Author of papers presented at the CST2024 and ECT2024 will eligible to submit a full length journal paper for eith the "Computers and Structures" (Elsevier) or "Advances in Engineering Software" (Elsevier). Details will be available at the Conferences.

• ECT-S1: Vehicle Scanning Method for Bridges
  organised by:
  Professor Judy Yang, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
  Professor J.D. Yau, Tamkang University, Taiwan
  Professor S. Urushdaze, Institute of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, CAS, Czech Republic
  Dr D.S. Yang, Monash University, Australia

  The idea of extracting bridge frequencies from the dynamic response of a moving test vehicle was proposed in 2004. It was referred to as the indirect method for bridge measurement, in that no vibration sensors need to be mounted on the bridge, but only few vibration sensors are required on a test vehicle. Compared with the direct method that relies fully on the response of the bridge fitted with vibration sensors, the advantage of the indirect method is obvious: mobility, economy, and efficiency. Over the past years, a rapidly growing number of research has been conducted along the lines of the indirect method for bridge measurement, with significant advances made on various aspects of application. In this minisymposium, we shall invite all the experts to present their state-of-the-art research along the lines of the subject, and to exchange the ideas for enhancing the technique of indirect approach for modal identification and damage detection of bridges using the moving vehicles.

• ECT-S2: Advances in Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization
  organised by:
  Professor J.F.A. Madeira, IDMEC/IST/UL and ADM/ISEL/IPL, Libson, Portugal
  Professor A.L. Araujo, IDMEC/IST/UL, Lisbon, Portugal

  The purpose of this session is to bring together researchers who successfully develop techniques for solving structural and multidisciplinary optimization problems, focusing on both single and multi- objective problems. We encourage new research into all aspects of the optimal design of structures as well as multidisciplinary design optimization where the involved disciplines deal with the analysis of solids, fluids or other field problems.

  This special session aims to provide a forum for researchers from theoretical developments for single or multi-objective optimization as well as their application for solving real engineering problems. Submissions presenting novel developments or critical reviews are welcome.

  Contributions are invited on the following topics:
  ★ Application of structural optimization in nanotechnology
  ★ Application of structural optimization in computational design of materials
  ★ Application of structural optimization for the design of mechanisms
  ★ Application of structural optimization with peridynamics
  ★ Optimization of composite and smart structures
  ★ Sampling and surrogate modeling in design optimization
  ★ Numerical optimization techniques
  ★ Experimental optimization techniques
  ★ Shape and topology optimization
  ★ Surrogate-based optimization
  ★ Multidisciplinary optimization
  ★ Multi-objective optimization
  ★ Robust and reliability-based design optimization
  

• ECT-S3: Structural Response to Dynamic Loadings: modelling, analysis and mitigation
  organised by:
  Dr Pierfrancesco Cacciola¹, Professor Bruno Brisegella² and Professor Alessandro Contento^{2
  1}School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering, University of Brighton, United Kingdom
  ²Fuzhou University, China
  

  Dynamic loadings inducing structural vibrations pose a challenge to researchers and practitioners in various branch of engineering. Unpredicted vibrations can deteriorate or ultimately even lead to the failure of structural components or the collapse of entire structures. In this regard, it is imperative to model input and structures accounting for inherent uncertainties and/or nonlinearities for the reliable assessment of the structural integrity and the evaluation of the probability of failure. On the other hand, the detailed modelling still presents computational challenges hindering the accuracy of the structural analysis and the reliability of the mitigation strategies. Aim of the special session is to bring together expertise from different disciplines and to share approaches and novel developments in the wide field of structural dynamics. Contributions addressing modelling, analysis or mitigation of structural vibrations are particularly welcomed.

• ECT-S4: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Multidisciplinary Design
  organised by:
  Professor Prabhat Hajela Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, United States of America

  Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) provides a holistic and efficient approach to optimizing systems characterized by a complex interplay among various disciplines. These approaches not only produce optimized designs with enhanced performance, but also streamline the design process and reduce overall development time. Given the dimensionality and complexity of the design spaces, however, there is a significant computational cost associated with the approach. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) techniques have received recent attention and are increasingly integrated in MDO. These techniques have been used to better understand the complexity of the design space, to develop enhanced optimization capabilities, and to reduce the overall computational effort required in the design process. The conference invites original papers focused on the role of AI and ML in the formulation and solution to MDO problems. Areas of interest include: development of surrogate models to reduce computational costs, multi-fidelity prediction models and their intelligent use in the design process, the use of AI and ML techniques for uncertainty quantification and efficient approaches to reliability-based design, application of deep-learning in topology optimization, and data-driven design optimization, including AI assisted autonomous optimization. Papers in other related topics are also welcome.

• ECT-S5: Uncertainty Propagation and Risk Assessment of Stochastic Dynamic Systems
  organised by:
  Dr Ioannis P. Mitseas^1,2, Professor Michael Beer^3,4,5 and Dr Peng Yuan^{3
  1}School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, United Kingdom
  ²School of Civil Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, Greece
  ³Institute for Risk and Reliability, Leibniz University Hannover, Germany
  ⁴Institute for Risk and Uncertainty, and School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
  ⁵International Joint Research Center for Resilient Infrastructure & International Joint Research Center for Engineering Reliability and Stochastic Mechanics, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
  

  The ubiquity of uncertainty in real-world engineering problems has long been recognized as a topic of considerable importance. The broad area of uncertainty quantification, which encompasses the modelling and propagation of uncertainties, is associated with particular challenges related to complex stochastic hazard modelling, nonlinear system behavior, and efficient system response and reliability analysis. By harnessing the potential of seminal theoretical advancements in nonlinear random vibration theory and Monte Carlo simulation-based approaches, persistent problems of theoretical and practical importance are amenable to efficient and accurate solution treatments. The objective of this MS is to showcase recent advances and interdisciplinary approaches in the expansive domain of computational methods for stochastic engineering dynamics problems with a focus on uncertainty modeling and propagation. Further, this MS intends to provide a forum for fruitful exchange of ideas and interaction among diverse technical and theoretical disciplines. The MS welcomes contributions that span both fundamental research and practical applications of stochastic dynamics in engineering.

The Conference Editorial Board is: