MS-7-1

Many models for the structural analysis of advanced structures AS (metallic, layered, sandwich, laminated composites, smart with piezo layers, bio-structures, etc.) in multiphysics environment ME (mechanical, thermal, electrical, magnetic, etc.)  are defined in degenerated threedimensional 3D domains, involving plate,  shell and beam geometries. Nowadays, available FE commercial codes incorporate most of the acquired knowledge on beam/plate/shell element formulations, and they can be considered to be a robust and effective analysis tool for many of the applications of engineering interest. However,  a number of new topics are emerging in the AM and ME analysis,  these are currently under investigation in computational structural mechanics, which require new tools. The reduction of models from 3D to 2D  and 1D is not apparent when advanced materials and complex physics are involved. The hypotheses to be introduced for reaching this dimensionality reduction are sometimes unclear, and most of the possible proposals will have a narrow interval of validity. The only getaway is to explore new ideas from the theory of structures point of view as well as new discretization strategies able to circumvent or at least alleviate the drawbacks related to mesh-based discretizations of fully 3D models defined in reduced plate/shell/beam domains. The present mini-symposia aims to collect contribution on these new methodology. Among these new developments within the context of the Proper Generalized Decomposition PGD and Carrera Unified Formulation, CUF are welcome to be presented in this   Mini-Symposium.  PGD starts from an in-plane–out-of-plane separated representation of the involved fields which allows solving the fully 3D model by keeping a 1D, 2D characteristic computational complexity. Moreover, the PGD features allow the introduction of many extra-coordinates, as for example the orientation of the different laminate plies, without affecting the solvability of the resulting multidimensional model. According to CUF  any theory of structures can degenerate into a generalized kinematics that makes use of an arbitrary expansion of the generalized variables, the linear and  nonlinear governing equations and/or   related finite element arrays of the generic, and eventually hierarchical, geometrically-exact beam/plate/shell  theory are written in terms of fundamental nuclei. These fundamental nuclei represent the basic building blocks that, when opportunely expanded, allowing for the straightforward generation of low- and high-order finite models.Scientists active in this field and willing to contribute on one or more of the considered topics  as well as in new one not mentioned above are welcome to submit an abstract for the present ESMC-2018 Mini-Symposium.