Symposium on Mechanical Engineering

Local: Room B015

Date: Monday, June 30^th, 2025 | 15h30-16h30

Invited Speakers: Session I

This is the first session of the Mechanical Engineering Symposium. Starting with a brief introduction given by Prof. Dr. Pedro Leal Ribeiro, this session will count with the presentations of Dr. Federico Danzi from Leonardo SpA (Italy) and Dra. Dulce Oliveira from INEGI (Portugal).

Dr. Federico Danzi (PhD)

Senior Researcher, Leonardo SpA

Research perspectives in the aerospace and defence field

The Advanced Materials research labs in Leonardo SpA focuses on the development and characterization of disruptive materials and processes for high-performance applications. Research spans across various clusters including computational material modelling, multifunctional nanomaterials and composites, advanced manufacturing, and energy storage and harvesting. Joint collaboration with academic institutions and research centres on key topics like advanced modelling, experimental validation, and AI enabled material informatics is actively encouraged. This presentation provides a brief overview about ongoing projects and opportunities for PhD-level research within the unit, aimed at addressing critical challenges in future aerospace and defence systems.

Biography

Dr. Federico Danzi earned a PhD in Aerospace Structures at the University of Pisa, focusing on micro-mechanical simulations of composites. He has lectured on finite element analysis and collaborated with INEGI in Portugal on thin-ply composites. He worked on system tests at the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear plant in Finland for two years. He later rejoined INEGI in 2020 to develop solid-state structural batteries and, during this period, he also contributed to developing new procedures for testing fracture behaviour in composites and validating advanced laminate models. Currently at Leonardo Materials Labs, he works on computational material modelling and test methodologies development for aeronautic composites.

Dr. Dulce Oliveira (PhD)

Research Team Leader, INEGI

The Pelvic Floor in Childbirth: An Engineering Approach

The presentation explores how engineering principles can be applied to better understand the role of the pelvic floor during childbirth. Combining biomechanics, numerical modeling, and medical imaging, I present the research group's contributions to simulating and analyzing pelvic tissue behavior under labor conditions. Key findings from research projects will be highlighted, along with ongoing work. The session will showcase how multidisciplinary engineering approaches can support safer, more personalized childbirth strategies. The presentation will also address how these scientific developments are being translated into practical solutions with potential for clinical and industrial application, promoting innovation in maternal health technologies.

Biography

Dr. Dulce Oliveira holds a Master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Minho and a PhD in the same field from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP). Her doctoral research focused on modeling pelvic tissue damage during vaginal delivery. She is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at FEUP and a researcher at INEGI, where she leads work on the biomechanics of childbirth. Dulce Oliveira supervises a multidisciplinary team of over ten students, including two PhD candidates, five Master’s students, and five undergraduate researchers. She served as Principal Investigator of the FCT-funded national project SIM4SafeBirth, which proposed a biomechanical framework to improve childbirth safety. She was also awarded a junior researcher contract under the project Childbirth in silico: for healthier mothers and children. Most recently, she secured funding through the prestigious EIC Pathfinder program, establishing her as a leading researcher in the field.

Local: Room B015

Date: Tuesday, July 1^st, 2025 | 12h20-12h40

Invited Speakers: Session II

To close off the last session of the Mechanical Engineering Symposium, we will count with the presence of Dr. Helder Gomes da Silva, from ARSOPI-THERMAL (Portugal).

Dr. Helder Gomes da Silva (PhD)

Engineering Manager, ARSOPI-THERMAL

PHEs: Overview and Applications

Plate Heat Exchangers (PHEs) are a century-old yet often underappreciated solution for efficient energy management. An apparent growth in academic interest motivates us to share that these vessels offer thermal efficiency, compactness, scalability, and easy maintenance—without requiring moving parts. PHEs configurations can be tailored to diverse process needs, aligning with modern certification and design standards. ARSOPI-THERMAL positions itself as a knowledgeable partner, offering technical guidance, support, and collaboration.

Biography

Dr. Helder Gomes da Silva has been the Engineering Manager at ARSOPI-THERMAL since 2014. He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from FEUP and began his career with teaching experience at the pre-university level before moving into the thermal industry. Currently, he works in a multidisciplinary setting closely related to mechanical engineering, focusing on innovation, workflow optimization, and bridging the gap between industry and education.