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Title:
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Computational formulations involving shell and other thin-walled 
structures

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Organizers:
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Ekkehard Ramm
Institute of Structural Mechanics
University of Stuttgart
Pfaffenwaldring 7
D - 70550 Stuttgart   
GERMANY
Tel: ++49-711-685-66124
E-mail: ramm@ibb.uni-stuttgart.de
URL: http://www.ibb.uni-stuttgart.de/members/ramm/

Loc Vu-Quoc
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611
USA
Tel: 352-392-6227
E-mail: vu-quoc@ufl.edu
URL: http://www.mae.ufl.edu/~vql

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Minisymposium description:
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This minisymposium seeks contributions on advanced and novel
computational formulations involving shell and other thin-walled
structures (e.g., membranes, plates, beams with thin-walled
sections).  Both non-traditional and traditional formulations
and engineering applications are included.  Experimental studies
producing results that can be used to validate computational
formulations are also important contributions to the minisymposium.

Some sample topics (not exclusive) are:
  
- classical higher-order shell formulations
- solid-shell formulations
- nonlinear geometric and material modeling involving shells and
  slender structures (e.g., nonlinear ferroelectric materials, etc.)
- composite structures
- inflatable and gossamer structures
- coupled-field multiphysics and multiscale problems
- fluid-structure interaction
- contact-impact problems
- computation of singularities (folding, fracturing, etc.)
- manufacturing process modeling and simulation (e.g., sheet 
  metal forming, etc.)
- applications to micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), 
  nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS), bioengineering
- biological and biomimetic structures (e.g., natural structures, 
  cells, etc.)

Any other topics, particularly non-traditional ones, that fit the
broader scope of this minisymposium are especially welcome.