Topics and MiniSymposia

Conference Topics

ICOVP conference series bring together researchers investigating vibration-related problems in science and engineering providing an international forum for the present the state-of-the-art in this increasingly broad scientific domain including the following topics (but not limited to):

• Experimental Techniques (TP01)

• Computational Methods (TP02)

• Nonlinear and Stochastic Dynamics (TP03)

• Structural Dynamics (TP04)

• Wave Problems (TP05)

• Neurodynamics (TP06)

• Acoustics (TP07)

• Fluid-Structure Interactions (TP08)

• Identification and Modal Analysis (TP09)

• Signal Processing (TP10)

• Dynamics of Rotating Systems (TP11)

• Structural Health Monitoring (TP12)

• Vibration Control and Isolation (TP13)

Mini-Symposia

MS01: Nonlinear Dynamics in Technical Systems and Applications

Corresponding Organizer: Utz von Wagner

Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany, Email: utz.vonwagner@tu-berlin.de

Co-Organizer: Daniel Hochlenert

Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany


The aim of the Mini-Symposium is to collect and enhance the research of nonlinear dynamics in the context of technical systems and applications. Many investigations of nonlinear dynamics concentrate on scientific examples to explain underlying effects but do not discuss the effects in combination with technical applications. The intention of the Mini-Symposium is to focus on the step from theoretical investigations of nonlinear differential equations on the one hand towards technical systems showing a nonlinear dynamic behavior on the other hand. Therefore presentations of the Mini-Symposium for example might cover experimental techniques identifying nonlinear effect, efficient mathematical mechanical modeling of technical systems, stochastic excitation of nonlinear systems, and the active or passive control of corresponding systems, whereas special regard is given to technical applications.


MS02: Inverse Problems and Uncertainty Quantification

Corresponding Organizer: Daniel A. Castello

COPPE – Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Email: castello@mecanica.coppe.ufrj.br

Co-Organizer: Aurélio L. Araújo

Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal


The ever increasing speed of computers has led the field of computer simulation to new challenging frontiers. Computational models have been used to predict the behavior of complex engineered systems such as spacecrafts, flexible risers, oil platforms, microelectronic components, among others. Being on the core of Model Validation, the fields of Inverse Problems and Uncertainty Quantification have shown to be invaluable within any Engineering Program whose decisions are to be made based on computational models. The purpose of the present section is to bring together researchers working on Inverse Problems and Uncertainty Quantification applied to Sound and Vibration modeling and applications. We aim at creating an environment prone to the exchange of information and ideas within these fields encompassing: material characterization and nondestructive evaluation based on sound and dynamic tests, structural damping optimization, stochastic modeling techniques, damage identification, etc.


MS03: Vibration Problems in Vertical Transportation Systems

Corresponding Organizer: Stefan Kaczmarczyk

The University of Northampton, Northampton, UK, Email: stefan.kaczmarczyk@northampton.ac.uk

Co-Organizer: Ignacio Herrera Navarro

Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain

Co-Organizer: Weidong Zhu

University of Maryland Baltimore County, USA


The modern vertical transportation installations involve great technological and engineering challenges. The current trends involve construction of tall office and residential towers where the development and control of safe high-speed elevators and energy efficient escalator systems has become an important issue. In underground mining the safety of personnel and profitability rely on stable designs of hoisting installations. In space transportation technologies vertical propulsion systems based on various applications of momentum exchange and electrodynamic interactions with planetary magnetic fields are being proposed. The adverse dynamic responses and interactions pose serious operational and serviceability problems in these systems. In this context the Mini-Symposium is aimed at improving the understanding of the dynamic phenomena and vibrations in vertical transportation systems. Technical papers covering analytical, numerical, and experimental research in these areas are invited for submission.


