LABORATORY OF MECHANICS AND MATERIALS (LMM)

Polytechnic School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Director: Professor E.C. Aifantis

e-mail: [email protected]
Tel./Fax: +30-2310-995921 (O)
Tel.: +30-2310-444386 (H)
CURRICULUM VITAE
PROFESSOR E.C. AIFANTIS

Education
Nat. Tech. Univ. Athens, Mining & Metallurgy (Diploma 1973); Univ. of Minnesota, Materials & Mechanics (Ph.D 1975).
Teaching
• University of Minnesota (Instructor: 1975-76)
University of Illinois (Assistant Professor: 1976-80)
University of Minnesota (Visiting Professor: 1980-82)
Michigan Technological University, Houghton, USA (Professor 1982)
Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, GREECE (Professor 1989, after special invitation).
• Courses in Continuum Mechanics and Materials Science, Micromechanics and Nanomechanics.
Research/Publications/Funding
• Diffusion, Flow through Porous Media, Environmental Cracking, Phase Transformations, Micromechanics of Plasticity
and Fracture, Material Instabilities: Dislocation Patterning / Shear Banding / Damage Localization, Soil / Rock
Mechanics, Nanostructured Materials.
• Published over 400 papers on these subjects as articles in scientific journals and chapters in books.
• Continuous funding from the US National Science Foundation (NSF) since 1976. Also funding from the US Air Force
Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), US Army Research Office (ARO), US National Academy of Sciences, US
National Research Council (NRC), Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Sandia National Labs (SNL), NATO. Finally,
substantial funding from the Commission of European Communities of EU (HCM/TMR Networks) and GSRT. The total
research funding as Principal Investigator has been over 10 million dollars.
Collaborators
Advised over two dozen PhD’s and worked with over three dozen postdocs and visiting scientists.
Seminars
• Invited in over 400 occasions to speak in conferences, universities, and research laboratories in USA, Europe, FSU,
Australia, Japan, China. Served as reviewer for approximately two dozen journals and funding agencies.
• Organized ten international symposia and conferences and served as a member of organizing committees for over two
dozen international conferences and symposia.
• Co-Editor of the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Advisory Board (formerly) of Acta Mechanica,
Advisory Board (formerly) of Mechanics of Cohesive-Frictional Materials, Advisory Board of Numerical and Analytical
Methods in Geomechanics.
• Joint ASME/ASCE/SES Symposium organized in his honor,1-3 June 2005, Baton Rouge, USA
Editorships
1. E.C. Aifantis and L. Davison, Media with Microstructures and Wave Propagation, Special Issue of Int. J. Engng. Sci.,
Vol. 22/Nos. 8-10/pp. 959-1224, Pergammon Press, 1984.
2. E.C. Aifantis and J.P. Hirth, The Mechanics of Dislocations [248 pages], ASM, Metals Park, 1985.
3. E.C. Aifantis and J. Gittus, Phase Transformations [302 pages], Elsevier Appl. Sci. Publ., London-New York, 1986.
4. E.C. Aifantis, Lectures in Engineering Science, Special Issue of Res Mechanica, Vol. 21/No.4/pp.287-400, Elsevier
Appl. Sci. Publ., 1987.
5. E.C. Aifantis, D. Walgraef and J. Gittus, Material Instabilities, Special Issue of Res Mechanica,Vol. 23/ Nos. 2-3/ pp.
97-305, Elsevier Appl. Sci. Publ., 1988.
6. E.C. Aifantis, Proc. Aristotle’s 23 Centuries Celebration (Thessaloniki/ August 1990), Special Issues of the J. Mechanical
Behavior of Materials, Vol.4/Nos.1-4/pp. 1-397 and Vol.5/Nos 1-3/pp. 3-375, Freund Publ. House, 1992-94.
7. E.C. Aifantis, Novel Materials, Processes and Microstructures (Symp. in honor of Th. Skoulikidis; Thessaloniki/ January
1993), [180 pages], Graphima Publ., Thessaloniki, 1993.
8. E.C. Aifantis, Proc. 2nd Euroconference and Int. Symp. on Material Instabilities and Fracture (Thessaloniki/ August
1997) [for 1st Euroconference and US Workshop, held in Thessaloniki in August 1996, ABSTRACTS available], Special
Issue of the J. Mechanical Behavior of Materials, Vol.11/Nos.1-3/pp. 1-264, Freund Publ. House, 2000.
9. E.C. Aifantis and A.N. Kounadis, Proc. 6th Nat. Cong. of Mechanics (In memory of P.S. Theocaris; Thessaloniki/ July
2001), Vols. I [426 pages] / II [406 pages] / III [146 pages], Giahoudi-Giapouli Publ., Thessaloniki, 2001.
10. E.C. Aifantis, Procceding/Abstracts 5th European Solid Mechanics Conference (Thessaloniki/August 2003), Vols. I [426
pages] / II [406 pages] / III [146 pages], Giahoudi-Giapouli Publ., Thessaloniki, 2003.
 McMat 2005
2005 Joint ASCE/ASME/SES Conference on
Mechanics and Materials

June 1 – 3, 2005
Baton Rouge, Louisiana MECHANICS & MATERIALS CONFERENCE
Symposium Honoring the Contributions of Elias Aifantis
Organizers: Douglas J. Bammann, Hussein M. Zbib, Petros Sofronis

Every four years, the engineering mechanics and materials communities of the American Society
of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), and the
Society of Engineering Science (SES) hold a joint conference. In 1997, it was held at
Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and in 2001, it was held at University of California
in San Diego, La Jolla, California. The 2005 Joint ASME/ASCE/SES Conference on Mechanics
and Materials (McMat2005) will be held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on June 1-3, 2005.
Activities will be hosted by Louisiana State University with Professor George Z. Voyiadjis as the
Conference Chair. This important conference offers an exciting exchange of information that
comes about through the congress of three major engineering mechanics and materials
communities.

