Experience from European Commission FP 5&6 Projects in Structural Optimization for Air and Marine Transport

Abstract:
In this presentation, experience and knowledge about the European Commission’s Framework Programmes 5&6 with a focus on current FP-7 will be introduced. Recently launched, FP-7 is still open for project proposals in all thematic areas including Transport and International Cooperation. Experience gained at RTU-IMS in FP-5 & FP-6 projects within Transport (Aeronautics and Maritime) thematic area in design and optimization of composite stiffened structures will be presented. In particular, by employing response surface methodology and design of computer experiments in development of fast design procedures for carbon/epoxy stiffened shell postbuckling analysis and for derivation of optimal design guidelines for laser-welded all-steel sandwich panels.

About the Speaker:
Dr. K.Kalniņš received a Ph.D. from Riga Technical University in 2006. His research activities cover optimization of composite stiffened structures, employing design of computer experiments and response surface method (metamodeling).  He has been appointed as a national contact point for the European Commission Framework Programme 7, from the Latvian Ministry of Science and Education, as an expert in transport (including aeronautics), space, international cooperation and security, due to project experience from EC FP6 projects in the transport sector. The Latvian Academy of Sciences awarded him with Young Scientist Award in Physics and Engineering Sciences for his master thesis: “Investigation of Material Fracture and Plasticity Properties,” in 2003.