MS04: Advances in Structural Dynamics of High-Performance Machines

Corresponding Organizer: Nenad Zrnic

University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia, Email: nzrnic@mas.bg.ac.rs

Co-Organizer: Srđan Bošnjak

University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia


Nowadays, we have a permanent tendency towards constant improvement of performances of machines and systems in general (capacities, velocities, accelarations), including their increase in size. Large material handling and conveying machines such as different types of cranes (container cranes, huge gantry cranes, ship unloaders and ship loaders, etc.), elevators, ropeways and conveyors, mining machines such as e.g. bucket wheel excavators, spreaders, bucket wheel or bucket chain reclaimers, overburden conveyor bridges, as well as other types of off-road heavy machinery operating at construction sites and agricultural areas, belong to the class of the high performance machines (HPMs).


The operation of a HPM is characterized by the phenomenon of an excessively dynamic character. The purpose of these conferences is to share research advances in structural analysis of HPMs.


MS05: Recent Advances in Vibrations of Composite Structures

Corresponding Organizer: Pedro Ribeiro

Universidade do Porto, Oporto, Portugal, Email: pmleal@fe.up.pt

Co-Organizer: José Dias Rodrigues

Universidade do Porto, Oporto, Portugal

Co-Organizer: Jerzy Warminski

Lublin University of Technology, Lublin, Poland


The aim of this symposium is to promote the discussion of recent achievements related to the analysis of vibrations of structures on composite materials. Recent developments in modelling, experiments and applications are of interest. Always under the umbrella of vibrations of structures in composite materials, the topics of the symposium include:

- applications to aeronautics, robotics and wind engineering; 
- applications to bioengineering; 
- carbon nanotubes and other nanofibre reinforced composites; 
- damaged composites: modelling, analysis and health monitoring; 
- energy harvesting; 
- experimental analyses; 
- Functionally Graded Materials and thermoelastic vibrations; 
- micro and nano composite structures; 
- models of structural elements (beams, plates, shells, etc); 
- nonlinear dynamics; 
- response to impulsive loading: impact, crash and blast; 
- stress computation and refined theories; 
- variable stiffness composite laminates and other advanced composites; 
- vibration control.


MS06: Dynamic Stability, Deterministic, Chaotic and Random Post-Critical States

Corresponding Organizer: Jiří Náprstek

The Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Prague, Czech Republic, Email: naprstek@itam.cas.cz

Co-Organizer: Andrei V. Metrikine

Delft University of Technology, Deft, The Netherlands


The focus of this mini-symposium is placed on the new developments in the theory of stability of the dynamical systems and its applications in structural dynamics. Papers are welcome of theoretical, experimental and applied nature employing analytical, semi-analytical, or numerical approaches. Papers on recent and ongoing research are welcome as well.

The scope of the mini-symposium is broad. Papers on the mathematical foundations of the stability theory may include investigations of Hamiltonian and non Hamiltonian system, stability definitions and criteria, bifurcations, limit states and cycles, quasi-periodic interaction, basins of attractors, etc. Techniques of chaotic, random and deterministic behavior testing will be discussed.

Dynamic stability of mechanical systems at various scales will be discussed. Both the classical fields of civil, mechanical and other types of engineering as well as the emerging multidisciplinary areas of micro and bio-mechanics will be addressed.


MS07: Advanced Beam Models

Corresponding Organizer: Dinar Camotim

Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal, Email: dcamotim@civil.ist.utl.pt

Co-Organizer: Rodrigo Gonçalves

Nova University of Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal


Beam-like structures occur in practically all areas of engineering practice, from the construction and automotive industry to offshore and aerospace structures. Beam structural models have always attracted the engineering and scientific community due to their simplicity (unidimensionality) and computational efficiency. Recent years have witnessed a growing interest in “advanced” beam models for non-linear analyses, using e.g. “geometrically exact” theories and even including cross-section in-plane and out-of-plane deformation, which is essential to capture the non-linear behavior of thin-walled beams. This session aims at bringing together researchers devoting their investigation to the dynamic and vibration behavior of beams using advanced beam models, in order to discuss the most recent developments and to provide an international forum for the discussion of the current state-of-the-art.


