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). Seven researchers work at CORE, three of them being CNPq researchers (one of level 1C, one of level 1D, and one of level 2), with over forty articles published between 2019 and 2023, 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, UFPR, UNILA, and UTFPR. Currently, the main interactions with foreign institutions are with the Engineering Risk Analysis (ERA) group of the Technische Universität München (TUM) (Germany), the Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP) (Portugal), and the Laboratory of Optimization and Reliability in Mechanical Structures (LOFIMS), National Institute of Applied Sciences of Rouen (France). Concerning the attraction of financial resources from industry to support cutting-edge scientific research at the university, CORE has worked 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.