This special symposium within the McMat2005 conference is organized to recognize the
contributions of Professor Elias Aifantis in the fields of mechanics and materials. In particular,
the areas associated with diffusion-reaction theory, gradient theory, mixture theory and hydrogen
embrittlement, plasticity and material instability.

Conference Location and Organization

McMat2005 will be held at the Holiday Inn Select located adjacent to Interstate I-10 in the
middle of a new bustling area of Baton Rouge. Activities will be hosted by Louisiana State
University, and many faculty and students are heavily involved with organizing the conference.

For more information, visit the conference web site at www.McMat2005.eng.lsu.edu. The full
program and registration information should be available soon.
 A. CURRENT ACTIVITIES
A1. EDUCATIONAL / PERSONEL
Dissertations*

PhD Theses
• D. Tragoudaras (PENED 01) • G. Mokios (PENED 01) • J. Konstantopoulos (PYTHAGORAS)
• O. Akintayo • E. Georgalis

Current RTN (DEFINO/DIGA) Fellows

• A. Wieczorek (RTN DEFINO) • F. Spieckermann (RTN DEFINO)
• R. Hellmig (RTN DEFINO) • T. Putelat (RTN DIGA)
Predoctoral Fellows
• F. Hagemann (RTN DEFINO) • V. Grützun (RTN DEFINO)
• B. Fyffe (RTN DEFINO) • J. Schwerdtfeger (RTN DEFINO)
Postdoctoral Fellows
• M. Avlonitis (PYTHAGORAS) • M. Lazar (RTN DEFINO)
• I. Tsagrakis (PYTHAGORAS) • G. Rambert (RTN DIGA)
• B. Bako (RTN DEFINO) • Frederick Madani (RTN DEFINO)
Postdoctoral Associates
• L. Teneketzis / LMM • I. Kioseoglou (PYTHAGORAS) / Physics
• G. Petsos (RTN DEFINO) / LMM–Brussels • G. Dimitrakopoulos (PYTHAGORAS) / Physics
• G. Efremidis / LMM • I. Karapanagiotis (PYTHAGORAS) / LMM–Ormylia
• I. Georgiou / LMM–Imperial
Senior Scientists Visits
• D. Walgraef (ULB–Brussels) • J. Pontes (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro–Brazil)
• I. Groma (Eotvos University–Budapest) • P. Steinmann (University of Kaiserslautern)
• A. Varias (Malmo University–Sweden) • A. Markaki (Cambridge University)
A2. RESEARCH / FUNDING
1. Coordination of Funded Research Programs

European Commission
• RTN:No.HPRN-CT-2002-00198, "Deformation and Fracture Instabilities in Novel Materials and Processes (DEFINO)", Coordinator : E.C.
Aifantis, 1.500.000 EUROS (AUT funding 352.000 EUROS)

Hellenic General Secretariat of Research and Technology

• PENED 01: “Nanomechanics, Nanoindenter and Nanocoatings” , Coordinator : E.C. Aifantis, 42.000.000 DRS
• PYTHAGORAS: “Pattern formation and self-organization in macro/meso/microscale and nanoscale: Bridging the length scales with applications
to nanomechanics and nanotechnology”, Coordinator : E.C. Aifantis, 50.000 EUROS

2. Participation in Joint Research Programs*

European Commission
• RTN: No. HPRN-CT-2002-00220, "Degradation and Instabilities in Geomaterials with Application to Hazard Mitigation (DIGA)", (AUT
Scientist in charge: E.C. Aifantis, AUT funding 175.000 EUROS)

Hellenic General Secretariat of Research and Technology/YPEPTH

• DPMS Interdepartmental Post-Graduate Program, “Nanoscience and Nanotechnology”, Coordinator: S. Logothetidis
• Post-Graduate Program, “Physics of Materials”, Director Karakostas Theodoros

US National Science Foundation

• NIRT: " Novel Experiments and Models for the Nanomechanics of Polymeric and Biological Nanofibers", (Scientist in charge: I. Chasiotis, Total
funding 1.630.000 USD)

A3. CONFERENCES / SYMPOSIA ORGANIZED

• 5th Euromech Solid Mechanics Conference (ESMC–5), August 17–23, 2003, AUT, Thessaloniki, Greece, Coordinator E.C. Aifantis
• DEformation and Fracture Instabilities of NOvel materials and processes (RTN DEFINO) 1st Annual Meeting, April 17–18, 2004,
Thessaloniki, Greece
• Physical Aspects of Multiscale Modeling Workshop, September 13–15, 2004, Bled, Slovenia, Coordinator L. Dorfmann (ARO),
“Solid Mechanics” and “Micro and Nano–structures” co-organiser E.C. Aifantis
 B. PAST ACTIVITIES
B1. EDUCATIONAL / PERSONEL
Dissertations*

PhD Theses
• A. Konstantinidis (2000) • I. Tsagrakis (2001) • G. Efremidis (2002)
• I. Eleftheriadis (2002) • M. Avlonitis (2003) • I. Mastorakos (2004)

Diploma/MSc Theses
• D. Konstantinidis (1995) • I. Chasiotis (1996) • I. Tsagrakis (1996) • I. Eleftheriadis (1996)
• M. Avlonitis (1998) • N. Liosatos (1998) • K. Kalaitzidou (1998) • S. Marras (1998)
• P. Sapalidis (1999) • K. Kosmidis (2002) • M. Tsalkatidou (2002)
* Parenthesis indicates year of graduation.