MS08: Nonlinear Dynamics, Chaos and Control of Elastic Structures

Corresponding Organizer: José Manoel Balthazar

Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil, Email: jmbaltha@rc.unesp.br

Co-Organizer: Paulo Batista Goncalves

PUC-Rio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Co-Organizer: Marcio José Horta Dantas

UFU, Uberlandia, MG, Brazil


The aim of this symposium is to gather specialists of different areas working on the dynamics of problems related to elastic structures such as plates, shells, beams, cables and so on.


In recent years a large amount of research has been dedicated to new materials and their use in new structural components.So research has been conducted in applications of these materials from micro and nano structures to large space structures.New phenomena in Dynamics as well as new approaches to older ones are expected to be discovered in the theoretical, numeric and experimental investigations of those structures.


Papers are solicited in all areas related to theoretical, computational and experimental aspects of the problem.


MS10: Dynamic Analysis of Plates and Shells

Corresponding Organizer: Paritosh Biswas

University of North Bengal, Raja Rammohanpur, West Bengal, India, Email: p.biswas1943@gmail.com

Co-Organizer: Aram Soroushian

International Institute of Earthquake Engineering & Seismology (IIEES), Tehran, Iran

Co-Organizer: Uma Basu

University of Calcutta, Kolkate, India


Thin plates and shells made of isotropic, orthotropic and sandwich materials are often subjected to different kinds of mechanical and thermal loading and as a result such structural components are prone to deformations, bucking and vibrations for which proper analysis are required to be made by using linear and nonlinear theory.


Based on linear and nonlinear theories a great deal of research works on dynamic analysis of thin plates and shell structures under mechanical, thermal and other types of loadings with different kinds of boundary conditions have been carried out by many researchers. Still there is a scope for further research.


Intensive research in this area have wide scope in engineering and building designs, especially in several of the present day high-technology industries, high speed spacecrafts, nuclear power plants, offshore and ship building mechanics, storage and high-rise structures including applications in many branches of engineering mechanics and aeronautics.


MS11: Neural-Oscillation and Cognition

Corresponding Organizer: Kanad Ray

JK Lakshmipat University, Rajasthan, India, Email: kanadray@yahoo.co.in

Co-Organizer: Amit Neogi

The LNM Institute of Information Technology, Rajasthan, India

Co-Organizer: Bapi Karmakar

Von Karman Society for Advanced Study and Research in Mathematical Sciences, West Bengal, India


The major problem of cognitive neuroscience is to understand how our behavioural processes are related to the workings of brain and nervous systems. To understand the subjective mental processes in a meaningful and quantitative way a new level of description is needed. Of late a trend has emerged to study different forms of cognition in terms of their neural-oscillation correlates. Questions have been raised whether the combined and synchronous actions of nerve cells, glial cells and their associated molecules can explain the underlying mechanism of cognition.


Although over the last decade some insight has been gained, especially with advances in brain imaging, a unified interpretation, however, is very much lacking. It is to be emphasized that experimental and numerical works are mandatory for any scientific progress but it can reveal its full value only when it is embedded within a conceptually sound theoretical frame work. The aim of the session is to explore this possibility.


MS12: Trefftz-Type Methods for Vibration Problems

Corresponding Organizer: Dragos Ionut Moldovan

Catholic University of Portugal, Rio de Mouro, Portugal, Email: ionut@fe.lisboa.ucp.pt

Co-Organizer: Bert Pluymers

Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Co-Organizer: Wim Desmet

Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium


Trefftz-type methods are a class of numerical methods for solving boundary-value problems. As opposed to the Rayleigh-Ritz strategy, Trefftz methods seek the combination of free-field solutions of the governing equation that best fits its initial/boundary conditions. Thus, Trefftz approach yields approximation bases that contain physically meaningful information on the modelled phenomenon, making them particularly well suited for vibration propagation problems. Moreover, Trefftz formulations typically lead to boundary integral descriptions of the discretized problems. This trait lifts the restrictions placed on the topological complexity of the domain/elements. The symposium is meant as a forum for the dissemination of theoretical advances and practical applications of any of the Trefftz-type methods, in the field of vibration modelling. Multidisciplinary communications are especially encouraged and the presence of authors from different scientific fields will actively be sought.


