Welcome you all to COBEM 2005, the 18th International Congress of Mechanical Engineering, sponsored by the Brazilian Society of Engineering and Mechanical Sciences (ABCM). Following on the excellence of the previous COBEM meetings, the Conference is organized as a bi-annual international forum to promote scientific and technological development in Engineering and Mechanical Sciences.

Integration challenge has been chosen as the theme for Cobem 2005. It is a current and relevant issue in Mechanical Engineering: multidisciplinary teams working in product development; structure-sensor integration, mechatronics and bioengineering, are well known examples of the integration trend. Integration is also present within the conference in several manners. To start with, Ouro Preto, the venue of the conference, held an insurrection in 1789 which was the seed for the freedom dream of the Brazilian nation. There, the "inconfidentes" as they are known, wrote a memorable chapter in the Brazilian history acting as a real team with complementary competences, aiming at a clear goal and having a commitment at a level that cost the lives of some of them. The organization of the conference is yet another example of integrated efforts between Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica - ITA and Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais - UFMG. It is a challenge for the conference to increase the synergy between academia and industry by allowing technical papers coming from both segments to be presented in common, integrated sessions.

The figures of Cobem 2005 are rather impressive: more than 2000 abstracts have been submitted which yielded nearly 1800 full papers. Thanks to the collaboration of a very experienced and competent team of reviewers spread all of the world, the submitted papers were carefully and rigorously peer-reviewed resulting in 1238 accepted papers which, along with more than 35 invited lectures, were organized in 97 technical sessions. Cobem 2005 brings as an innovation the poster presentation of nearly 500 papers. These papers have no difference as far quality is concerned of those selected for oral presentation. Distributed within eleven distinct symposia, Cobem 2005 covers a broad range of subjects in Engineering and Mechanical Sciences, including applied and fundamental research.

We thank to: AIAA; Capes; CNPq; Clarke, Modet & Co.; DAAD; FAPEMIG; FINEP; Fundação Casimiro Montenegro Filho; Fundação Christiano Ottoni; FUNDEP; Interfor; V&M Tubes.

Welcome to Ouro Preto, which has been declared by UNESCO as part of the World Heritage. Enjoy your time in its narrow, strongly sloped and winding streets, by visiting well-preserved civil and religious buildings, recognized as magnificent examples of the 17th century baroque architecture.

Márcio Ziviani Sérgio
Frascino Muller de Almeida
Chairs - Cobem 2005