Postdoctoral Fellows-Visitors/European Networks 1995-2003

• F. Tzschichholz (1995) • J. Andersen (1995) • G. Tsolakides (1995) • N. Hatzitrifon (1996)
• E. Rizzi (1996) • G. Ferro (1996,2002) • K. Moutsopoulos (1997) • H.-P. Gänser (1998)
• M. Seefeldt (1998,2001) • C. di Prisco (1998,2002) • M. Brocato (1998,2002) • Th. Ioannidou (1999)
• E. Meletlidou (1999) • L. Teneketzis (2000) • P. Cornetti (2000,2001) • M. Lazar (2002)
• A. Romanov (1995–2000) • M. Gutkin (1995–2000) • D. Walgraef (1995–2000) • M. Zaiser (1997–2003)
• H. Askes (2000,2003) • G. Rambert (2003) • P. Grammenoudis (2003) • I. Groma (2001–2003)

B2. RESEARCH / FUNDING

1. Coordination of Funded Research Programs

European Commission
• HCM Contract Nr. ΕRBCHBGCT 920041 “Fellowships in Mechanics of Materials”, Coordinator : E.C. Aifantis, 240.000 ECU
• HCM Contract Nr. ΕRBCHECCT 920061, “Euroconferences in Mechanics of Materials”, Coordinator : E.C. Aifantis, 60.000 ECU
• INTAS-93-3213 “Physics and Mechanics of Plastic Instabilities in Novel Materials”, Coordinator : E.C. Aifantis, 30.000 ECU
• INTAS-93-3213 - extension “Physics and Mechanics of Plastic Instabilities in Novel Materials”, Coordinator : E.C. Aifantis, 40.000 ECU
• INTAS-94-4380 “Structure, Deformation and Fracture of Nanophase Materials”, Coordinator : E.C. Aifantis, 24.000 ECU
• TMR-Network ERBFMRXCT960062 “Spatio-Temporal Instabilities in Deformation and Fracture”,Coordinator : E.C. Aifantis, 1.760.000 ECU

Hellenic General Secretariat of Research and Technology

• ΕΕ 7675, “Water Protection Methods for Byzantine Monuments”, Coordinator : E.C. Aifantis, 800.000 DRS
• PENED 96, “Development, Structure, Mechanical Properties of Films at the Nanoscale”, Coordinator : E.C. Aifantis, 8.000.000 DRS
• PENED 99: 2000-2001, “Gradient Theory, Stochasticity and Self-Organization: Applications in Nanomaterials, Industrial Materials and
Biocompatible Epilayers”, Coordinator : E.C. Aifantis, 57.000.000 DRS

2. Participation in Joint Research Programs*

European Commission
• REVISA Project, PL 960292, “Reactor Vessel Integrity in Severe Accidents”, Coordinator: J. Devos, (AUT Scientist in charge: E.C. Aifantis,
AUT funding 240.000 EUROS)
• LISSAC: FIKS-CT1999-00012, 2000-2002, “Limit Strains for Severe Accident Conditions”, Coordinator: R. Krieg, (AUT Scientist in charge:
E.C. Aifantis, AUT funding 90.000 EUROS)

Hellenic General Secretariat of Research and Technology/YPEPTH

• PENED 96, “Degradation of Underground Double Porosity Aquifers”, Coordinator : Ch. Tzimoploulos

*Note: The Laboratory of Mechanics and Materials has also participated to a lesser extent in the following Research Programs: 1) EPET II 333, “Coatings for Optics – Electronics – Chemical
Industry”, Coordinator: S. Logothetidis, 2) PENED 96, “Research for Restoration and Preservation of Historic Monuments”, Coordinator: N. Charalambakis, 3) PENED 96, “Dynamic Stress Field
around Cracks in Materials Excibiting Inelastic Behavior”, Coordinator: D. Beskos, 4) BRITE-EURAM 1997-2000, “Deployment of In-Situ Optical Monitoring Techniques for Tayloring Thin Film
Properties for Specific Advanced Industrial Applications (ISOTECH)”, Coordinator: S. Logothetidis. In addition, the Laboratory met with the approval of the YPEPTH to coordinate an Interuniversity
(AUTH/DUTH) Post-graduate Program on “Mechanics of Materials and Processes”, no. 2511/19-9-1997 (approved but not started due to administrative difficulties with DUTH)

B3. CONFERENCES / SYMPOSIA ORGANIZED

• International Conference on Mechanics, Physics and Structure of Materials–A celebration of Aristotle’s 23 centuries, August 19–
24, 1990, Thessaloniki, Greece
• Novel Materials, Processes and Microstructures, Symposium in honor of Professor Theodoros Skoulikides, December 20–22, 1993,
Thessaloniki, Greece
• First Euroconference and International Symposium on Material Instabilities in Deformation and Fracture, September 1–4, 1996,
Porto Karras, Halkidiki, Greece
• Second Euroconference and International Symposium on Material Instabilities in Deformation and Fracture, August 31–September
4, 1997, AUT, Thessaloniki, Greece
 RTN / DEFINO, 1.5M EUROS, NOV. 2002-DEC. 2006

Mechanics

RTN
DEFORMATION AND FRACTURE INSTABILITIES
IN NOVEL MATERIALS AND PROCESSES

Models / Simulations / Experiments

• Gradient/Stochastic Models and FE • MD and DDD Simulations
• Non-standard Tests: Nanoscale Deformation Patterns/Size Effects

Case - Studies
• Portevin-Le Chatelier Bands (PLC) • Multiple Shear Bands
• Persistent Slip Bands (PSB) • Stick-Slip Fracture / Crack Fingering

Advanced Materials Manufacturing Processes

Materials Science • Metallic Al and Ni Foams • Forming Limit Diagrams Nonlinear Physics
• Fiber-Metal Laminates (GLARE) • Chips in Metal Cutting
• Thin Film / Bulk Nanophase Materials • Surface Processing

Scientific Interaction Between Different Thrusts and Protect Objectives

PARTNERS
♦ Aristotle University Thessaloniki (AUT) ♦ University Libre Brussels (ULB)
♦ University Cambridge (UC) ♦ Ecole Mines Paris (EMP)
♦ Technical University Delft (TUD) ♦ Eotvos University Budapest (EUB)
♦ Technical University Braunschweig (TUB) ♦ University Kaiserslautern (UKL)

RTN
DEFORMATION AND FRACTURE INSTABILITIES
IN NOVEL MATERIALS AND PROCESSES
Coordinator: E.C. Aifantis (AUT)

