----- Title: ----- Computational Methods for Large Structures and Materials ----------- Organizers: ----------- Robert Y Xiao Civil Engineering and Computational Engineering Centre School of Engineering Swansea University Swansea SA2 8PP Tel: 00-44-(0)1792-295510 Fax:00-44-(0)1792-295676 Email: r.y.xiao@swansea.ac.uk ------------------------- Minisymposium description: ------------------------- With fast improving computational techniques and computing facilities, it is more mature now for the numerical modelling on a single structural element and single phase structural material. It is natural that the modelling, simulation and analysis by numerical approach on large and complicated structural system could be implemented with the due consideration for appropriate material properties. However, the large structural system modelling is difficult to be tackled which does need significant computing timing and resources. The first difficulty is to deal with the different types of structural elements of which could be correctly modelled and closely matched to its prototype structure system. This has already been proved to be a daunting task even for an individual complicated structural connection computational simulation. The second difficulty is to provide suitable models for single and/or multiple materials composition and interaction. This mini-symposium aims to attract the presentations of the recent development of the computation techniques to deal with large structural system computational analysis with focusing on its connection, contact, link and separation. This also includes material properties modelling with the consideration on composition, interaction, softening and hardening.