MS13: Time-Periodic Systems: Modelling, Behaviour and Applications

Corresponding Organizer: Fadi Dohnal

TU Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany, Email: dohnal@sdy.tu-darmstadt.de

Co-Organizer: Ivana Kovacic

University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia

Co-Organizer: Matthew Phillip Cartmell

University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK


This Mini-Symposium is concerned with modelling, investigations of phenomenological behaviour and applications of time-periodic (TP) systems. Time-periodicity can appear directly as a variation of system parameters, implicitly through boundary conditions, e.g. in axially loaded structures, rotor shafts in anisotropic bearings, for which the prediction of a safe operating regime is important, or as autoparametric interactions; emerging fields in physics and engineering on the micro- and nano-scale introduce it to improve vibration performance.

Potential topics include: 
-New theoretical or experimental models; 
-Developments in time-solution techniques and bifurcation theory; 
-Studies of phenomena arising in TP systems (e.g. autoparametric interactions, strong nonlinearity, multi-frequency excitation or quasi-periodicity); 
-Applications of parametric resonance (e.g. micro-ring gyroscopes, structural filters); 
-Applications in higher dimensional problems and complex structures.


MS14: Vibration of Solids and Structures Arising from Moving Loads

Corresponding Organizer: Piotr Koziol

Koszalin University of Technology, Koszalin, Poland, Email: piotr.koziol@wbiis.tu.koszalin.pl

Co-Organizer: Zuzana Dimitrovová

Nova University of Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal


Recent development of transportation leads to new problems regarding analysis of dynamic behaviour of rail and road systems. Therefore new modelling approaches, accompanied by numerical simulations, are needed for better representation and prediction of real structures dynamic phenomena. This session aims at bringing together researchers dedicating their investigations to solutions related to dynamic behaviour of transportation systems. The theoretical results (especially analytical and semi-analytical solutions) always reflect important features of the investigated models allowing their effective parametrical analysis and leading to better prediction of possible scenario when one deals with real structures. Experiments and measurements lead to models validation and better characteristics of structures behaviour. Interdisciplinary ideas regarding physical problems appearing in constructions subjected to dynamic excitations (mainly due to moving loads) are welcome in this symposium.


MS15: Probabilistic Assessment of Structural Dynamics

Corresponding Organizer: Juraj Králik

Slovak University of Technology, Bratislava, Slovakia, Email: juraj.kralik@stuba.sk


The main purpose of the Section “Probabilistic Assessment of Structural Dynamics” continues to be advancing knowledge and bridging the gap between the probabilistic assessment and the design of structures under the dynamic loads to get a satisfying and acceptable level of risk. Recently, the theories of probability, statistics and reliability have provided the bases for modern structural design codes and specifications.


The main objectives of the Mini-symposium are developing: 
- The simulation probabilistic methods and the SFEM to probabilistic analysis of the structures due to dynamic loads, 
- The probabilistic design methods to reliability analysis of structural components in accordance with Eurocode, 
- The methodology to reliably predict seismic risk in the buildings on base of Performance Based Seismic Design, 
- The Reliability-Based Optimization procedures.


The experience from the experiment tests and practical design are welcome.