7-Member Executive Committee

N. Fleck (UC), R. De Borst (TUD), H. Neuhauser (TUB)
D. Walgraef (ULB), S. Forest (EMP),
I. Groma (EUB), P. Steinmann (UKL)

FUNDAMENTALS SIMULATIONS MEASUREMENTS APPLICATIONS

Aifantis (AUT) Argyrakis (AUT) Neuhauser (TUB) Aifantis (AUT)

Hahner (TUB) De Borst (TUD) Lendvai (EUB) De Borst (TUD)
Fleck (UC) Forest (EMP) Logothetidis (AUT) Fleck (UC)
Walgraef (ULB) Groma (EUB) Sinning (TUB) Steinmann (UKL)
Willis (UC) Steinmann (UKL) Ungar (EUB) Walgraef (ULB)

Network Organization and Principal Scientists Participation

 RTN / DIGA, 1.3M EUROS, OCT. 2002 – SEP. 2006

Micromechanics

RTN
Degradation and Instabilities in Geomaterials
with Application to Hazard Mitigation

Case - Studies
• Micro-mechanics of Geomaterials • Bridging the Length Scales
• Chemo-mechanics of Geomaterials • Degradation of Geomaterials
• Chemomechanical Phase Changes • Stability and Flow

• Gradient Elasticity Models • Degradation / instability phenomena

• Gradient Inelasticity Models • Chemo-mechanical modeling

Chemomechanics Phase Changes

Scientific Interaction Between Different Thrusts and Protect Objectives

PARTNERS
♦
Nat. Tech. Univ. of Athens (NTUA)
♦ Aristotle Univ. of Thessaloniki (AUT) ♦ University of Stutgart (UoS)
♦ Politecnico di Milano (PdiM) ♦ Inst. Nat. Polyt. Grenoble (INPG)
♦ SINTEF/NTNU ♦ University of Liege (Ulg)
♦ Centro Estudios Experim. Obras Publ. (CEDEX) ♦ Génie Civil Nantes – St. Nazaire

RTN
Degradation and Instabilities in Geomaterials
with Application to Hazard Mitigation
Coordinator: I. Vardoulakis (NTUA)

FUNDAMENTALS SIMULATIONS MEASUREMENTS APPLICATIONS

Vardoulakis (NTUA) Argyrakis (AUT) Papamichos (SINTEF) Vardoulikis (NTUA)

Aifantis (AUT) Herrmann (UoS) Exadaktylos (AUT) Papamichos (SINTEF)
Pijaudier-Cabot (NStN) Askes (AUT) Nova (PdiM) Darve (INPG)
Darve (INPG) Pastor (CEDEX) Darve (INPG) Charlier (Ulg)
Charlier (Ulg) Charlier (Ulg)

Network Organization and Principal Scientists Participation

 TMR NETWORK, 1.7M ECU, NOV. 1996-MAY 2002
• Fractal Analysis
• Microstructural
Characterization

Non-linear Materials
Physics Science

NETWORK ON
SPATIO-TEMPORAL
INSTABILITIES IN
DEFORMATION &
FRACTURE

• Large Scale Computing • Micromechanical

• Atomistic/Statistical Modeling/Experiment
Modeling • Constitutive Laws

Mechanics

Scientific Interactions Between Different Thrusts

PARTNERS
*Aristotle
University of Thessaloniki (AUT) *University of Cambridge (UC)
*Ecole Superieure Phys Chim Ind (ESPCI) *Universite Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC)
*Technical University Braunschweig (TUB) *Polytecnico di Torino (PT)
*Technical University Delft (TUD)

NETWORK ON
SPATIO-TEMPORAL
INSTABILITIES IN DEFORMATION
&
FRACTURE

Coordinator: E. Aifantis (AUT)

6-Member Executive Committee

R. de Borst (TUD), A. Carpinteri (PT), N. Fleck (UC)

H. Herrmann (ESPCI), H. Neuhauser (TUB), J. Pouget (UPMC)

ATOMISTIC/STATISTICAL MICROSTRUCTURAL MICRO/MACRO MECHANICAL

NONLINEAR MODELLING CHARACTERIZATION MODELLING & EXPERIMENT
AND CONTROL
E. Aifantis (AUT) E. Aifantis (AUT)
H. Herrmann (ESPCI) H. Neuhauser (TUB) M. Ashby (UC)
J. Pouget (UPMC) N. Fleck (UC) R. de Borst (TUD)
G. Maugin (UPMC) M. Ashby (UC) A. Carpinteri (PT)
J. Willis (UC) S. Logothetidis (AUT) I. Vardoulakis (AUT)

Network Organization and Principal Scientists Participation in Terms of Major Research Interests
 5th EUROMECH SOLID MECHANICS CONFERENCE
ESMC - 5
August 17-22, 2003, AUT, Thessaloniki, GREECE
Coordinator: E.C. Aifantis

ESMC COMMITTEE

• Chair: B.A. Schrefler (I)

• Members : A. Benallal (F), J. Botsis (CHE), N. Fleck (UK), I.G. Goryacheva (RUS), M. Langseth (NOR), M. Okrouhlik
(CZ), M. Potier-Ferry (F), F.G. Rammerstorfer (A), H. Ulbrich (DE)

CONFERENCE THEMES

Continuum Mechanics: Elasticity/Plasticity/Waves, Structural Mechanics: Plates/Shells/Vibrations, Experimental and

Computational Mechanics, Mechanics of Materials: Fracture/Damage/Composites, Micromechanics and Nanomechanics,
Geomechanics and Biomechanics, Manufacturing and Contact Mechanics, Impact and Penetration Mechanics, Nonlinear and
Probabilistic Mechanics, Other Topics in Mechanics: Smart Materials and Systems; Dynamics and Stability; Optimization and
Control
GENERAL / PLENARY LECTURES
• C. Polizotto (I): Unified thermodynamic framework for nonlocal/gradient continuum theories
• A. Romanov (RUS): Mechanics and physics of disclinations in solids
• S. Roux (F): Effective toughness of heterogeneous brittle materials
• P. Suquet (F): Intraphase strain heterogeneity in nonlinear composites: A computational approach
• F.D. Fischer (A): Twins, their development and growth
• D. Gross (D): Configurational forces and their application in solid mechanics
• J. Plesek (CZ): Geometric framework for incremental constitutive equations
• N. Jones (UK): Several phenomena in structural impact and structural crashworthiness
• The EUROMECH Solid Mechanics Prize Lecture: Strain controlled deformation- and stress-states

