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

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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

🚨 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝!

✔️ This study presents a comprehensive 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐤 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 on the hyperelastic characterisation of a two-component structural silicone adhesive (Sikasil® SG-500). The work combines 𝐛𝐮𝐥𝐤 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬, and 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥-𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐚ç𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

💠 The results demonstrate that 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 enable reliable prediction of adhesive behaviour, supporting the 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐭-𝐟𝐢𝐱𝐞𝐝 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐚ç𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬.

📖 Experimental and Numerical Study on the Material Characterisation of a Structural Silicone Adhesive for Point-Fixed Glass Panels
👩‍🔬👨‍🔬 Authors: Eliana Inca-Cabrera, Seyed-Amin Hosseini, Sandra Jordão, Carlos Leitão, Afonso Mesquita
📘 Structures
🔗 buff.ly/Il2NK6W

#ISISE #SMCT #dad #ucoimbra #Dec #structuralglass #bondedglass #twocomponentstructuralsilicone #hyperelasticmaterialmodels #finite elementAnalysis #point-fixedglassfaçade #Abaqus #experimentaltests ... See MoreSee Less