2 – 3 July 2025, London

The modern trend in selection of materials and structural forms for high strength-weight ratio is governed by the growing need for low-cost, high performance structures. The amount of material has a direct bearing on cost. Therefore, the first step towards the cheapest structure is to minimize the weight without disproportionately affecting the strength, stiffness or fabrication cost. Composite materials are a matrix of two or more materials that give then combined superior properties of each constituent materials while keeping the weight low. They saw extensive use in the aerospace and marine sectors along with aluminium.

With increasing research efforts, more lightweight materials and structural forms are coming into the industrial arena. Carbon fibre in aircrafts and biomedicine, GFRP reinforced concrete for bridges, aluminium and GFRP in boat hulls and offshore structures. As light-weight applications entail the use of strong but low-density materials, aluminium alloys are gen- erally used. Light-weight steel-aluminium alloys has its share in the automotive and civil industry However, new approaches in fabrication techniques are leading to the increased use of fibre reinforced plastics. The adoption of strong but light-weight members helps to achieve reduction in the overall stress levels together with handling, manipulation and pay-load costs.

These factors are important in such applications as ships, high speed ves- sels and offshore structures. Friction stir welding is an innovative approach for fabrication in these cases. How- ever, cost dominates the path forward as always. A careful balance of cost, performance and reliability deter- mines the future of material or structural form and decides whether this would tip the scale against conservative structural option. This ever more pushes the need for academia to interact with the industry. LIMAS 2025 provides the perfect opportunity to that end, as it facilitates a platform for leading researchers, technology develop- ers, industrial players and supply chain partners to converge. Bringing the expert and pioneers together the conference promotes the methodologies, exchange of ideas and the way forward to commercialisation.

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