CONFERENCE SYMPOSIA
• Advanced Modeling of Heterogeneous Materials -Homogeneization/Generalized Continua
• Mechanics and Physics of Microstructures / Nanostructures - Size effects
• Vibration, Identification and Control of Dynamical Systems
• Nonlocal Plasticity - Continuum vs. Discrete Formulations
• Mechanical Behavior of Woven Structures: Fabric and Other Reticulated Media

MINI SYMPOSIA
• Identification Problems for Materials and Structures
• Dislocation and Disclination Models for Work Hardening and Failure
• Configurational Mechanics
• Environmental Effects in Fracture and Material Degradation
• Mechanical Modeling in Natural Hazards
• Petroleum Geomechanics - From Theory to Industrial Applications

Laboratory of Mechanics and Materials, Faculty of Engineering, Box 468,

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUT), GR 54124 Thessaloniki, GREECE
Tel.: +30-2310-995923, FAX: +30-2310-995921, Email: [email protected], http://mech3.gen.auth.gr
 19th Panhellenic Conference/Summer School

NONLINEAR SCIENCE AND COMPLEXITY

Thessaloniki, July 1O – 22, 2006

Complexity, or the “study of complex systems” has emerged as a new science - often called
Nonlinear Science - from the need to understand complicated problems of the Natural and Social
Sciences. These problems generally involve many coupled variables and are characterized by
unpredictable time evolution and/or highly intricate spatial patterns. In recent years, efforts to solve
such problems have concentrated upon the use of analytical and numerical methods of Nonlinear
Dynamical Systems, Chaos Theory and Fractal Geometry.

Organizing Scientific Committee:

T. Bountis (Chairman) University of Patras
E. Aifantis (Vice-Chairman) Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Sp. Pnevmatikos University of Patras
K. Hizanidis National Technical University of Athens,
L. Vlachos Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
S. Ichtiaroglou Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
Lo cal Or ganizing Committee:
A. Konstantidis, E. Meletlidou, I. Kyprianidis, D. Kugiumtzis, V. Rothos, G. Voyatzis

Invited Speakers (Confirmed):

E. Aifantis Thessaloniki P. G. L. Leach Durban

I. Antoniou Thessaloniki N. Lygeros Lyon
A. Bezerianos Patras I. Nicolis Patras
T. Bountis Patras S. Pnevmatikos Patras
G. Contopoulos Athens A. Provata Athens
R. Dvorak Wien M. Robnik Maribor
J. Hadjidemetriou Thessaloniki G. Tsironis Heraklion
K. Hizanidis Athens A. Vakakis Athens
S. Ichtiaroglou Thessaloniki J. P. Van der Weele Patras
C. Jung Cuernavaca L. Vlachos Thessaloniki

Funded by: Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Contact Information:
• Prof T. Bountis (Chairman) Department of Mathematics - CRANS, University of Patras Patras
26110 Phone/Fax +30 2610 997381 [email protected] , [email protected]
• Prof E. Aifantis, General Department, Engineering School, University of Thessaloniki,
Thessaloniki 54006, Phone/Fax: +30 2310 995921, [email protected]
• Homepage: http://web.auth.gr/nonlinear/
 19th Panhellenic Conference/Summer School

NONLINEAR SCIENCE AND COMPLEXITY

Thessaloniki, July 1O – 22, 2006

T. Bountis E. C. Aifantis
University of Patras Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

CULTURAL EVENT
MONDAY, JULY 17th

Part I: Complexity in Politics/Ethics/Societies

9 am – 2 pm
Main Amphitheater, Polytechnic School
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Part II: Voice/Music/Theater

6 pm – 10 pm
Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art
Hellexpo, 154 Egnatia St., Thessaloniki
 Prolegomena
As in previous conferences in Engineering Sciences that I helped organize or co-organize,
attention is placed here again on bringing in an artistic and societal component for the benefit
and interdisciplinary exposure of the “young” participants. Such need for a balanced
development of mind and soul becomes even more important today where “globalization” is
understood in terms of economy, technology and availability of resources rather than in terms
of spirituality, humanism and availability of equal opportunities. If Homer, Solon, Pericles, Plato,
and Archimedes were awakened today the only one to be astonished would be Archimedes. It is
thus necessary to develop science and technology jointly with arts and politics centered
around the man and his environment rather than focusing on economic profit and material
goods alone. Thessaloniki with Aristotle and Alexander and the Hellenistic Period following them,
has an outstanding tradition along this line of action.
The program of the special Cultural Event which follows would not have been possible
without the generosity of Savina Yannatou and Loukas Skipitaris. They agreed to come to
Thessaloniki with a few weeks notice asking for “nothing” and offering “everything”. The
same is true for the other contributors of the event (Andreas Dimitropoulos, Nikos Lygeros,
Pantelis Savvidis, Kostas Zourais, Hans-Peter Rossmanith). The help of Xanthippi Hoipel,
Kostas Skipitaris and Filippos Thecharidis with technical matters of the organization was
essential. The support of the Ministries of Culture and Macedonia–Thrace, the Prefecture and
Municipality of Thessaloniki, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Macedonian Museum
of Contemporary Art, are gratefully acknowledged. The encouragement of the non-profit
organizations “Institute Aristotle”, “Institute M. Alexandros” (pending) and of the Ministry of
Education needs also to be mentioned. As always, this event would not have been possible
without the hard work of the Lecturer of the Division of Mechanics/AUT, Avraam
Konstantinidis.
July, 2006
E.C. Aifantis

Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art

At present the MMCA's permanent collection

comprises 1,800 works by Greek and foreign artists.
Among the benefactors are: Iolas, Geierhaas, Kotzia,
Xydis, Aperghis and Sahinis.