MS16: Dynamic Analysis of High-Speed Railway Bridges

Corresponding Organizer: Ricardo Figueiredo Vieira

Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal, Email: ricardov@civil.ist.utl.pt

Co-Organizer: Francisco Virtuoso

Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

Co-Organizer: Luis Guerreiro

Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal


Bridges for high-speed railway systems are prone to several complex dynamical effects, which can determine its design. This session addresses in general the vibration analysis of high-speed railway bridges towards the definition/evaluation of the dynamical phenomena involved, covering topics such as: 
- modelling of high speed railway bridges; 
- resonance vibration of the structure due to the repeated action of the train axles; 
- evaluation of impact factors; 
- effects of a ballasted system; 
- dynamic effects for all of existing and foreseeable high-speed trains due to the requirements of interoperability; 
- interactions between: vehicle-structure and railway track-structure; 
- effects of the track irregularities on the bridge dynamic response; 
- vibration reduction through the use of appropriated mechanical devices; 
and analysis of longitudinal loads due to the braking/acceleration of trains.

Presentations of real cases within the session scope will be welcomed.


MS17: Wave Propagation in Structures and Materials

Corresponding Organizer: Michael J. Leamy

Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia, USA, Email: michael.leamy@me.gatech.edu


Papers are sought which explore wave propagation in structures and materials. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: wave phenomena in elastic and inelastic media; wave phenomena in homogeneous, stratified, and generally inhomogeneous media; wave propagation in phononic crystals, locally resonant materials, and metamaterials; wave propagation in nonlinear media; scattering of waves at interfaces and due to inhomogeneity; wave guiding and control; wave-based vibration analysis; wave-based devices and their performance or optimization; inverse wave problems applied to structures and materials; application of wave phenomena in acoustics, seismology, geophysics, and solid mechanics.


MS18: Nonlinear Structural Dynamic Analysis - From Theory to Practice

Corresponding Organizer: Aram Soroushian

International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES), Tehran, Iran, Email: aramsoro@yahoo.com


All physical phenomena are dynamic and nonlinear. Concentrating on structural systems, continuous, broad, and thorough study, on nonlinear dynamic analysis, is necessary, especially, due to the analyses complicatedness, computationally expensiveness, probable inaccuracies, and the fact that, the evaluation of inaccuracies is not simple, and may lead to improper structural designs and different losses. As a step forward, papers on all issues related to nonlinear structural dynamic analysis are very welcome to the mini-symposium MS 18. The focus will be on modeling the different nonlinear structural dynamic behaviors, innovative analysis methods, continuation methods, inaccuracies of the analyses, numerical stability in presence of nonlinearity, errors evaluation, verification/validation issues, benchmark problems, computational efficiency, the role of the analyses in structural codes and standards, and, finally, historical notes and memorandum of the past experts and scientific giants.


MS19: Dynamics, Identification and Control of Mechanical Systems

Corresponding Organizer: Carmine Maria Pappalardo

University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy, Email: cpappalardo@unisa.it


The goal of the Mini-symposium is to present scientific works related to Dynamics, Identification and Control of mechanical systems in order to obtain a mutual integration of these three disciplines. Indeed, the aim is to see Dynamics, Identification and Control of mechanical systems according to an unified framework in order exploit them in practical applications. The description of the motion of mechanical systems is the core of Multibody Dynamics. System Identification is the art of determining a mathematical model of a physical system by combining information obtained from experimental data with that derived from an a priori knowledge. In particular, applied System Identification methods allows to get modal parameters of a dynamical system using force and vibration measurements. The purpose of Control Theory is to study how to design a control system which can influence the dynamics of a mechanical system. Consequently, these three subjects are actually strongly linked together.


MS20: High Intensity Ultrasound Systems

Corresponding Organizer: Jörg Wallaschek

Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University, Hannover, Germany, Email: wallaschek@ids.uni-hannover.de


High Intensity Ultrasound Systems are used in process technology to improve mechanical and chemical reactions. Wave phenomena and their interaction with the fluid as well as cavitation, particle transport and surface chemistry play a major role in these systems.


Processes in the ultrasound chamber rely on focusing of ultrasound. Therefore the design of the transducer, the interface between transducer and fluid, and the design of the reaction chamber itself need to be optimised with respect to the target application.


