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FOREWORD AND WELCOME FROM THE CHAIR
Welcome you all to COBEM2003, the 17th International Congress of Mechanical
Engineering sponsored by the Brazilian Society of Engineering and
Mechanical Sciences (ABCM). Following on the excellence of previous
COBEM meetings, the Conference is, from now on, organized as a bi-annual
international forum to promote scientific and technological development
in Engineering and Mechanical Sciences.
On behalf of the Organizing Committee we thank all participants for
their excellent response in providing the Conference with high quality
papers, including both scientific and technological work. We had a
great pleasure in organizing this congress, aiming at offering the
Engineering Community with a memorable event in all aspects. We are
also honored to have so many distinguished scientists, from Brazil
and abroad, accepting our invitation and collaborating with high level
lectures and especial short courses.
This event also represents a landmark with outstanding importance
for Escola Politécnica, University of São Paulo and
IPT, the Research Technological Institute of the State of São
Paulo. Both institutions are very pleased to host a timely international
meeting with such a high scientific level which brings researchers,
engineers and practitioners all together and promotes interdisciplinary
interaction between academia and industry.
Engineering and Society has been chosen as the special theme for COBEM2003.
The rapid development in the Brazilian industry and the recent economical,
political and social changes have set the scene for an increased awareness
of the need to redefine Engineering from its traditional view. Distinguished
representatives, from Humanities to Applied Sciences, were invited
to participate, aiming to provide a comprehensive and critical perspective
of the key role played by Engineering and Engineers in our society.
More than 800 papers were carefully and rigorously peer-reviewed which,
along with 40 invited lectures, were organized in more than 200 technical
sessions. Distributed within ten distinct Symposia, COBEM2003 covers
a broad range of subjects in Engineering and Mechanical Sciences,
including applied and fundamental research.
We thank FAPESP, the State of São Paulo Research Foundation,
CNPq, the Brazilian National Research Council, CAPES, our national
supporting agency for graduate and undergraduate studies, FINEP, ANP,
the Petroleum National Agency, AEB, the Brazilian Space Agency, for
the continuous support to our research and development effort.
Finally we are thankful to all members of the Organizing Committee
and staff for their endeavor, whose patient, arduous, efficient and
idealistic work made it possible to organize this superb event.
Welcome to São Paulo, the gastronomy capital in Brazil. Enjoy
our "paulista" hospitality, great food, music and cultural
program!
Celso Pupo Pesce
Paulo Eigi Miyagi.
Chairs, COBEM2003
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