Apart from the permanent display (currently: Moralis,

Middendorf), the MMCA has mounted,retrospectives of
Chatzikyriakou-Gika, Tsarouchis, Fassianos, Warhol and
other world-known artists.
 MONDAY, 17 JULY

Part I: Complexity in Politics/Ethics/Societies

Main Amphitheater,Polytechnic School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
09:00 – 09:45 Modern Democracy, Technology and Referendum
A. Dimitropoulos (Athens)
09:45 – 10:30 Complexity in International Diplomacy
N. Lygeros (Lyon)
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 – 11:45 Complexity and Uncertainty in Modern Societies and the Media
P. Savvidis (Thessaloniki)
11:45 – 12:30 Complexity in Thucydides’ Political Theory
K. Zouraris (Thessaloniki)
12:30 – 13:15 Fracture and Society
H.-P. Rossmanith (Vienna)
13:15 – 14:00 Coffee/Discussion: Science/Technology/Society Interactions

Part II: Voice/Music/Theater

Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art, Hellexpo, 154 Egnatia St., Thessaloniki

18:00 – 19:00 Museum Visit

19:00 – 20:00 Part IIA: Voice, Music

• Savina Yannatou – Solo Voice
• Theodore: Modern–Classic/Jazz
• Filippos/Orestis/Elias: Sounds like Music – Alternative Rock/Electronica
20:00 – 20:30 Break – Museum Visit

20:30 – 22:00 Part IIB: Theater

The Apology of Socrates (Translation of Plato by Electra Andreadi)
• Loukas Skipitaris/Broadway Veteran Director
• Yannis Simonides/Emmy Award Winning Actor
• Theoni Aldredge/Academy (Oscar) Award Winning Costume Designer
• Caryn Heilman/Master Percussionist
PART I: COMPLEXITY IN POLITICS/ETHICS/SOCIETIES –
THE LECTURERS
Andreas Dimitropoulos
Αν

Born in Athens in 1948. Diploma from the Law School of the University of Athens in 1971 and a PhD in Public Law
from the University of Munich of Germany in 1974. Since 1981 he is a faculty member of the Law School of the
University of Athens where he is currently a Professor of Constitution. He has published 16 books including the
Constitutional Position of Political Parties, the Structure and Function of Modern Democracy and the Referendum being among
them. In 1996 he founded the “Union of Active Citizens”, which numbers approximately 7000 members. The aim
of the organization is to promote the idea of “Direct Democracy”, as opposed to the “Democracy by
Representatives”, through the mechanism of Referendum. The Union’s ultimate objective is to popularize the
concept of “Referendum” among the legislators. The new technology and the internet seem to facilitate greatly the
feasibility of this concept.

Nikos Lygeros
Born in Volos in 1968. Studied in France earning diplomas in Greek Language and Linguistics, as well as doctoral
degrees in Mathematics and Greek Literature. With IQ 189 (on the Stanford-Binet scale) he is rated among the 50
smartest people in the world according to this scale. He is a military advisor, a scientific advisor of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, teaching at the University of Lyon in France pure mathematics and computer science. As a
researcher he possesses various world records in the disciplines of number theory and combinatorics, he has been
a Visiting Professor at the Kapodistrian University of Athens and Democritus University of Thrace. He is a writer, a play
director, a creator of cleverness tests such as the G-test, the Eureka Test and the Archimedes Test. He has
published over 1926 articles on issues concerning philosophy, intelligence, education, mathematics, physics,
mythology, religion, history, archeology, cinema, painting, music, politics, sociology, strategy, management. He has
also published poetic collections, theatrical plays and novels including: Source of Hellenism, The color of invisibility, The
cords of time, The light of black, Orestis and Electra, Achilles and Penthesylia, Odysseys and Calypso, The Centaur and the Titan.

Pantelis Savvidis
Born in Axioupolis/Kilkis in 1954, works as a journalist in ERT3 TV in Thessaloniki where he lives from 1974.
Bachelor in Mathematics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, but worked as a journalist from his student
years covering educational and political affairs. From 1989 covers the changes in Balkans, Greek-Turkish relations,
Middle East, Central Asia and Europe. From 1994 presents in ERT3 the weekly program Explorations, which
continues for 13 years, focusing on geopolitics and geoeconomy in South East Europe, as well as on
scientific/technological issues and on popular science.

Konstantinos Zouraris
Born in Thessaloniki in 1940, studied in the Experimental School of Thessaloniki and Political Sciences in Paris. He
taught Classical Political Theory and Political Science at the University of Paris VIII (1969-2002). Visiting Professor
at the University of Ioannina in 2000 and Lecturer of Political Theory at the Institute of Journalism of Athens in 1982.
Musical Studies: Theory, harmony and piano at the National Conservatory of Thessaloniki and Mozarteum at the Music
Academy of Salzburg (Austria). Author of 11 books in Political Theory, including Thucydides’ Political Theory and
Thucydides’ Theory of War. From 2006 he is the Editor of Makedonia Press S.A.

