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Title:
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Particle Methods in Continua and Discontinua Mechanics 

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Organizers:
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Sergio Idelsohn
Universidad Nacional del Litoral
Santa Fe, Argentina
E-mail: sergio@ceride.gov.ar

Eugenio Oņate
Universidad Politecnica de Cataluņa
Barcelona, Spain
E-mial: onate@cimne.upc.edu 

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Minisymposium description:
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Computational Mechanics of discontinua is a relatively new discipline. It deals with the numerical solution 
to engineering problems and processes where constitutive laws are not available. Particle Methods modelling 
of micro-structural elements of materials is used in this case.

Nevertheless, Particle Methods are also used in continua mechanics to represents continua materials with 
separation of part of the domain (also called fragmentation).

In the last decade, methods for continua and discontinua mechanics have been coupled. Thanks to the relatively 
inexpensive high performance hardware rapidly becoming available, it is possible to consider combined systems 
of particles composing millions and most recently billon of particles. Coupled with recent algorithmic 
developments, have resulted in powerful methods being applied to a diversity of engineering and scientific 
problems, ranging from powder technology, ceramics, design of composite materials, rock blasting, demolition, 
blast impact and a number of applications in geological, civil, mechanics, naval and environmental engineering.

This minisymposium, among many others, will give the opportunity for the first time to joint the most prominent 
specialists in the field of Particle Methods, as well as those working in the discrete domain and in continua 
mechanics. The minisympoium will help in the permanent contribution between both fields in order to extract the 
benefits and the best behaviour for the solution of each specific problem.