Gianni Pedrizzetti³, Marco Donato De Tullio⁴, Michele Marino¹, Nicola Sancisi², Giuseppe Vairo¹ 

1. Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Science, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, Italy
2. Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Bologna “Alma Mater Studiorum”, Italy
3. Department of Engineering and Architecture, University of Trieste, Italy
4. Department of Mechanics, Mathematics and Management, Polytechnic University of Bari, Italy

Theoretical and applied mechanics plays a fundamental role in understanding the behavior of biological structures in health and disease. Recent advancements, which acknowledge the essential link between mechanics and chemo-biological mechanisms in physio-pathological responses, have allowed developing novel technologies to support diagnostic assessments and to optimize medical devices for improving clinical approaches and rehabilitation processes. Nevertheless, advances in experimental approaches, modelling techniques and computational technologies shall be continuously pursued, in order to build up suitable modern tools for facing the renewed challenges launched by Biomechanics. 

The AIMETA Group of Biomechanics – GBMA – organizes this mini-symposium to gather the most recent developments in theoretical and applied Biomechanics. A debate among complementary expertise is fostered, for highlighting advantages, drawbacks, potentialities, and limitations of methodologies at the cutting edge of Biomechanics. The mini-symposium is open to:

• all areas of Biomechanics, from cardiovascular through musculoskeletal to respiratory and gastrointestinal systems;
• biological structures across all scales, from cells through tissues to organs;
• different methodological approaches, including experimental and computational structural mechanics, experimental and computational fluid dynamics, fluid-structure interaction problems, multiphysics and multiscale coupling;
• conception, design, and analysis of medical devices for diagnosis and rehabilitation treatments.

 In the context of this mini-symposium, the idea is to organize sub-sessions on specific topics, divided by applications and/or methodologies. The mini-symposium has the only scope of promoting a coherent organization of the sessions, encouraging discussion and optimizing the exchange of information in the field of Biomechanics. Accordingly, the GBMA would be happy to collaborate with anyone interested in proposing and coordinating specific sub-sessions. 

Finally, given the intrinsically interdisciplinary nature of biomechanical applications, coordination with other AIMETA groups for joint sub-sessions is fostered.

1. Department of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, University of Rome Sapienza Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, Italy, daniela.addessi@uniroma1.it 
2. Department of Civil, Chemical, Environmental, and Materials Engineering, University of Bologna Viale del Risorgimento 2, 40136 Bologna, Italy, giovanni.castellazzi@unibo.it 
3. Department of Civil and Building Engineering, and Architecture, Polytechnic University of Marche Via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131 Ancona, Italy, francesco.clementi@univpm.it 
4. Department of Architecture, Built Environment and Construction Engineering, Polytechnic University of Milan, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy, gabriele.milani@polimi.it 

ABSTRACT 

Masonry constructions are widely spread, especially in European countries. Most of them represent ancient constructions and constitute an invaluable part of the world’s architectural and historical heritage. They are distinguished by different geometric shapes and architectural details and a wide variety of material arrangements and mechanical properties. Due to the old building period, in many cases, masonry structures experienced severe deterioration processes which increased the structure vulnerability to seismic events. They have drawn the attention of the scientific community over the past decades and great efforts were devoted to developing efficient and accurate procedures to assess the structural performances of these constructions. In this regard, the main aim is to evaluate their actual load-carrying capacities and safety level, accounting for the change in the life service conditions and the material deterioration that have occurred since they have been built, and possibly design the repair and strengthening interventions. 

Several approaches have been proposed and applied for the analysis of masonry structures, both unreinforced and strengthened, ranging from empirical to analytical and computational procedures. However, numerical modelling techniques are the most adopted nowadays, thanks to the increasing availability of computational tools and the continuous advancements in numerical methods for structural analysis. A variety of finite element formulations have been developed, adopting various nonlinear constitutive laws capable of describing the main nonlinear mechanisms evolving in masonry structures, as well as discrete elements and macro-element approaches have been put forward, just to mention the most spread. 

A suitable criterion for classifying masonry modelling approaches relies on the scale at which masonry is analyzed, distinguishing between micromechanical, macromechanical, and multiscale models, but also other criteria can be adopted. 

The aim of the proposed mini symposium is to collect the most recent research contributions on these topics and to discuss the current and future developments. 

REFERENCES 

• Roca, M. Cervera, G. Gariup and L. Pelà, “Structural Analysis of Masonry Historical Constructions. Classical and Advanced Approaches”, Arch. Computat. Methods Eng., Vol. 17, pp. 299–325, (2010). 
• Sacco, D. Addessi, and K. Sab, “New trends in mechanics of masonry”, Meccanica, Vol. 53, pp. 1565–1569, (2018). 
• D’Altri, A.M., Sarhosis, V., Milani, G. et al., “Modeling Strategies for the Computational Analysis of Unreinforced Masonry Structures: Review and Classification”, Arc Computat Methods Eng 27, 1153–1185, (2020).

