The objective of the mini-symposium will be to gather researchers working on different aspects of modelling the phenomena occurring in various scales, from nano through micro and mezo to macro scale, and to enable exchange of experience. The scope of the minisymposium will include:
– Conventional multi scale approaches based on the FE (XFEM, GFEM, FE2).
– Theoretical basis of various applications of multi-scale analysis techniques, such as Homogenization Method (HM), Monte Carlo (MC) method, Cellular Automata (CA) method, Molecular Dynamics (MD), etc.
– Alternative multi scale methods: e.g. combination of the CA-FE method, Neuro-Fuzzy Cellular Automata–Finite Element technique (nF-CAFE) or Neuro Expert Cellular Automata–Finite Element models (NESCAFE).
– Development of the statistically representative volume elements.
– Multi scale approaches based on the mesh free methods and other particle methods.
– Adaptive hp methods in multiscale modelling.
– Applications of the multi scale modelling to existing and future industrial problems such as melting, casting, welding, laser treatment, joining, forming, semi-solid metalworking, highly filled material processing, injection moulding, blow or compression moulding, vapour deposition, molecular beam epitaxy, and others.
– Solving microstructural problems, such as crack propagation, strain localization, microstructure evolution, solidification, phase transformation and others.
– Applications of the multiscale modelling to functionally grader and sandwich materials, etc.
– Development of new multiscale approaches, including optimization and inverse approach.

The mini-symposium is devoted to applications of various kinds of adaptivity (h, p, hp, remeshing, relocation of nodes, and model adaptivity as well) in techniques of numerical discretization of partial differential equations (PDEs). These techniques include Finite Element, Finite Difference, Boundary Element, Finite Volume and Meshless Methods. Both, discretization and modeling adaptivities are usually related to error estimation techniques, where the approximation and modelling errors are assessed, respectively. Note that the error estimation and the related adaptivity control is the second area of the mini-symposium concern. We wish to invite the papers presenting the newest developments in adaptivity and error estimation in scientific and engineering applications as well as the new theoretical progress in developing these algorithms. Applications in: solid and fluid mechanics, wave propagation, coupled problems, and all other phenomena in applied sciences would be of interest.
Topics:
– mesh adaptation (h, p, hp, remeshing, relocation of nodes etc.)
– adaptive hierarchical modeling
– Finite Element, Finite Difference, Boundary Element, and Finite Volume Methods
– approximation, modeling and other error estimation techniques
– theoretical progress in developing algorithms for hierarchical modeling, error estimation and mesh adaptation
– convergence studies
– scientific and engineering applications

Sandwich structures like beams, plates or shells are widely used in structural as well as mechanical engineering. The variety of applications and the ease of controlling of theirs properties make sandwich elements one of the most desired ones in the design process. The progress in material science and in manufacturing techniques gives new possibilities in designing sandwich elements. For this reason all topics related with these elements are of interest of engineers and scientists.
The mini-symposium is open for any papers devoted to numerical modeling and analysis of sandwich elements. Among the issues should be mentioned strength analysis, global and local stability, modeling of materials of the layers and connections between the layers. Papers concerning structures that are innovative because of the applied materials and the geometry are especially welcome.

The mini-symposium is devoted to the problems connected with the theoretical and practical aspects of heat and mass transfer numerical modelling. The organizers expect that the subjects of papers will cover not only the classic problems in this area but also the issues related to the micro-scale heat transfer, bio-heat transfer, modeling of phase changes etc. The new numerical algorithms and procedures basing on the FDM, CVM, FEM, BEM, meshless methods should be also presented.

The term ‘virtual experiment’ causes some doubts due to a contradiction in its name. However, the current trends prefer many numerical computations to obtain useful information before a new product is set into production or a theory published. Many experiments are required for verification of some analytical approaches or theoretical supposition. Sometimes due some limitations (of different reasons) only numerical modelling is possible. There are many software packages dedicated to virtual models also involving the use of the finite element method and its variants. However, it is rather difficult to properly model a physical phenomenon, engineering structure or technological process because it is not directly possible in available software. Some ‘tricks’ and novel approach are required. The emphasis of this mini-symposium is the development and use of numerical procedures to solve practical problems, although contributions relating to the mathematical and theoretical foundations and computer implementation of numerical methods. The exchange of experiences in the field of numerical modelling among scientist and practitioners seems to be a practical value and could bring a next step in development of numerical modeling and software itself. Contribution focuses mostly on solid mechanics application but some neighborhood problems are welcome.

The proposed minisymposium concerns mathematical and numerical modelling, as well as experimental studies of hygral, thermal and chemical processes influencing concrete mechanics, including thermo-chemical and stress-induced deterioration.
Different scales of observation can be considered in concrete modeling: microscopic, mesoscopic and macroscopic. In order to obtain macroscopic equations of a homogenized mathematical model, various volume averaging techniques, theoretical or numerical, are applied. This multi-scale modelling approach can be used during the analysis of the chemo-hygro-thermo-mechanical processes in order to assess the material durability. The papers concerning the aforementioned theoretical and numerical problems, in particular at the material level, as well as their experimental investigations, will be presented during the minisymposium.
Within phenomenological modelling, the response of concrete to fire temperatures should also be considered. Moreover, modelling of time-dependent phenomena, damage and fracture, which are mechanical results of the coupled phenomena will be covered. The interaction of concrete with different classes of reinforcement, including bond evolution and corrosion are also in the scope of the minisymposium.

