The 11th International Conference on Fracture Fatigue and Wear (FFW 2023)

Abstract: The Theory of Critical Distances (TCD) is a powerful design tool capable of estimating the strength of notched/cracked materials, with this being done by directly post-processing the linear-elastic stress fields ahead of the stress raisers being assessed. The TCD groups together a number of design methodologies that all make use of specific material critical distances. According to the TCD’s modus operandi, the critical distance is an intrinsic property which is related to the micro-/meso-/macro-structural features of the material being designed. Based on a comprehensive experimental work, it is proven that the TCD is successful in predicting the strength of cracked/notched unreinforced concrete subjected not only to Mode I but also to Mixed-Mode I-II static/dynamic loading. Further the TCD is seen to be capable of modelling also the detrimental effect of cracks and manufacturing defects in 3D-printed concrete subjected to static loading. In this setting, this presentation will summarise and review the research work we have supervised over the last decade to devise a robust TCD-based methodology suitable for performing the static/dynamic assessment of notched unreinforced (cast & 3D-printed) concrete.

Biography: Luca Susmel joined the University of Sheffield in 2011 as Professor of Structural Integrity. Since 1998 Luca has focused his attention mainly on problems related to the static, dynamic and fatigue assessment of engineering materials and components. In particular, by working both in Italy (University of Padova, University of Ferrara, University of Udine), in Ireland (Trinity College, Dublin), and in the UK (university of Sheffield), he has devised several novel engineering methods suitable for designing components (experiencing stress concentration phenomena of any kind) against static, dynamic and fatigue failures. According to his modus operandi, Luca has performed both theoretical and experimental investigations and all the design methods he has formalised so far have always been validated through a systematic experimental work. Luca has an outstanding and unique expertise in designing notched and welded components against constant and variable amplitude multiaxial fatigue.
The work done in the above research areas has led to more than 350 scientific papers in the period 1999-2022 (of which more than 135 articles in international peer-reviewed scientific journals) as well as to a book devoted to the multiaxial fatigue assessment (Susmel, L., Multiaxial Notch Fatigue: from nominal to local stress-strain quantities. Woodhead & CRC, Cambridge, UK, ISBN: 1 84569 582 8, March 2009). His scientific papers have attracted significant interest from the international scientific community, evidenced by an h-index of 38 with more than 5.65k citations in total according to Google Scholar. He is a member of the Editorial Boards of the two leading international journals in the fatigue and fracture field, namely “International Journal of Fatigue” and “Fatigue & Fracture of Engineering Materials & Structures”. Luca is the Editor-in-Chief of “Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics” (published by Elsevier) which is one of the top journals in the fracture mechanics field (Impact Factor=3.021).
Luca has developed a software specifically designed to perform the fatigue assessment of plain/notched/welded components subjected to both constant and variable amplitude uniaxial/multiaxial fatigue loading (Copyright document N. 007849-D007048).
As to the transfer of his research’s outcomes into engineering practice, in recent years, and especially after the publication of his book, Luca’s expertise has been sought on many occasions by several structural engineering (working in both European and non-European companies) successfully using the approaches developed by Luca himself to design real components and structures.
Since the end of the 90s, Luca has been involved both as primary investigator and as co-investigator in a very large number of research projects funded by national public funding bodies, European Community, Trusts, and private companies.

Abstract: The present Keynote Lecture develops a novel and forward-looking approach of the author to the important concept of structural integrity, the keystone of fatigue & fracture mechanics, comprising and covering all length scales in the conceptual and theoretical framework of the innovative (con-conventional) concepts of giga- mega-, macro-, micro- and nano-structural integrity, thereby broadening the amplitude of the definition of the concept itself. Therefore, the science of fatigue & fracture mechanics (geared towards structural integrity) can be considered as a branch of material science & engineering, and thus the novel concept of material integrity can also be coined, since crack-like defects can affect material’s behavior. Following this new way of thinking, any material can be considered as a structure (a quite more general concept with a broader meaning and comprising also, e.g., the structure of a Bach’s fugue or of a Beethoven’s symphony), such a structure being analyzable at different geometric levels or length scales, i.e., at the giga-, mega-, macro-, micro- and nano-levels. In addition, the concept of structural integrity is extended to fields such as the biology, or to the case of non-material structures, as well as to the area of human behaviour and psychology, developing the concept of personal structural integrity (or, simply, personal integrity). The Keynote Lecture is also a heartfelt tribute to the artist and engineer Leonardo da Vinci, as well as to the physicist and mathematician Galileo Galilei for their important pioneering works in the fields of material strength, fracture and structural integrity.

Biography: Professor Jesús Toribio graduated in Civil Engineering in 1982 and then in Mathematics in 1986. In 1987 he was awarded his PhD in the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) and turned into Associate Professor in that Institution. In 1992 he became Full Professor and Head of the Materials Science Department of the University of La Coruña (at the age of 32, thus being the youngest Full Professor in the area of Materials Science in Spain). In 2000 he moved to the University of Salamanca (USAL) where is currently Full Professor of Materials Science and Head of the Fracture and Structural Integrity Research Group (FSIRG) of that Institution.
His research work is mainly concerned with fatigue and fracture mechanics, environmentally assisted cracking, stress corrosion cracking and hydrogen embrittlement/degradation/damage of metals and alloys (mainly cold drawn pearlitic steel wires for civil engineering and austenitic stainless steels for nuclear engineering and energy applications), covering theoretical, computational and experimental aspects. He actively participates in International Conferences, very often being member of the International Advisory Committee, organising Special Sessions/Symposia, being Session Chairman or delivering Plenary/Keynote/Invited Lectures. Professor Dr. Jesús Toribio has published more than 500 scientific papers, most of them in international books and journals.
He is the Chairman of the Technical Committee 10 (TC10): Environmentally Assisted Cracking of the European Structural Integrity Society (ESIS) and has been Director (2013-2017) of the International Congress of Fracture-The World Academy of Structural Integrity (ICF-WASI), being responsible of launching the Ibero-American Academy of Structural Integrity (IA2SI). Prof. Toribio has been awarded a variety of scientific research prizes and awards including: (i) UPM Young Scientist Award of the Polytechnic University of Madrid; (ii) METROTEC Award for the best Technological Research Project; (iii) Honour Medal of the Spanish Group of Fracture (GEF/SEIE) in recognition of his research achievements in the field of fracture mechanics; (iv) Fellow of the Wessex Institute of Technology (WIT) in recognition of leadership and outstanding work in engineering sciences; (v) Top Reviewer 2011 in recognition of an outstanding contribution to the quality of the Elsevier International Journal Engineering Fracture Mechanics; (vi) Fellow of the European Structural Society (ESIS Fellow) for his outstanding contributions to the art, science, teaching or practice of fracture mechanics and his service to the society; (vii) Honorary Member of the Italian Group of Fracture (IGF) in acknowledgement and appreciation of his outstanding achievements in the research field of fracture mechanics; (viii) Best Paper and Presentation Award in the International Conference on Energy Materials and Applications (ICEMA 2017) held in 2017 in Hiroshima, Japan, with a paper entitled: Numerical Simulation of Hydrogen Diffusion in the Pressure Vessel Wall of a WWER-440 Reactor; (ix) María de Maeztu Scientific Award of the University of Salamanca (800th anniversary during 2018) in recognition of academic trajectory and excellence in scientific and technological research; (x) Scientific Merit Award of the Portuguese Group of Fracture (PGF) in recognition of scientific contributions during his career.