Proposed by GADeS, Gruppo Aimeta di Dinamica e Stabilità

The AIMETA group of Dynamics and Stability – GADeS – promotes two mini-symposia with the aim of improving the scientific interaction between researchers from different backgrounds, operating in the fields of Applied Mathematics and Dynamical Systems, Applied Mechanics and Machine Dynamics, Solid and Structural Dynamics, independently from the scientific sector, thus in coherence with the AIMETA's statutory spirit.

Organizers:

Francesco D’Annibale^*, Manuel Ferretti^* and Maurizio Romeo^**

The proposed mini-symposium offers multi-disciplinary topics; a non-exhaustive list includes:

• Linear and nonlinear dynamics of mechanical systems
• Dynamics, stability and bifurcation of complex materials and structures: micro-structured and architectured materials, periodic structures, homogenized lattices and metamaterials
• Micro e Nano dynamical systems
• Buckling and post-buckling of structures
• Nonconservative stability problems in structural mechanics
• Thermodynamics of viscoelastic media
• Electro-elastic coupling in continuum mechanics
• Wave propagation: dispersive laws, dissipation

Organizers:

Francesco Pellicano^*, Giuseppe Piccardo^** and Daniele Zulli^***

The proposed mini-symposium offers multi-disciplinary topics; a non-exhaustive list includes:

• Chaotic systems and complexity
• Fluid-structure interactions
• Non-smooth systems
• Inverse problems, identification, optimization, model updating
• Nonlinear time series analysis
• Active, passive, semi-active and hybrid control
• Vibration analysis, control and isolation
• Discretization, meshless, sub-structuring and modal reduction methods
• Friction-induced vibrations
• Materials with memory: mechanical & thermodynamic behavior
• Bio-inspired materials and devices
• Piezoelectric systems

Organizers:

Andrea Bacigalupo¹, Francesco Dal Corso², Maria Laura De Bellis³, Andrea Piccolroaz²

1. University of Genoa, Genoa
2. University of Trento, Trento
3. University “G. d’Annunzio”, Chieti-Pescara

 The special session aims at providing a forum for the presentation and discussion of the most recent theoretical, numerical and experimental results in the field of the mechanical modelling of composite materials, metamaterials and periodic structures.

The topics include but are not limited to:

• Identification of equivalent homogeneous solids;
• Nonlinear mechanics;
• Material instabilities;
• Behaviour under extreme conditions;
• Constitutive modelling;
• Sonic wave propagation, polarization and scattering;
• Wave propagation control;
• Nonlocal constitutive modelling and advanced homogenization techniques;
• Mechanics of defects;
• Strain localization phenomena;
• Multi-field problems;
• Thermal, plastic and viscous phenomena. 

Acknowledgements: support from H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020-LIGHTEN-956547, H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020-RE-FRACTURE2-955944, project MINIERA no. I34I20000380007, from University of Trento, project UNMASKED 2020 and project Search for Excellence Ud’A 2019 is gratefully acknowledged.

Organizers:

Vittorio Gusella^a) and Antonina Pirrotta^b)

1. Dipartimento Di Ingegneria Civile Ed Ambientale, Università Degli Studi di Perugia, vittorio.gusella@unipg.it
2. Dipartimento di Ingegneria, Università Degli Studi di Palermo, antonina.pirrotta@unipa.it

 ABSTRACT

The objective of this mini-symposium is to present recent advances, and discuss current and emerging cross-disciplinary approaches in the broad fields of computational stochastic dynamics and signal processing with a focus on civil engineering applications. Specific topics related both to fundamental research and to civil engineering applications of signal processing and computational stochastic dynamics will be considered. A non-exhaustive list includes: joint time-frequency analysis tools, spectral analysis/estimation subject to highly incomplete/sparse data, stochastic/fractional calculus, stochastic/fractional algebraic/differential equations, fractional derivatives system modeling and analysis, nonlinear stochastic dynamics, stochastic stability and control theory, spectral stochastic methods, multi-scale/physics stochastic modeling and analysis, stochastic model reduction techniques, stochastic inverse problems, Monte Carlo simulation methods, as well as uncertainty propagation/quantification and risk/reliability assessment applications.

Organizers:

M. Betti^a, G. Boscato^b, N. Cavalagli^c, A. Cecchi^b, F. Clementi^d 

1. University of Florence, Via di S. Marta 3, 50139, Florence, Italy, michele.betti@unifi.it 
2. University IUAV of Venice, Dorsoduro 2206, 30123 Venice, Italy, giosue.boscato@iuav.it, cecchi@iuav.it 
3. University of Perugia, Via Duranti 93, 06125 Perugia, Italy, nicola.cavalagli@unipg.it 
4. Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche 12, 60131 Ancona, Italy, francesco.clementi@univpm.it

This mini-symposium aims to open a fruitful discussion on procedures and methodologies for the vibration-based monitoring and dynamic identification of historic constructions laying the foundation for a critical and conscious approach.

