Maria de Lurdes Dinis | Engineering | Best Researcher Award – 1999

Prof. Maria de Lurdes Dinis | Engineering | Best Researcher Award 

Full Professor at University of Porto | Portugal 

Prof. Maria de Lurdes Dinis is a highly accomplished academic at the University of Porto, widely recognized for her pioneering contributions in the field of Engineering. With a strong educational background culminating in a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Porto, her doctoral research centered on advanced computational modeling, structural optimization, and sustainable design, laying the foundation for her long-standing research excellence. Over the course of her career, she has gained extensive professional experience, leading and collaborating on national and international research projects, with a focus on sustainable infrastructure, energy-efficient solutions, and computational approaches to structural mechanics. Her research interests span computational engineering, applied mechanics, sustainable construction, and innovative materials, where she consistently integrates theory with real-world engineering applications. Prof. Maria de Lurdes Dinis has demonstrated a broad set of research skills, including advanced simulation techniques, multidisciplinary project management, mentoring of Ph.D. students, and the ability to build cross-institutional collaborations. She has published 63 scholarly documents indexed in Scopus, which collectively have received 827 citations across 686 documents, reflecting her strong academic influence, with an h-index of 13 showcasing the impact of her research contributions. Her work appears in reputed international journals and IEEE/Scopus-indexed conferences, and she has actively participated in collaborative European consortia advancing engineering solutions. In recognition of her achievements, she has received awards and honors for both her scholarly excellence and her commitment to advancing engineering education, while also contributing to professional associations and volunteer platforms supporting student engagement and knowledge dissemination. In conclusion, Prof. Maria de Lurdes Dinis stands out as a leading researcher whose expertise, impactful publications, international collaborations, and dedication to academic leadership make her highly deserving of recognition. Her future research potential lies in further advancing sustainable engineering, expanding global collaborations, and continuing to shape the next generation of engineers through mentorship and innovation.

Profile: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications:

  • Dinis, M. L., & Camotim, D. (2014). A numerical investigation of the post-buckling behavior of cold-formed steel columns. Thin-Walled Structures, 83(1), 121–133.

  • Dinis, M. L., Silvestre, N., & Camotim, D. (2012). Local-global interaction in cold-formed steel lipped channel columns: Numerical investigation. Journal of Constructional Steel Research, 68(1), 1–13.

  • Dinis, M. L., Silvestre, N., & Camotim, D. (2011). FEM-based analysis of cold-formed steel columns with distortional buckling. Thin-Walled Structures, 49(5), 614–631.

  • Dinis, M. L., & Camotim, D. (2009). Post-buckling behavior and strength of thin-walled lipped channel columns experiencing local–distortional interaction. International Journal of Structural Stability and Dynamics, 9(4), 691–714.

  • Dinis, M. L., Silvestre, N., & Camotim, D. (2008). On the mechanics of local-distortional interaction in cold-formed steel lipped channel columns. Thin-Walled Structures, 46(4), 401–420.

  • Dinis, M. L., Silvestre, N., & Camotim, D. (2007). Numerical investigation of the local–global interaction in lipped channel columns. Computers & Structures, 85(19–20), 1461–1474.

  • Dinis, M. L., Camotim, D., & Silvestre, N. (2006). FEM-based analysis of cold-formed steel members: Local–distortional interaction. Computers & Structures, 84(17–18), 1208–1227.

Yuezhao Pang | Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Yuezhao Pang | Engineering | Best Researcher Award 

Engineer at Marine Design and Research Institute of China | China

Dr. Yuezhao Pang is a highly accomplished structural engineer at the Marine Design and Research Institute of China with a Ph.D. in Mechanics, whose expertise centers on impact dynamics, composite materials, and the development of advanced metal and non-metallic sandwich structures. His academic foundation and research journey reflect a commitment to understanding mechanical responses, energy absorption, and failure mechanisms under impact loading, combining both multi-scale experimentation and numerical simulations to address complex engineering problems. Professionally, he has completed five major research projects, engaged in three consultancy and industry-linked initiatives, and contributed significantly to the field through innovative solutions aimed at structural protection and crashworthiness, with applications in aerospace, transportation, and industrial safety. His research interests extend to dynamic and static compression of closed-cell PVC foams, exploring material properties under varying strain rates to design lightweight protective structures with improved resilience. Dr. Yuezhao Pang has produced a notable body of work with 17 publications indexed in reputed databases, amassing 139 citations by 136 documents with an h-index of 7, reflecting the quality and relevance of his research contributions. In addition, he has secured five patents that bridge the gap between theoretical advancements and practical applications, underscoring his strength in innovation-driven engineering. His research skills encompass advanced materials testing, computational modeling, mechanical characterization, and cross-disciplinary collaborations, making him a versatile and impactful researcher. While he has not yet accumulated extensive professional memberships, his strong collaborations and project outputs demonstrate leadership potential and dedication to advancing the field. Recognized for his significant contributions, Dr. Yuezhao Pang stands as a deserving recipient of research honors, and his future trajectory indicates immense promise in expanding global collaborations, enhancing high-impact publications, and shaping protective engineering solutions that benefit both academia and industry.

Profile: Scopus

Fuetured Publications:

  • Pang, Y., Wang, C., Zhao, Y., & Wang, X. (2025). Strain‐Rate Effects on the Mechanical Behavior of Basalt-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites: Experimental Investigation and Numerical Validation. Materials, 18(15).

  • Pang, Y. (2022). Experimental study of basalt fiber/steel hybrid laminates: Low‐velocity impact characteristics with different lay-up structures. International Journal of Impact Engineering.