Hans-Peter Rossmanith
He was born Hohenems/Austria in 1947. PhD in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Vienna in 1972
and Habilitation in Mechanics from the Vienna University of Technology in 1980. He is a Professor of Mechanics at the
Institute of Mechanics and Mechatronics in the Vienna University of Technology. He has published extensively in the area of
dynamic fracture, wave propagation and impact mechanics. Author of several books and Editor of Scientific
Journals and Conference Proceedings. He is a painter (currently he has an exhibit in United Nations for the month
of July), a pianist and composer of church music, a historian of science and a philosopher.
PART IΙ: VOICE/MUSIC/THEATER – THE CONTRIBUTORS

Savina Yannatou

Savina Yannatou was born in Athens, Greece. She studied song with Gogo Georgilopoulou at the
National Conservatory and later with Spiros Sakkas at the Workshop of Vocal Art in Athens. She attended
postgraduate studies (performance and communication skills) at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, in
London, with a scholarship awarded by the Mousigetis Foundation. Her professional career as a singer
started while still a student, when she sang for the very successful and until today highly respected daily
program of the Greek National Radio 3 “Lillipoupoli”, under the direction of the composer Manos
Hadjidakis. After that, she interpreted greek songs, collaborating with well-known greek composers and
also covered contemporary opera and music. Later she focused on medieval, renaissance and baroque
music, and in the early nineties she discovered her passion for vocal improvisation. For the last 15 years
she devotes a major part of her activity to free improvisation in cooperation with jazz musicians. Parallel
to that she started a collaboration with a number of Thessaloniki-based musicians and founded the group
“Primavera en Salonico” with which she recorded and later performed Primavera en Salonico -Sephardic
Folk Songs from Salonica-, Songs from Mediterranean, and the Virgin Maries of the World (all released by
LYRA/Musurgia Graeca, the second also in US by Sounds True under the name “Mediterranea”), as well
as Terra Nostra -a live CD which was subsequently released worldwide by ECM in 2003- and Sumiglia by
ECM in 2005.

Savina Yannatou has also composed her own music and songs (the first one being “Is King Alexander
alive?” released by Lyra in 1986, and the latest one being “Rosa das Rosas” released by Musurgia Graeca
in 2000), as well as music for theater (“Medea” of Euripides, performed in 1997 by the National Greek
Theatre, “Vakhai” of Euripides, performed in 2005 by the National Greek Theatre, and “Dibouk” of B.
Mayers, performed also in 2005-06 by the National Greek Theatre), video art, and dance theater. All
together she has brought out and/or participated in over 40 LPs and CDs. Her professional career as a
singer since 1979 and as a composer-singer-vocalist since 1986 has been covering a variety of musical
activities in performances, festivals, theater and TV productions, recordings, etc. Savina and her group
“Primavera en Saloniko” (oud, nay, double bass, violin, percussion) are like rope-dancers on the chords
connecting the modal music of the East with the equivalent music of Western Europe, music of the
Middle Ages and the popular polyphonies of the Mediterranean. She has performed all over the world
including Europe, the United States, Australia, Israel and Taiwan, as well as venues like Queen Elisabeth
Hall and the Babrican in London, the 92nd Street Y in New York, the Holon Theatre in Tel Aviv, Stern
Grove in San Francisco, Taipeh World Music Festival, Rudolstadt Festival in Germany, Fiesta des Suds
in Marseille, Melbourne Festival in Australia in many other international musical events.
Theodore

Born in Thessaloniki in 1981. Studied at the Music Conservatory Karkalas in Volos and holds degrees in
Harmony, Counterpoint, Fugue, Orchestration, Piano and Byzantine Music. Earned a Bachelor “with
honors” from the Department of Music Science and Art of the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki
where he studied set theory, composition and piano. As a composer, he participated in the musical
production Recollections (solo saxophone in Greek contemporary compositions) with his piece Illusion
for solo alto sax. He is currently a Ph.D candidate at the Department of Musical Studies of the University of
Athens.

Fillipos/Orestis/Elias: Sounds Like Music

Filippos was born in Thessaloniki in 1974. Earned a BS in Electronic Music and Electronics from the
University of Keele/England in 1997 and a MA in Music Technology from the University of Newcastle in
1998. Currently he is a PhD candidate in Interactive Electroacoustic Composition at the Ionian University. He
teaches part-time electronic music at the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki where he also
organizes concerts of live electronic music. His works have been played in Greece and England.

Orestis was born in Ioannina in 1984. He is a 4th year student at the Department of Music Science and Art
of the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki. He plays piano and synthesizer for various groups in
town.

Elias was born in Houghton/Michigan in 1986. He is enrolled as a student in the Department of Music
Studies at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He first composed “new age” music when he was 7
years old and he gave two experimental concerts at 9 in US and at 11 in Greece. Since that time he turned
to electronic music and for the last 3 years he is a member of the group of V. Gountaroulis (x-Xilina
Spathia) giving several concerts in Thessaloniki, Athens and other places in Greece.
 THE APOLOGY PROJECT
A THE AT RON I NC & MYTHIC M EDIA PRESENTATION

Plato’s
THE APOLOGY OF SOCRATES
Translation
Electra Andreadi

SUMMARY
Plato’s Apology of Socrates professes to be a record of the actual speech that Socrates delivered in his
own defense at the trial in Athens(399 BC). It transfers the audience from the ancient to the modern
world, confirming this way the relevance of the Socratic Thought in today’s society.
[The word apology is a transliteration, not a translation, of the Greek apologia which means defense. There
is certainly nothing apologetic about the speech.]

CONTRIBUTORS
• Loukas Skipitaris/Broadway Veteran Director
• Yannis Simonides/Emmy Award Winning Actor
• Theoni Aldredge/Academy (Oscar) Award Winning Costume Designer
• Caryn Heilman/Master Percussionist
 THE APOLOGY PROJECT
A THE AT RON I NC & MYTHIC M EDIA PRESENTATION

Yannis Simonides, Actor

Born in Constantinople and raised in Athens, Yannis Simonides is a
Yale Drama School trained actor/writer and Emmy-winning
documentary producer. He has served as professor and chair of the
NYU Tisch Drama Department, as executive producer of Greek
Orthodox Telecommunications (GOTelecom) and as the executive
director of Hellenic Public Radio – COSMOS FM in New York. He is
the founder and director of the Greek Theater of New York and of
Mythic Media, a performing arts lab. His performance work includes
plays by Euripides, Sophocles, Aristophanes, Shakespeare, Brecht,
Korres, Kambanellis and others, along with solo and ensemble pieces
culled from the writings of C.P. Cavafy, General Makriyannis, Nikolai
Gogol and others. He has received the support of the National
Endowment for the Arts, The Greek Ministries of Culture and Foreign
Affairs, The S. Onassis, I. Kostopoulos, S. Niarchos, M. Tsakos and C.
Levendis Foundations, Time Warner and the Mobil Foundation. He co-produced Mikis Theodorakis’
75th Birthday Celebration at Lincoln Center with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and has been
associated with the Annual Festival of Greek Music and Dance at Symphony Space in New York City,
presented by the World Music Institute and ADAM Productions. He narrated the PBS specials Axion
Esti, Visions of Greece and Return to the Homeland. He is currently completing the script for a one-man show
based on the life and work of the Alexandrine poet C.P. Cavafy.