 In the last years, the vibration-based monitoring of historic constructions aimed at their preservation against natural hazards, weathering and aging effects of materials and complex structural systems has received growing interest among the scientific community. Thanks to the effectiveness of vibration-based procedures for the identification of their dynamic properties (natural frequencies, mode shapes and damping), the monitoring over time of these quantities can allow early damage and variation of structural integrity detection, highlighted by even small variations of them and of their correlation with other physical agents. 

All this process requires the development of advanced knowledge in solid mechanics and structural dynamics, computational modeling, statistical and stochastic processes, Bayesian procedures and more. In addition, the recent progresses of data sciences through artificially intelligence, neural network, and machine learning techniques while increasing the possibility to carry out vibration-based monitoring also with dense sensors network at the same time increases the complexity and uncertainty of the whole process. 

Recent studies regarding the application of such aspects on historic masonry constructions have reported promising results, though critical issues are still open and deserve to be deeply analyzed and discussed by scientific community. Following topics are considered: 

• Structural Dynamic identification methods and uncertainty quantification 
• Continuous dynamic monitoring techniques 
• Damage detection, localization and quantification 
• Automated model updating (optimization techniques, genetic algorithms, nonlinear of FE model updating…) 
• Bayesian methods 
• Statistical analysis of data monitoring for novelty detection 
• Artificially Intelligence and Machine Learning techniques

Organizers:

Francesco Paolo Pinnola¹, Marzia Sara Vaccaro¹
 

1. Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, University of Naples Federico II, via Claudio 21, Naples 80125, Italy

Small-scale systems, new-generation nanocomposites, multiscale innovative materials and structures, are nowadays topics of major interest in scientific literature due to recent ad-vancements in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Notably, a great interest is growing in exploring potential of miniaturized and nano-enhanced systems in Aerospace, Civil, En-vironmental and Biomedical Engineering, due to their superior mechanical, electrical and thermal features. For design and optimization of smaller and smaller devices and for model-ing of innovative materials, advanced methods are indispensable and specific issues must be considered. For instance, size-effects usually produce long-range interactions that cannot be neglected at micro- and nano-scale, or some new materials show time-dependent phenomena that cannot be modeled by the local theory of elasticity, nanocomposite and fillers require enhanced theoretical and computational methodologies to assess significantly their effective mechanical properties. 

In this context, the Mini-symposium aims at expanding knowledge about modeling, anal-ysis and realization of multiscale innovative materials and structures. Specifically, deeping new insights in nonlocal continuum mechanics, depth discussions about enhanced formula-tions and methodologies in viscoelasticity, advanced static and dynamical models for design of small-scale structures and scientific debates concerning these topics will be welcome. Contributions in physics, materials science, solids mechanics, biomechanics, dynamics of structures and nanomechanics are particularly encouraged. Authors may discuss theoretical aspects, computational methods, modelling techniques, interpretation of experimental data and simulation issues.

Suggested focus topics (not limited to): 

• nonlocal continua
• multiscale physic phenomena 
• micro- and nano-mechanics 
• mechanics of nanocomposites 
• fractional calculus in nonlocal mechanics 
• fracture mechanics

Organizers:

Fabrizio Davì, Marco Paggi and Alessio Gizzi

Reaction-Diffusion-Drift equations (RDD) and their variational formulation, which leads to Gradient Flows, have important applications in many different fields: from the mechanics of coupled multifield problem to the classical chemical kinetics to more, and unfortunately famous, applications to epidemic disease propagation. Even if we limit ourselves to the field of mechanical applications, they can model electrical and chemical interactions within continuum bodies as in soft active media electrophysiology, as well as problems of charged particle diffusion, as in semiconductors and scintillating crystals. 

The underlying physics is in some cases (for instance, elasto-mechanical luminescent materials or electro-mechanics of muscles) is still to be completely understood, and in these cases, the continuum and phenomenological approach can be useful to give a simpler but not simplistic picture of the whole problem. The specialistic mathematical aspects, which deal with topics like, e.g., the Wasserstein Measures amongst the others, are in many cases also to be completely studied and understood, and the whole field is very promising for new achievement and discoveries. 

This interdisciplinary MS could attract people from the Mechanics community as well as Physicists interested in phenomenological models and Mathematicians focusing on modelling and simulation of RDD systems in nature and technology. 

Keywords: Coupled Multiphysics Problems; Reaction-Diffusion-Drift equations; Gradient flows; Electrochemical interactions in continua; Soft active media; Luminescent continua; Population dynamics and epidemics; Entropic methods; Wasserstein measures.

