Carlos Leitão is an Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department of the University of Coimbra (UC) and, as a researcher, over the last 10 years of activity, focused his investigation on the Production Technologies field, mainly on the study of friction-based joining/processing technologies and their quality assessment and optimisation, mechanical behaviour, and metallurgical characteristics. Moreover, the metallurgical and mechanical characterisation of base materials by conventional and non-conventional testing is also one of his research areas of interest. The main differentiator skill demonstrated is the use of Digital Image Correlation (DIC) for strain measurement during mechanical testing. As a principal Investigator, managed two projects (Friction 4.0 and MultiMat3D) in distinct fields, such as the FSW thermomechanical conditions and the multi-material joining by additive methods. This way, his research also addresses the development of strategies for predicting, modelling, and controlling the Frictional Heating during Friction Stir Welding and related technologies, using experimental and numerical models. On the other hand, the use of additive technologies to join an unweldable set of materials is another subject under current development. Participation in scientific works and R&D projects enabled the establishment of important collaborations with international R&D entities, namely Spain, Italy, Tunisia, and India. Carlos Leitão is also collaborator of other research centres, such as Institute for Sustainability and Innovation in Structural Engineering (ISISE), associated to other engineering areas.