Loukas N. Skipitaris, Director

Loukas N. Skipitaris came to the United States after brief studies in
medicine and political science at Thessaloniki's Aristotelian University. He
studied acting with some of New York's leading teachers and earned a
Masters in stage directing at Hunter University. He made his Broadway
acting debut in Ilya Darling with Melina Merkouri, and subsequently
appeared in the original Broadway production of Zorba, directed by Harold
Prince. He has acted Off-Broadway, in national tours, and in addition to
his featured role in the prime-time TV series The Andros Targets he has had
running roles in As the World Turns, The Guiding Light, and One Life to Live.
He recently appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman. His
directing credits in the United States and Greece include productions of
Greek classics and plays by Anton Chekhov, Tennessee Williams, George
Bernard Shaw, Neil Simon, Ira Levin, and others. At Lincoln Center's Alice
Tully Hall he directed the world premiere of the oratorio Erotocritos, and
as the producer-director of the LA-MA Summer Musical Theater he staged the musicals Oklahoma!,
Carousel, Of Thee I Sing, and West Side Story, among others. Mr. Skipitaris’s latest directorial assignments,
the comedies Smile Please, O Mamakias and Gambros gia tin Vasoula, were recently presented by Theatron in
Long Island City, NY. He is the founder and director of The Acting Place, a professional acting
workshop, as well as the founding and artistic director of Theatron, Inc., a non-profit Greek American
performing arts center in NYC.
 THE APOLOGY PROJECT
A THE AT RON I NC & MYTHIC M EDIA PRESENTATION

Theoni V. Aldredge, Costume Design

With over 150 stage productions, numerous ballets and several films to her credit, Theoni v. Aldredge
ranks as one of the most prolific and successful costume designers of the late 20th Century. Born and
raised in Greece, Aldredge was inspired to become a costumer after seeing the film version of "Caesar
and Cleopatra" in 1946. Moving to the USA, she trained at the Goodman Theatre School where she
made her debut with 1950's The Distaff Side. In 1953, she married actor Tom Aldredge and the couple
settled in NYC. After debuting in films with Girl of the Night, Aldredge began her long association as one
of the resident designers at Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival with the 1961 production of
Much Ado About Nothing. Over the next three decades at the NYSF she crafted appropriate clothing for
many Shakespearean productions, as well as the landmark musicals Hair and A Chorus Line. With over
100 Broadway shows to her credit, Ms. Aldredge was inducted into the Theatre Hall of Fame in 1986.
Her credits include Sweet Bird of Youth, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Anyone Can Whistle, A Chorus Line,
Three Penny Opera, Annie (Tony Award), Barnum (Tony Award), 42nd Street, Dream Girls, La Cage Aux Folles
(Tony Award), and Gypsy. Ms. Aldredge’s film credits include The First Wives Club, Addams Family Values,
Moonstruck, Network, The Rose and The Great Gatsby, for which she received The Academy Award and the
British Society of Film and Television Arts Award. She is the recipient of the New York City Liberty
Medal and was honored with the Costume Guild Career Achievement Award. In addition, the Theatre
Development Fund has presented her with the Irene Sharaff Lifetime Achievement Award for her work
in Theatre, Film and Television.

Caryn Heilman, Percussionist

Caryn Heilman is a percussionist, vocalist and dancer with the World Music of Nana ensemble which
blends musical elements from around the world. Specializing in frame drums, she plays the daf, a Sufi
drum from Kurdistan, and the tar. Her rhythmic roots began with tap dancing at age 5. She had a ten
year career as a modern dancer with the Paul Taylor Dance Company. Meredith Monk invited her to join
her vocal ensemble the same year that she joined Taylor. She can be heard on Nana Simopoulos’ CD
Daughter of the Sun which was number one on NAV world and new age radio charts. She has also
recorded for Navras Records’ tribute to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Film and television credits include work
for Toby Twining and Score Productions.
 From recent visit to Constantinople
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 18:18:43 +0300
From: Elias Aifantis <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Dear Attila

Thanks for sending your personal driver and University car to pick-up me and my children from
our Hotel: To take us to Bogazici University first; then drive us to Koc University and,
finally, bring us back to town in a heavy traffic for so many miles. I was immensely impressed
with Koc University, the environment/facilities and the course catalog/academic programs. It
reminded me the structure and profile of an outstanding private American University.

It is very rare that scientists of your caliber become Presidents of leading universities; but
when it happens, the result is profound. I was also happy to share very encouraging
conversations with Sabri Altintas (my old friend) and Metin Arik (just named President of the
Balkan Physical Union), former colleagues of yours at Bogazici University, as well as
Academician Tekin Dereli of Koc and the President of the Turkish Physical Society Baki Akkus
of Istanbul University.

Before leaving on Sunday I had a very interesting meeting (photo attached) with the Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomeos; he is remarkably “simple” in his “magnificence”, with a universal
vision, but also practical views. He mentioned that the Koc family is very close to him and I
am sure that he could help improving scientific/technological/cultural exchanges between our
universities, communities, and countries. We now have a new Rector at the Aristotle University
and, I understand, that he is truly interested to also help in this direction. I could explore
with him, and perhaps other officials, possibilities for facilitating cultural interactions
between the two cities: Istanbul (or Constantinople) and Thessaloniki (or Selanik).

I will contact you again in the second part of September to arrange the dates and program of
your visit to Thessaloniki as we discussed.

As always
Elias