Organizers:

Alessandro Cammarata^a, Pietro Davide Maddìo^a, Francesca Garescì^b, Marco Cammalleri^c

1. Università degli Studi di Catania, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Architettura
2. Università degli Studi di Messina, Dipartimento di Ingegneria
3. Università degli Studi di Palermo, Dipartimento di Ingegneria

alessandro.cammarata@unict.it

The mini-symposium (MS) aims to collect emerging topics in the field of multibody systems vibrations. Attention is paid to current and well-established issues for robotics and automotive. To these are added emerging fields concerning compliant mechanisms and their use in micro and nano systems, deployable systems for applications in the aerospace field, as well as the use of new materials for vibration control.

The main topics include:

• The study of vibrations in complex robotic systems
• Vibration analysis for powertrain systems
• The study of vibrations in new materials
• Vibration analysis of compliant mechanisms
• Vibration analysis in deployable mechanisms
• The vibrations of MEMS and NEMS systems
• New methods for the study of flexible multibody systems

Organizers:

1. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham, UK
2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Florence, Italy
3. Chair of Wind Energy, Technische Universität München, Germany

Climate change is nowadays one of the most prominent global threats. With the European Green Deal, the Commission has set the goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Within the Next Generation EU fund, at national level, Italy is facing the challenge of climate neutrality through a number of unprecedented actions aimed, among other key goals, to dramatically increase the exploitation of renewable energies (see Missions 2 and 4 of PNRR “National Recovery and Resilience Plan”). The harvesting of renewable energy, in most of the cases, involves systems, structures and mechanical principles which require well rooted knowledge in all the four thematic areas of AIMETA. The aim of the present Mini Symposium is to create a transversal and strongly multidisciplinary opportunity to gather different specializations within the theoretical and applied mechanics community which can be applied to solve the open problems for renewable energy systems. For example, very large wind turbines supported by floating platforms in deep water are characterized by complex fluid-structure interaction problems involving large rotations and deformations. The development of accurate and efficient methods for the solution of such coupled problems has become a fundamental requirement to achieve more reliable and economic designs.

Topics covered by the Mini Symposium (but not limited to) are: 

• Onshore and offshore wind energy structures 
• Dynamics of fixed-bottom and floating platforms, including mooring lines 
• Anchoring systems, soils mechanics and foundations challenges 
• Computational methods for wind/waves-structure interaction 
• CFD for renewable energy applications 
• Wave Energy Converters 
• Current and tidal energy systems 
• Multi-purpose floating energy structures (floating solar, hydrogen and energy storage) 
• Re-use of existing offshore platforms 
• Structural reliability, fatigue, SHM and maintenance 
• Energy harvesting from mechanical vibrations 
• New materials for onshore and offshore energy devices and structures

Organizers:

V. Armenio*; R. Camussi**, M. Felli***; M. Gennaretti ***

Analysis of fluid mechanic noise is of primary importance in a number of industrial and environmental applications. The acoustic pollution problems and their own impact on the environment, the stringent regulations concerning sea and air transportation industry, the development of safe, sustainable and quite urban air mobility systems as well as the paramount importance of noise mitigation and control in military applications are just few examples of the growing attention toward development of theoretical and numerical tools as well as novel experimental techniques able to perform reliable noise analysis and predictions.  
The mini-symposium will be mainly devoted to the sound generation and propagation as well as noise induced vibration problems in low speed applications (i.e. Ma<0,3) and will be focused on both methodological and physical aspects.
The main topic of the present Mini-symposium is to bring together scientists engineers and practitioners to check where we stand and the direction where research and technological transfer of know how should be addressed.

Keywords: hydroacoustics; aeroacoustics; acoustic analogy; noise propagation in a real medium;

Organizers:

Gianluca Buffa^a), Luigino Filice^b) and Andrea Ghiotti^c)

1. Dipartimento Di Ingegneria, Università Degli Studi di Palermo buffa@unipa.it
2. Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica, Energetica e Gestionale, Università della Calabria, filice@unical.it
3. Dipartimento di Ingegneria Industriale, Università Degli Studi di Padova, ghiotti@unipd.it

ABSTRACT

The objective of this mini-symposium is to present recent advances and discuss current and emerging cross-disciplinary approaches in the field of manufacturing. Contributes covering the full range of advanced manufacturing technology are expected, including (non-exhaustive list): Machining and forming technology, Non-traditional material removal processes, Machine tools technology, Materials joining, Laser technology and applications, Micro and nano-fabrication, Robotics, mechatronics and manufacturing automation,  Sustainable and green manufacturing, Additive manufacturing, ,Computer-integrated manufacturing processes/systems, Application of evolutionary computing techniques in manufacturing operations, Manufacturing planning, optimization and simulation, Smart Manufacturing, Virtual Manufacturing.