This mini-symposium concentrates on the following three fields:

A) Design and Control of Transducer Systems
B) Modeling of wave propagation in process fluid
C) Modeling of fluid – particle interaction


We expect contributions from the areas of Mathematical Modelling, Experimental Techniques, Structural Dynamics, Wave Problems, Fluid-Structure Interactions, and Vibration Control.


MS21: Innovative Concepts to Influence or Monitor Vibration Systems

Corresponding Organizer: Edwin Kreuzer

Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg, Germany, Email: kreuzer@tu-harburg.de

Co-Organizer: Marc-André Pick

Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg, Germany


In dynamics sophisticated and powerful tools have been developed for modeling the behavior of technical systems. Multibody systems, methods using variational principles such as Finite Element Methods or Boundary Element Methods, and even combinations of these three methods are available. Structural nonlinearities can be included into each of them. Based on these models the dynamic behavior can be investigated for different types of excitations and structural properties can be optimized. Model-free methods can lead to monitoring tools even if necessary quantities cannot be measured directly. This mini-symposium is intended to bring together scientists working mainly on innovative concepts to influence or monitor vibration systems. Both, theoretical concepts and experimental solutions to reduce or stimulate vibrations using passive and/or active devices as well as model based vibration monitoring tools are welcome to be presented in this mini-symposium.


MS22: Control of Non-Linear Vibration using an Iterative Sherman-Morrison Receptance Method

Corresponding Organizer: Laurence Wilmshurst

University of Southampton, Southampton, UK, Email: lw5e10@soton.ac.uk

Co-Organizer: Maryam Ghandchi-Tehrani

University of Southampton, Southampton, UK

Co-Organizer: Steve Elliott

University of Southampton, Southampton, UK


Eigenvalue assignment is a technique used for reassigning the eigenvalues of a mechanical system using active feedback control, in order to achieve a more desirable performance. In practice, eigenvalue assignment can be implemented for linear systems using the receptance method, which utilises measured receptances instead of the usual mass, damping, and stiffness matrices to categorise the open-loop system. The aim of the proposed Mini-Symposium is to expand the receptance method to a variety of non-linear systems, using the classic Duffing oscillator as an example. Since most non-linear systems exhibit complex, amplitude-dependent dynamics, eigenvalue assignment for non-linear systems is much more complex than for their linear counterparts.


Proposed topics include:
- Modelling nonlinearities using a harmonic balance, Volterra, or NARMAX approach
- Modelling changes to the open-loop pseudo-receptance as a result of feedback control
- Applications to saturated non-linear systems.


MS23: Vibration Induced by Road and Railway Traffic

Corresponding Organizer: Pedro Alves Costa

University of Porto, Oporto, Portugal, Email: pacosta@fe.up.pt

Co-Organizer: Mohammed Hussein

University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK


Vibration induced by traffic is a clear weakness in terms of environmental credentials of transport infrastructures, since it is the main cause of nuisance for inhabitants in the areas nearby these infrastructures. The Mini-Symposium will cover practical and theoretical aspects concerning vibration due to road and railway traffic. Communications about case studies, measurement techniques, prediction models and mitigation techniques are welcome to the proposed symposium. The Mini-Symposium is targeting academic researchers and engineering practitioners to bring together interdisciplinary ideas leading to deeper knowledge about vibration induced by traffic.


MS24: Optimization on Vibration Control of Structures

Corresponding Organizer: Sinan Melih Nigdeli

Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey, Email: melihnig@istanbul.edu.tr

Co-Organizer: Gebrail Bekdaş

Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey


The optimization is essential for the control of the structures subjected to excitations with high impacts like earthquakes and winds. In passive controlled structures, the optimization of the device properties and the location is important for the best performance and economy. On the other hand, the active control systems must be optimized to overcome stability, feasibility and energy problems. The aim of the mini-symposium is to bring together all leading academicians working on structural control using numerical optimization, metaheuristic algorithms, optimal control theory and other new and well-known methods. The original numerical and experimental studies employing new methods and the original applications of existing methods are accepted.


