Symposium on

Mechanics of Slender Structures

MoSS 2006

Symposium

Aims and Scope

Invited Speakers

Key Dates

Programme (PDF)

Venue, Travel, Accommodation

Registration and Fees

hosted by

Division of Engineering
University of Northampton

Organising Committee

Symposium Secretariat

Scientific Committee

Northamptonshire

Places to visit

Local hotels

External Links

British Gear Association

Lift Engineering

OIPEEC

TRIaD

in collaboration with

Stress and Vibration Group

University of Northampton

Symposium brochure:
Symposium.pdf

Sponsored by

Aims and Scope

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The University of Northampton in collaboration with the Stress and Vibration Group of the Institute of Physics is holding its inaugural 2006-07 Lift Engineering Summer School which includes a symposium on the mechanics of systems employing slender structural elements. This follows a successful seminar on "Ropes, Cables and Chains: Theory and Applications" staged in Northampton in 2004 (details are available from the seminar website: http://groups.iop.org/SV/AE/Ropes.htm).

Applications of slender structures include terrestrial, marine and space systems. Moving elastic elements such as ropes, cables, belts and tethers are pivotal components of many engineering systems. Their lengths often vary when the system is in operation. The applications include vertical transportation installations and, more recently, space tether propulsion systems. Traction drive elevator installations employ ropes and belts of variable length as a means of suspension, and also for the compensation of tensile forces over the traction sheave. In cranes and mine hoists, cables and ropes are subject to length variation in order to carry payloads. Tethers experiencing extension and retraction are important components of offshore and marine installations, as well as being proposed for a variety of different space vehicle propulsion systems based on different applications of momentum exchange and electrodynamic interactions with planetary magnetic fields. Furthermore, cables and slender rods are used extensively in civil engineering; in cable-supported bridges, guyed masts and long-span roofs of buildings and stadia. Also, suspended cables are applied as electricity transmission lines. Chains are used in various power transmission systems that include such mechanical systems as chain drives and chain saws. Moving conveyor belts are essential components in various material handling installations and textile manufacturing systems involve slender continua such as yarns composed of staple fibres.

The behaviour of these elements plays a significant role in the performance of the host structure and a holistic approach is needed in the analysis and design of the entire system. The symposium will bring together experts from various fields: structural mechanics, thermo-mechanics, dynamics, electrodynamics, vibration and control, structural health monitoring, artificial intelligence, and materials science to discuss the current state of research as well as rising trends and direction for future research in the area of mechanics of slender structures. The meeting is aimed at improving the understanding of structural and thermo-mechanical properties and behaviour of slender structures. More specifically, the methods for the suppression of adverse dynamic responses of such systems will be addressed. The scope covers analytical, numerical, and experimental research into the mechanics of ropes, cables, tethers, chains, yarns and fibres as well as their interactions with the host structure in various engineering applications. Technical papers addressing the following subjects have been submitted for presentation:

• Active and passive damping strategies
• Composite materials
• Contact and friction models
• Dynamic stability
• Electro-mechanical and magneto-mechanical interactions
• Flow-induced vibrations and fluid-structure interactions
• Inspection, monitoring and sensor techniques
• Intelligent materials and structures
• MEMS technology
• Non-linear dynamic interactions
• Non-stationary dynamic phenomena
• Stochastic dynamics
• Stress and fatigue
• Structural integrity and damage assessment
• Testing methods
• Thermo-mechanical behaviour
• Residual strength and endurance prediction
• Vibro-acoustics
• Vibration and control

Invited Speakers

Guest Speaker:

Derek Smith, Lift and Escalator Industry Association / Otis U.K.
Identifying the Risks in Using Lifts for Evacuation

Invited Presentation:

Teuvo Väntänen, KONE Corporation, Finland
KONE MaxiSpaceTM Working Principle and Technical Characteristics

Keynote addresses will be given by renowned international experts:

Peter Hagedorn, Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany
Dynamics of Cables: Overhead Lines, Belt Drives and Electrodynamic Tethers

Gert van der Heijden, University College London, U.K.
Localisation and Plying in Rod-Like Structures

Wim Van Horssen, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
On the Weakly Nonlinear Dynamics of Axially Moving Belt Systems

Rory Smith, ThyssenKrupp Elevator, USA
How to Achieve Good Elevator Ride Quality

Weidong Zhu, University of Maryland Baltimore County, USA
Dynamic Stability of Translating media with Variable Length and /or Speed

Workshop:

Convenor: Rory Smith, ThyssenKrupp Elevator, U.S.A.
Elevator Traffic Design and Analysis

Symposium dates:

28-29 September 2006

Venue, Travel and Accommodation

The symposium will be held at The University of Northampton, England, U.K. The venue is the University's Sunley Managment Centre (a PDF copy of the local map with directions here). Northampton is one hour by train from Birmingham International Airport. Budget airlines fly to Luton Airport and there is a regular coach service to Northampton. Delegates arriving at London Heathrow Airport are advised to use underground to get to London Euston train station (Piccadilly line from Heathrow, change to Victoria line at Green Park to arrive at London Euston; approx. 40 min). There is a frequent train service from London Euston to Northampton (the journey takes approximately one hour). Sunley is a short drive by taxi from the Northampton train and coach stations. Accommodation will be available at the University conference centre and local hotels. Please contact the Symposium Secretariat to book B&B accommodation (£57.15 per person per night) at the University's Sunley conference centre.

A welcome reception for the conference delegates will be held at Sunley centre on Wednesday 27 September at 19:00.

Registration and Fees

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The deadline for registration is 8 September 2006. Registration form and details are available from the Symposium website.

The registration fees are as follows:

The fees include admission to sessions, coffee breaks, lunches, welcome reception, symposium dinner, book of abstracts and the CD-ROM of the symposium proceedings.

Organising Committee

Matthew Cartmell, University of Glasgow, UK
Stefan Kaczmarczyk, University of Northampton, UK (Host)
John Macdonald, University of Bristol, UK.
Rory Smith, ThyssenKrupp Elevator Corporation, USA
Robin Tucker, University of Lancaster, UK

Scientific Committee

Jose Abete, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Mondragón, Spain
Dengqing Cao, University of Lancaster, UK
Erdem Imrak, Technical University of Istanbul, Turkey
Radoslaw Iwankiewicz, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
Arthur Lees, University of Wales, Swansea, UK
Stewart McWilliam, University of Nottingham, UK
Wieslaw Ostachowicz, PASci, Poland
John Penny, Aston University, UK
Phil Picton, University of Northampton, UK
Yoshiaki Terumichi, Sophia University, Japan
Irina Trendafilova, University of Strathclyde, UK
Weidong Zhu, University of Maryland Baltimore County, USA

Symposium Secretariat

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Linda Cook
School of Applied Sciences
The University of Northampton
Tel:+44 (0)1604 893075
Fax: :+44 (0)1604 893071
E-mail: linda.cook@northampton.ac.uk