DC1 – Nicolò Antonelli

In this final GECKO PhD presentation, Nicolò Antonelli explores advanced isogeometric multipatch analysis using the Gap Shifted Boundary Method (GAP-SBM), with applications in structural mechanics and fluid dynamics. The research demonstrates a penalty-free coupling strategy capable of handling different mesh sizes and polynomial orders while maintaining optimal convergence and favorable conditioning. The work is further extended to 2D and 3D transient Navier–Stokes simulations, showing that immersed IGA can accurately reproduce conventional FEM results while reducing preprocessing effort and computational cost for complex CAD geometries.

DC3 – Andrea Gorgi

In this final GECKO PhD update, Andrea Gorgi presents the development of an immersed multipatch contact framework based on the Shifted Boundary Method (SBM) and the newly extended Gap Shifted Boundary Method (GAP-SBM). The approach enables accurate contact simulations directly on complex CAD geometries while supporting independent meshes, local refinement, and efficient treatment of contact regions. Validation with Hertzian contact and gear–pinion problems shows optimal convergence and highly accurate results, paving the way toward efficient 3D, large-deformation, and time-dependent contact simulations.