MS25: New Strategies and Challenges for Aerospace and Ocean Structures Dynamics and Control

Corresponding Organizer: André Fenili

Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil, Email: andre.fenili@ufabc.edu.br

Co-Organizer: Cayo Prado Fernandes Francisco

Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil

Co-Organizer: José Manoel Balthazar

Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil


The main focus of this Mini-Symposium is on the discussion of real problems in aerospace and offshore structures (including ships) and how these problems can be understood and solved in view of numerical, computational, theoretical and experimental approaches. The contributions pertaining to any class of mathematical problems and methods associated to aerospace and ocean (ships and offshore) structures will be wellcome. It will also be wellcome problems related to experimental verifications of these problems when compared to validation of mathematical models and theoretical control. Presentations of the proposed Mini-Symposium might cover mathematical modeling, nonlinear analysis, control theory, nonlinear state estimation, experimental analysis and related topics associated to artificial satelites, aeroplanes, rockets, space tethers, helicopters, ships, raisers and related systems.


MS26: Development of Materials and Systems for Damping Vibrations

Corresponding Organizer: Fabrizia Ghezzo

Kuang-Chi Institute of Advanced Technology, Shenzhen, China, Email: fabriziaghezzo@gmail.com

Co-Organizer: Hélder Carriço Rodrigues

Technical University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

Co-Organizer: Zuzana Dimitrovová

Nova University of Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal


The aim of this mini-symposium is the collection of works in the area of development of materials and systems for the dissipation of the energy of vibrations induced by external loading in a structure, or component. Energy absorption by mechanical or materials damping is one of the most important problems for vibrations control and suppression in mechanical and structural engineering.


The reduction of vibrations in systems for civilian applications can improve the stability of structures and guarantees longer service life, therefore a lot of efforts have been dedicated to develop materials or to improve traditional materials and systems for controlling the stability of such structures.


This mini symposium invites all papers that have as main objective the development of materials or structures/components for the reduction of vibrations in structural engineering. It includes the modeling of such a behavior both by analytical and numerical approaches.


MS27: Dynamics Drilling Deep Boreholes – Drillstring and Drillbit Vibrations

Corresponding Organizer: Hans Ingo Weber

Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, PUC-Rio, Brazil, Email: hans@puc-rio.br

Co-Organizer: Luiz Franca

CSIRO – Earth, Science and Resource Engineering, Perth, Australia


The development of efficient techniques to drill deep boreholes to access the Earth’s underground energy resources is a great challenge of our time, affording engineering sagacity and innovation capacity. Technological developments are somehow ahead of scientific methodology, demanding a huge amount of theoretical modeling and experimental validation. Developments of robust methods to control and mitigate the self-excited vibrations of drilling systems, formulation of comprehensive models for predicting borehole trajectories that can be used to optimize the control of rotary steerable systems, and understanding of efficient means to fragment rocks in the pressure environment of deep holes are examples of such scientific challenges. With sessions topics like drillstring vibrations, drill bit dynamic behavior, bit-rock interaction modeling, impacting techniques, borehole propagation models, torque & drag and downhole measuring techniques, we hope that lively discussions will emerge.


MS28: Oscillations in the Solids Systems with Combined Dry Friction

Corresponding Organizer: Alexey A. Kireenkov

Institute for Problems in Mechanics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, Email: kireenk@ipmnet.ru

Co-Organizer: Alexander V. Karapetyan

Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of the Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia


The aim of the Mini-Symposium is to gather specialists on dynamics of the solid systems with friction to exchange new ideas and achievements between scientific groups, which develop models of the dry friction and solve real dynamics problems of solids with friction. Special attention will be given to oscillations in the solid systems with dry friction under conditions of the combined kinematics.


