[Research] This Friday: A very interesting talk & PM tea, co-sponsored by the Auton Lab

[Artur Dubrawski]

(BTW, those interested who are not affiliated with CMU are welcome to 
join as well so please feel free to spread the word)


Lecture:
November 30th 2012, 12:00pm-1:20pm, Hamburg Hall Auditorium (Hamburg 
Hall 1000), Carnegie Mellon University. Pizza provided.

Tea:
November 30th 2012, 4:30pm-6:30pm, Gates-Hillman Center 6115, Carnegie 
Mellon University.

Title:
“Explaining complex physical events using large scale simulations.
Case Study: Crash of Polish Air Force One in Smolensk, Russia, on April 
10, 2010.”

Abstract:
We will show how a large scale simulation approach, that has proven 
successful in researching dynamics of high-energy impact in engineering, 
can be used to validate results of forensic investigations of air 
traffic accidents. In our case study involving the tragic April 2010 
crash of Polish Air Force One in Russia, we use the finite element 
methodology to enable comprehensive high fidelity simulations of certain 
events that reportedly might have occurred during the crash. Using only 
publicly available data as inputs, we analyze physics of a presumed 
collision of a wing of the aircraft and a birch tree, and
look into various scenarios of structural disintegration. Curiously, our 
results expose infeasibility of many findings published in the official 
investigation reports. The presentation will be preceded by a short 
introduction to the historical and political context of the crash. We 
argue for and emphasize the benefits of using a scientific method to 
explain complex events taking place in the physical world.

Presentation by:
Wieslaw Binienda, Ph.D., F.ASCE, Professor and Chair, Civil Engineering 
Department, University of Akron, Technical Expert of the Polish 
Parliamentary Committee for the Investigation of the Smolensk Crash; 
with introduction by Maria Szonert-Binienda, Esq., attorney for several 
families of the Smolensk crash victims.

Carnegie Mellon University sponsors: Auton Lab, The Robotics Institute, 
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.