RWTH Aachen University

Visiting Researcher, IFAM - Institut für Angewandte Mechanik

About

Since 1997, and after obtained my Mechanical Engineering degree, I have been involved in the field of numerical simulation, directly dealing and programming within the Finite Element Method (FEM).

I have completed my PhD studies in University of Porto in 2004, in the subject of finite element design, formulation and implementation for general structural applications and metal forming simulations. My MSc degree, from University of Porto, Portugal, was obtained in 1999 in the field of numerical simulation of shell structures, including dynamic effects and instabilities.

After that, in 2000, I started my career at University of Aveiro, Department of Mechanical Engineering, where I am integrated as a faculty member of TEMA Research Unity.
Following my specialization in plate and shell structures, my main core of research is the study and improvement of the simulation aspects related to plastic forming processes, namely sheet, bulk and hydro-driven forming processes. Developments in these areas focus on the formulation and implementation of innovative membrane, shell, solid and solid-shell finite elements, integrated into in-house finite element programs in FORTRAN language as well as into commercial FEM packages, such as Abaqus, MSC-Marc and, more recently, LS-Dyna.

Additionally, my work is intimately related to the study and implementation of anisotropic constitutive models for metallic alloys, as well as the development and implementation of contact algorithms strategies suitable for general forming applications.

Recently, I was responsible for a research project related to the prediction, by means of numerical simulation, of the springback and wrinkles onset in metallic alloys products obtained by stamping and tubular hydroforming, and later on including optimization procedures. The results and milestones of the project, that have finished in June 2010,  were classified by the Science and Technology Foundation (Portugal) with the maximum grade ("excellent").

Additionally, I am also involved (as team member) in research projects in the domain of hydroforming processes, single-point incremental forming and multi-phase materials constitutive characterization.

More recently my research fields have broadened, now encompassing structural instability advanced problems (aeronautic integrally stiffened structural panels design and simulation) as well as studies in the field of impact, ballistics and light-weight armour development and simulation for defense applications.

Recently, I was granted with the opportunity to be the Primary Investigator of two research projects, one in the field of the structural behaviour of reinforced panels for aeronautic applications, and the second one in the field of numerical modelling and characterization of dual-phase steel alloys for automotive applications. Both projects have started in March, 2011.

Related to my teaching activity at the University of Aveiro, and accounting for the last decade, I have been involved in the following chairs (in chronological order): “Industrial Production”, “Technical Drawing”, “Mechanical Engineering Drawing”, “Solid Mechanics”, “Structural Mechanics”, “Applied Mechanics I”, “Applied Mechanics II”, "Mechanical Systems", “Computational Mechanics”, “Simulation of Numerical Processes” and “Plates and Shells”.

Since 2008 I am an active member of the research group GRIDS, integrated in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (University of Aveiro), being responsible for the DiPFORM division (Division of Plastic Forming) until 2011. From 2011 until now, I am the Head of the GRIDS research group.

Within GRIDS research group, I have the honour to intensively collaborate with a team of about 40 people, including full time doctorates, PhD and MSc scholars and also under-graduate students, with a strong motivation for changing the world and contribute to the society by means of numerical simulation models and studies.

Additionally, I had the pleasure of being the Director of the Integrated Master Course in Mechanical Engineering of the University of Aveiro during 5 consecutive years (2006-2011), being responsible for the successful implementation of the Bologna Process in the Mechanical Engineering course of University of Aveiro.

More recently, I had the honor to be at the Structural Mechanics' Department of University of Pavia (Università degli studi di Pavia), Italy, for a research period (sept. 2011 - march 2012) within my sabbatical leave from Aveiro. Following this period, I am currently at the RWTH Aachen University, Germany, working as a visiting researcher in the Institut für Angewandte Mechanik (IFAM).

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