SCOPE OF THE CONFERENCE
This conference aims to gather together the International scientific community working in the field of testing and modelling of composites. It is well known that testing such heterogeneous and anisotropic materials and structures raises a number of challenges to researchers, such as the identification of numerous parameters, the development of specific test fixtures (shear, compression, fracture toughness), or the control of parasitic effects. As a consequence, the development of testing and model identification procedures is broadly recognized as an interesting and important area. Moreover, recent developments in optical whole-field measurement techniques (speckle interferometry, digital image correlation, among others) and in-situ damage monitoring (acoustic emission, optical fibre sensors) open a very broad field of investigation. Testing and identification procedures for composites which have been developed over the last few decades based on limited local strain measurements have to be adapted to make full use of the enormous amount of data that whole-field methods provide. Testing to determine other physical parameters such as thermal expansion, critical values of thermodynamic forces, cure shrinkage or moisture adsorption also poses considerable challenges. Apart from the large general composites conferences (ICCM, ECCM), there are very few occasions to exchange information on the topic of composites testing. The objective of the conference is to provide this opportunity, with single session format to provide an informal scientific exchange. The first CompTest conference was held in Châlons-en-Champagne (France) in January 2003. The second CompTest in Bristol (UK) in September 2004 attracted about 140 participants from 25 countries.
 
RELEVANT TOPICS
The conference will focus on all issues related to identifying parameters for modelling the mechanical and physical behaviour of composite materials. Particular attention will be given to innovative identification procedures, interactions between testing and modelling, in-situ damage monitoring, and the use of whole-field measurements. All composite materials will be addressed (polymer, cement, ceramic, metallic matrices, carbon, glass, boron, natural fibres, wood).
 
PROCEEDINGS
To keep the meeting as informal as possible, there will be no paper proceedings. A book of abstracts will be available for the conference and electronic presentations will be gathered on a CD-ROM. The scientific committee will propose a selection of papers for publication in Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing.
 
pOSTER PRESENTATIONS
The authors selected for a poster presentation should bring their posters in A1 size (841×594 mm), portrait format. Display boards shall be provided.
 
ORAL PRESENTATIONS
The authors selected for an oral presentation should send by E-mail to the Secretariat (comptest2006@fe.up.pt) a soft copy of the presentation in either PDF or Power Point format. These files will be uploaded to the auditorium computer and no further action will be required from the speakers.

The presentations should be submitted until the 31st March.
 
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
The full programme giving details of all papers to be presented at oral and poster sessions is now available for download in PDF format. The same file also includes a short session schedule.