CORE / About us

Center for Optimization and Reliability in Engineering (CORE)

CORE’s activities are focused on the theoretical development and application of numerical tools for the solution of complex engineering problems, including the quantification of uncertainties and structural reliability, optimization and computational mechanics (static, dynamic, linear and nonlinear analysis). Five researchers work at CORE, three of them being CNPq researchers of level 2 productivity, with over forty articles published between 2013 and 2018, in the most highly regarded international journals of the area. CORE researchers have actively taken part in research and development (R&D) projects in the areas of electrical energy transmission towers, petroleum wells and reinforced concrete bridges. They have formed scientific partnerships with several Brazilian universities, including USP, UFPB, UFRGS, UFRJ, PUC-Rio, UTFPR and FURG. Currently, the main interactions with foreign institutions are with the Laboratory of Optimization and Reliability in Mechanical Structures (LOFIMS), National Institute of Applied Sciences of Rouen – France, and the Center for Uncertainty Quantification in Computational Science & Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal – Saudi Arabia. Concerning the attraction of financial resources from industry to support cutting-edge scientific research at the university, CORE is currently working together with: Energy Company of Paraná (COPEL) in the development of an optimization framework for transmission line towers, and the Brazilian Department of Transport Infrastructure (DNIT) in the development of a Bridge Weight in Motion system for structural safety and reliability.