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

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

We are pleased to share the 𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 2025, reflecting a year of strong research, collaboration, and innovation in structural engineering.
From the 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗧 ⭐ evaluation by FCT to impactful projects addressing sustainability, resilience, and advanced materials, this report showcases the commitment of our teams to advancing the built environment.

🔗 Explore the full highlights:
buff.ly/iAMJY1V

#ISISE #STATS&Highlights #UC #UM #SMCT #HMS #FP #SC ... See MoreSee Less

🌟 NEW PAPER 🌟

Excited to share our latest publication on the multi-hazard vulnerability of heritage masonry arch bridges (MABs).

These structures make up a significant portion of European railway networks and are increasingly exposed to combined risks such as seismic and flooding events.
In this work, we propose a risk-based framework that:
🔹 Introduces a novel performance indicator to compare infrastructure under multi-hazard conditions
🔹 Uses stochastic surrogate models to derive fragility surfaces without assuming log-normality
🔹 Integrates both failure probability and economic consequences for more realistic prioritization

Key takeaways: Asset ranking can change significantly when consequences are considered alongside vulnerability. What may appear more fragile is not always the most critical when network impacts are accounted for. This approach also drastically reduces computational demand while maintaining accuracy, an important step toward scalable, system-level risk assessments.

Doi: buff.ly/ztyqf07

#ISISE #HMS #RAMCI #matich ... See MoreSee Less

New paper from ISISE! 😊📃

Title: Recommendations for assessment and interpretation of the seismic capacity of URM walls with irregular opening layout from benchmarking different finite element models

Authors: F. Parisse, V. Buonocunto, A. Di Primio, A.M. D'Altri, L.C.M. da Silva, R. Marques, G. Camata, P.B. Lourenço, G. Milani, S. de Miranda, F. Parisi, G. Magenes, S. Cattari

Journal: JOBE

Download some free copies until May 18 from the link 👉
buff.ly/qMIZMBN

#ISISE #HMS #MATICH #URMstructures #FiniteElementmodels #resultinterpretation #sanitychecks #practicalguidelines ... See MoreSee Less