The purpose of this mini-symposium is to establish a scientific forum for the discussion and exchange of experiences on latest developments in the field of computational methods applied to dynamics and vibration problems. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to mathematical formulations and theoretical investigations; implicit and explicit time-integration methods; space and time discretisation algorithms; eigenvalue and modal analysis; stability problems analysis; multiple scales and perturbation methods; error estimation and others. The proposed mini-symposium welcomes submissions concerning dynamics of aerospace, civil and mechanical structures in linear and nonlinear regimes. In particular it is focused on dynamics of shells, plates and beams; rotor systems; acoustics and noise reduction problems; fluid flow and fluid-structure interactions; time-varying and time delay systems; impact and contact dynamics problems; earthquake analysis and others. Papers on emerging multi-physics systems like electromechanical ones as well as cross–disciplinary problems are also welcome. It is anticipated the symposium will disseminate among researchers and engineers the recent achievements and up-to-date ideas regarding computational methods in dynamics.

Minisymposium deals with topics related to the wind engineering. The use of CFD and FEM methods to solve different problems of wind action on engineering structures will be presented. Analyses of civil engineering structures in FEM system taking into account aerodynamic forces will be presented. From the other hand the CFD application to investigate aerodynamic coefficients/forces, as well as to recognize the flow around various structures will be also discussed. Nowadays, CFD is one of the most powerful tools employed equally to wind tunnel tests and in-situ measurements in solution of civil engineering issues. Its application in this field still approaches problems for example with implementation of the boundary layer, or the stability of unsteady measurements.
Sample topics:
– Bluff body aerodynamics
– Flow-structure interactions
– Human comfort and built environment
– Industrial Aerodynamics
– Linear and non-linear response of structures to wind
– Stochastic and buffeting wind analysis

Topics:
– modelling and analysis of civil engineering structures (bridges, buildings, silos, tanks, dams, foundations, roads and railways etc.)
– numerical and experimental analysis of mechanical systems
– theory and analysis of complex thin wall structures
– diagnostics of engineering structures
– experimental methods for materials (concrete, steel, wood, composites) and structures
– inverse problems in damage detection

This mini-symposium will be a forum for presenting and discussing the problems connected with numerical modelling and computing of the structures made of plain, (fibre) reinforced and prestressed concrete as well as of various kinds of composite structures, including but not limited to:
– models and numerical simulations for concrete at macro/meso/micro-scales under various deformation processes (creep, shrinkage, loading, temperature),
– various types of concrete structural members and structures subjected to different actions (static/dynamic load, blast, fire),
– interaction between subsoil and concrete structures,
– environmental effects on concrete structures,
– joints between steel and concrete and interfaces between two different concrete parts,
– experimental testing of concrete and concrete structural elements,
– extended structural design methodologies for concrete structures.

The Minisymposium focuses on non-conventional techniques for solid mechanics, including experimental, theoretical and computational aspects. The attention is focused on heterogeneous/multiscale/multiphase/multifunctional materials, and their behaviour especially in the framework of coupled field problems.
Topics:
– Non-conventional theoretical techniques for  description of heterogeneous/multiscale/multiphase/multifunctional materials:
— fractional continuum mechanics,
— tolerance and non-asymptotic modelling,
— peridynamics,
— fractal media,
— nonlocal continuum,
— relativistic continuum mechanics, etc.
– Non-conventional techniques for solving coupled field problems for heterogeneous/multiscale/multiphase/multifunctional materials (computational aspects including implementation and hardware/software point of views).
– New set-ups for experimental testing of heterogeneous/multiscale/multiphase/multifunctional materials (miniaturised equipment, digital imaging, etc.)

It is expected that two groups of problems will be presented during the Mini-symposium: modelling of the metalworking and modelling and computer calculations of metal structures in all possible applications (buildings, vehicles, tools, furniture).
The aim of this Mini-symposium is to summarize the progress in computational research in the field of the metalworking modelling and structural analysis of metal structures. Special emphasis is always given to new concepts and procedures concerning the advanced computational modelling, simulations and behavioural predictions, structural analysis and design of metal structures. Topics of interest presented in the Mini-symposium include static and dynamic analysis, safety and reliability assessment, fatigue and fracture  analysis, seismic analysis, fire analysis, human comfort analysis, structural stability and integrity, fabrication and execution, progressive collapse analysis, joints and connections, cold-formed members and structures, frames, bridges and footbridges, plates and shells, bar, cable, hybrid and tensegrity structures, trusses, towers and masts, high strength and stainless steel, fire engineering, linear and nonlinear structural dynamics, soil-structure interaction and environmental effects (temperature, corrosion) on  metal structures.
Papers of all research areas related to numerical aspects concerning the computational modelling, analysis and design of metal structures as are high performance computing, parallel distributed algorithms for theoretical and industrial problems of metal structures, cloud computing and cloud-based applications, artificial intelligence methods and applications, evolutionary computing, computer-aided design and methodology, sensitivity and optimisation methods, probabilistic approaches and simulations, computational solid and fluid dynamics, chaos theory applications and fluid structure interaction are very welcome.