I-Form significantly represented at the 11th European Solid Mechanics Conference (ESMC2022) at the University of Galway

 

I-Form significantly represented at the 11th European Solid Mechanics Conference (ESMC2022) at the University of Galway

I-Form team members played an important role in the 11th European Solid Mechanics Conference, which was hosted by the University of Galway, from the 4th -8th of July, 2022.

The gathering is the major event for the solid mechanics community in Europe. It provides a unique opportunity for scientists and engineers from Europe and across the world to exchange ideas on the current state-of-the-art in the mechanics of solids, on new concepts and ideas, and to identify new research directions.

An expert international panel of invited lecturers addresses the General lecture and five Plenary Lectures.

The conference was organised in terms of the following eight themes:

  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Biomechanics and Medical Implants
  • Continuum Mechanics
  • Experimental Mechanics
  • Computational Mechanics
  • Dynamics, Waves and Metamaterials
  • Structural Mechanics
  • Multiphysics and Multiscale Problems

There was a General Session for each theme and over fifty Mini-Symposia that covered a range of specialised topics, grouped under each theme.

 

I-Form’s Involvement:

Noel Harrison, an I-Form Funded Investigator, and lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at University of Galway co-chaired a large Mini-Symposia “Mechanics of Additive Manufactured Materials “that took place over the first two days. This Mini-Symposium focused specifically on the mechanics of AM manufactured materials including metal, polymer, composite and ceramic printing, functional graded materials and 4D AM materials. The discussion included experimental characterisation of mechanical properties, microscopy or in-process measurement techniques for residual stress, deformation, defects and microstructural evolution, and their effects on mechanical properties of AM material, with speakers from across the world. I-Form postgraduate researcher Yuhui Tu presented work on ‘Modelling the effect of inevitable microstructural inhomogeneity on the strength of powder bed fusion manufactured Ti-6Al-4V parts. The work of recent University of Galway and I-Form postgraduate researcher PhD graduate Xinyu Yang, “Crystal plasticity modelling for single-crystalline-like stainless steel fabricated by laser beam powder bed fusion” was presented by his lead supervisor Prof Sean Leen, I-Form Principal Investigator and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Galway. A keynote address was given by Catrin Davies, Reader at Imperial College London, who co-chaired the discussion along with I-Form’s Noel Harrison.

 

Adrian Boccardo, and Medad Monu, I-Form postgraduate researchers based at University of Galway and DCU respectively, were part of a Mini-Symposium discussion under the theme of Computational Mechanics, discussing ‘Simulation Methods in Metal Additive Manufacturing’. Boccardo discussed ‘Modelling of martensite decomposition in Ti6Al4V alloy during heat treatments after additive manufacturing’, while Monu presented on ‘Assumed strain simulation of additively manufactured NiTi alloy’.

 

Professor Leen co-chaired a mini-symposium “Mechanics of Fatigue and Fretting,” also over two days, focusing on material damage mechanisms and modelling strategies. Jinbiao Zhou, an I-Form postgraduate researcher, based at University of Galway, took part in this mini-symposium, presenting on the ‘Effect of Process Parameters on Residual Stress and Fatigue Performance of Additively Manufactured 316L Stainless Steel.’ Prof Leen also presented at this mini-symposium, discussing the topic of “A process-structure-property methodology for fatigue of welded steels.”

 

Mimi Zhang, an I-Form Funded Investigator based at Trinity College, presented in a Mini-Symposium sessions under the theme of Mechanics of Materials, in a discussion on ‘Polymer Mechanics,’ looking at advances in measuring and modelling the mechanical behaviour of polymers.  Dr Zhang presented on ‘Optimization, Prediction and Smart Design for Mechanically Matching Biomaterial Scaffolds Using Melt-Electrowriting.’

 

 Solid mechanics is a key enabler in the development of new technologies that address some of the major global challenges of our time in sustainability, renewable energy and health. Solid mechanics is a critically important element in the design and development of almost all technologies and products in these areas, including: aircraft, automobiles, buildings, bridges, and medical implants and devices.

 

 ESMC2022 was held under the auspices of the European Mechanics Society (EUROMECH). The first European Solid Mechanics Conference was held in Munich in 1991. The conference then initiated a tri-annual series with subsequent conferences held in Genova, Stockholm, Metz, Thessaloniki, Budapest, Lisbon, Graz, Madrid, and Bologna.