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Title:
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Computational Modeling of Phase Transitions

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Organizers:
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Stefanie Reese
Institute of Solid Mechanics
Braunschweig University of Technology
Germany 
s.reese@tu-bs.de 
http://www.tu-braunschweig.de/fm

Bob Svendsen
Chair of Mechanics
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of Dortmund, Germany
bob.svendsen@udo.edu
http://www.mech.mb.uni-dortmund.de 

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Minisymposium description:
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Phase transitions in materials are exploited in many important industrial applications. 
A typical example is shape memory alloys in which the effects of pseudo-elasticity and 
shape memory are utilized in this regard. Whereas the former phenomenon can be seen as 
a stress-induced phase transition, the latter is due to temperature changes. Important 
applications of these effects include intracranial stents and foot braces, representing 
typical examples in the area of medical technology. On the other hand, phase transitions 
also take place in steels. Here, desired properties influenced by the phase transition 
in question can be attained by heat treatment.

In regards to the computational modeling of phase transitions, the models here can be 
split into three major groups: micromechanical, statistical thermodynamic and / or 
phenomenological. The present minisymposium is meant to bring together scientists following 
these and other approaches to such modeling. The goal here is to provide a forum for 
presentation and discussion of, as well as interaction on, recent and modern concepts 
for phase transition modeling. Industrial applications and comparisons with experimental 
results are also highly welcome.