19th BARCELONA World Conference on Innovations in Mechanics, Composites & Manufacturing Technology: IMCMT-26

Call for papers/Topics

Topics of Interest for Submission include, but are Not Limited to:

1. Advanced Composite Materials

Innovation here focuses on moving beyond traditional carbon fiber toward materials that can sense damage or heal themselves.

• Smart and Functional Composites:

  • Self-healing polymers: Micro-encapsulated healing agents that trigger upon fracture.

  • Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs): Integration into composite structures for morphing wings or adaptive components.

  • Piezoelectric composites: For structural health monitoring and energy harvesting.

• Sustainable & Bio-Composites:

  • Natural fiber-reinforced polymers (flax, hemp, jute).

  • Recyclability of thermoset resins vs. thermoplastic matrices.

• Nanocomposites:

  • Graphene and Carbon Nanotube (CNT) reinforcement for ultra-high strength and conductivity.

2. Modern Manufacturing & Industry 4.0

The shift is from mass production to mass customization and decentralized manufacturing.

• Additive Manufacturing (3D/4D Printing):

  • Direct Energy Deposition (DED): For large-scale metal repairs and aerospace components.

  • 4D Printing: Materials that change shape or property over time in response to stimuli (heat, moisture).

  • Micro-scale 3D printing: For MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems).

• Digital Twins & Cyber-Physical Systems:

  • Real-time simulation of the production floor to predict failures.

  • Integration of IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) sensors for "Lights-out" manufacturing.

• Hybrid Manufacturing:

  • Combining additive manufacturing (layering) with subtractive manufacturing (CNC milling) in a single machine.

3. Innovations in Mechanics & Structural Analysis

Mechanics is evolving to handle increasingly complex geometries and extreme environments.

• Metamaterials & Architected Materials:

  • Mechanical lattices with negative Poisson’s ratio (auxetic materials).

  • Acoustic metamaterials for vibration damping and sound "cloaking."

• Micro and Nanomechanics:

  • Mechanics of thin films and 2D materials.

  • Molecular dynamics simulations for predicting material failure at the atomic level.

• Computational Mechanics:

  • Isogeometric Analysis (IGA): Integrating CAD design directly with Finite Element Analysis (FEA).

  • AI-Driven Topology Optimization: Using neural networks to design the lightest possible structure for a specific load.

4. Precision & Sustainable Manufacturing

The focus is on reducing the carbon footprint while increasing the "tightness" of tolerances.

• Green Manufacturing:

  • Dry Machining (MQL): Minimum Quantity Lubrication to reduce chemical waste.

  • Energy-efficient tool path optimization.

• Ultra-Precision Machining:

  • Diamond turning for optical components.

  • Femtosecond laser machining for medical implants (stents, eye surgery tools).

5. Robotics & Automation in Production

Robots are moving out of cages and onto the floor alongside humans.

• Cobotics (Collaborative Robots):

  • Human-robot interaction and safety sensors.

  • Soft Robotics: Using flexible materials for handling delicate organic or fragile items.

• Automated Fiber Placement (AFP):

  • Robotic precision laying of composite tapes for aircraft fuselages.