📢 New paper published!

We are pleased to share our latest publication in Thin-Walled Structures:

“A Comprehensive Methodology for Defining Service Temperatures in Composite Structures under Environmental Conditions with Self-Shadowing Considerations”

This study proposes a methodology to define service temperature ranges and thermal gradients in FRP composite structures, considering realistic environmental conditions and self-shadowing effects.

Accurately assessing temperature distributions is essential to support the safe and reliable use of FRP-based structural systems under service conditions.

🔗 Read the paper here: buff.ly/yNqTn1t

Congratulations to all co-authors: Marco Abreu Filho, João Pereira, Jose Sena-Cruz, and Miguel Azenha.

#ISISE #SC #FRP #ThinWalledStructures #CompositeStructures #StructuralEngineering #CivilEngineering #Research #Innovation #TemperatureEffects ... See MoreSee Less

We are pleased to share our recent publication in Meccanica:

“Thermo-mechanical creep with a theta projection model under steep thermal gradients: a scaled pilot steel ladle validation”

This work presents a 3D meso-scale finite element model of a pilot steel ladle, explicitly considering the dry joints between refractory bricks and the thermo-mechanical creep behaviour of the working lining under high-temperature gradients.

The model was validated against experimental results from a scaled pilot ladle, including temperature measurements, shell strains, Digital Image Correlation data, and shell uplift. The study shows that the theta projection creep model provides smoother stress-relaxation predictions, better agreement with measured shell-strain evolution, and reduced mesh sensitivity when compared with the traditional Norton–Bailey law.

These results contribute to more reliable numerical tools for the assessment and design of refractory masonry linings in steel ladles and other high-temperature industrial structures.

Congratulations to all co-authors: Pratik N. Gajjar, Thaís R. L. Soares, João M. Pereira, Miguel Azenha, and Paulo B. Lourenço.

Read the paper here: buff.ly/QaBMFby

#RefractoryMasonry #SteelLadles #ThermoMechanicalModelling #Creep #FiniteElementAnalysis #StructuralEngineering #Meccanica #Research #ISISE #HMS #MATICH ... See MoreSee Less

📢 Seminar Announcement

We are pleased to invite you to the seminar “Digital Transformation in Firefighter Instructor Training: VR-Based Certification and Interactive Simulation Models”, delivered by Sedat ÇAT, Lecturer in the Civil Defence and Firefighting Program at Karabuk University.

📅 Date: Monday, May 18th
🕦 Time: 11:30 – 12:30
📍 Location: Meeting Room 1, Civil Engineering Department, University of Minho

The seminar will explore how Virtual Reality (VR) can transform fire and civil defence instructor training by creating controlled, repeatable, and realistic training environments. Key topics will include scenario-based learning, objective evaluation criteria, integration with international certification standards, and opportunities for university-industry collaboration.

Everyone interested in VR-based training, civil defence technologies, firefighter education, and digital transformation in safety training is warmly invited to attend.

#ISISE #HMS #RAMCI #VirtualReality #FirefighterTraining #CivilDefence #DigitalTransformation #ScenarioBasedLearning #Certification #UniversityIndustryCollaboration #Engineering #TrainingInnovation ... See MoreSee Less

... See MoreSee Less

New publication out 📢

Masonry arch bridges are a key part of our infrastructure and heritage, yet the way we assess their safety still often ignores a fundamental aspect: uncertainty.
This review takes a look at how uncertainty is currently handled in fragility assessment methods for these structures.

A few key takeaways:
Most studies still rely on deterministic approaches
Simulation-based methods dominate, but can be computationally expensive
Surrogate models and machine learning remain underused
Important gaps exist in linking fragility to risk and decision-making
Overall, the work highlights the need to move towards more robust probabilistic frameworks that better capture uncertainties and support risk-informed decisions.

You can read the full paper here:
👉 buff.ly/2efwcYp

#ISISE #HMS #matich #RAMCI #RiskManagement #structuralengineering #infrastructure #heritage #reliability #machinelearning #openscience ... See MoreSee Less

📢 Reminder: REFFRACTEUR is still recruiting 15 PhD candidates

Are you a recent MSc graduate looking for a PhD opportunity in an international academic-industrial environment?

REFFRACTEUR offers 15 doctoral positions for researchers interested in materials, sustainability, digitalisation, AI, and high-temperature industrial processes.
This is a great opportunity to build a career at the interface of academia and industry.

📍 15 positions
📍 36 months
📍 international doctoral training
📍 strong industrial involvement
📍 deadline: 8 June 2026

Apply here:
buff.ly/IcJbjbK

Please share this post with your networks.

#ISISE #HorizonEurope #mariecurie #MSCA #DoctoralNetwork #ResearchJobs #PhD #phdpositions #industrialphd #science #materials #MaterialsScience #ceramics #refractories #sustainability #Digitalisation #ai #industrialdoctorate #digitaltwins #circulareconomy #decarbonisation ... See MoreSee Less