MS29: Design of Coupling for Synchronization

Corresponding Organizer: Tatjana Pyragiene

Semiconductor Physics Institute, Vilnius, Lithuania, Email: pyragiene@pfi.lt


Synchronization is caused by the interaction between two or more systems and manifests itself in physical, biological and chemical systems. Nowadays this phenomenon of nonlinear dynamics is widely employed in engineering, medicine as well as in communication, so the design and modeling of the coupling of oscillators is vital.


Different kinds of synchronization were developed, e. g., identical, general, phase, anticipating synchronization, investigating connected autonomous and forced, non-chaotic and chaotic oscillators. It is achieved by applying the mutual and unidirectional coupling, constructing the complicated coupling matrix, including a delay-shift term in the coupling et cetera.


The aim of this mini-symposium is to invite researchers in different fields of nonlinear dynamics to present their recent works in investigating of synchronization phenomenon and discuss the challenges and opportunities we are facing in constructing coupling schemes.


MS30: Railway Vehicle Vibration Characteristics Based on Different Structural and Suspension Parameters

Corresponding Organizer: Yan Li

State Key Laboratory of Traction Power, Southwest Jiaotong University, China, Email: liyan_0712@163.com


Railway vehicle vibration’s a special structure vibration problem. There’re a multitude of sources of vibration, such as wheel/rail contact, catenary/pantograph contact, vehicle internal excitation. Hunting movement, a typical self-excited vibration, is the key to running safety. High-speed railway vehicles have developed their own basic structure components, such as the aluminium alloy car body, welded bogie frame, wheelset with hollow axles, primary and secondary suspension systems and so on. Matching parameters problems are still the research focus. Active suspension, passive suspension, semi-active suspension and lightweight design are applied popularly in vehicle design to avoid unnecessary vibration. With the increasing of speeds, the interactions between the train and tracks, catenary and air flow are intensified obviously. How to match the structural and suspension parameters? What’s the most effective way to isolate vibration? Vehicle designers are all working on the answers.


MS31: Vibration Problems in Earthquake Engineering

Corresponding Organizer: Mahmood Hosseini

International Institute of Earthquake Engineering & Seismology (IIEES), Tehran, Iran, Email: hosseini@iiees.ac.ir

Co-Organizer: Aram Soroushian

International Institute of Earthquake Engineering & Seismology (IIEES), Tehran, Iran


Protecting the built environment against earthquakes is of great importance to earthquake prone communities. For seismic protection it is necessary to investigate the behavior of structures subjected to seismic excitation, and this in turn involves several vibration problems in many different aspects. Linear and nonlinear time history analysis of structural systems for their seismic design, dynamic identification and seismic evaluation of the existing structures for their retrofit, structural passive and active control are all among these problems. The aim of the mini-symposium is to bring together experts from around the world to discuss the above issues toward notable theoretical and practical achievements for better protection against earthquakes. Though not limited, the topics of interest in this mini-symposium include:


- Efficient linear and nonlinear dynamic analysis 
- Seismic health monitoring 
- Seismic control & system identification


We look forward to meeting you in Lisbon.


MS32: Vibration Analysis of Steel and Steel-Concrete Composite Structures

Corresponding Organizer: José Guilherme Santos da Silva

UERJ - State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Email: jgss@uerj.br

Co-Organizer: Ricardo Azoubel da Mota Silveira

UFOP - Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil


The aim of this session is to summarize the progress in theoretical, computational and experimental research in the field of the vibration analysis of steel and steel-concrete composite structures. Special emphasis is always given to new concepts and procedures concerning the computational modelling and dynamic analysis of steel and steel-concrete composite structures. Topics of interest include linear and nonlinear structural dynamics, fatigue analysis, vibration analysis of floors, bridges and footbridges, buildings, tower and masts and soil-structure interaction. Papers of all research areas related to theoretical, numerical and experimental aspects concerning the vibration analysis of steel and steel-concrete composite structures are very welcome.