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The purpose of this research is to establish a robust numerical framework for the calibration of macroscopic constitutive parameters, based on the analysis of polycrystalline RVEs with computational homogenisation.

This framework is composed of four building-blocks: (1) the multi-scale model, consisting of polycrystalline RVEs, where the grains are modelled with anisotropic crystal plasticity, and computational homogenisation to link the scales, (2) a set of loading cases to generate the reference responses, (3) the von Mises elasto-plastic model to be calibrated, and (4) the optimisation algorithms to solve the inverse identification problem. Several optimisation algorithms are assessed through a reference identification problem. Thereafter, different calibration strategies are tested. The accuracy of the calibrated models is evaluated by comparing their results against an FE2 model and experimental data.

In the initial tests, the LIPO optimiser performs the best. Good results accuracy is obtained with the calibrated constitutive models. The computing time needed by the FE2 simulations is 5 orders of magnitude larger, compared to the standard macroscopic simulations, demonstrating how this framework is suitable to obtain efficient micro-mechanics-informed constitutive models.

This contribution proposes a numerical framework, based on FE2 and macro-scale single element simulations, where the calibration of constitutive laws is informed by multi-scale analysis. The most efficient combination of optimisation algorithm and definition of the objective function is studied, and the robustness of the proposed approach is demonstrated by validation with both numerical and experimental data.

We present a critical literature review debating Brazilian research on social and environmental accounting (SEA). The aim of this study is to understand the role of politics in the construction of hegemonies in SEA research in Brazil. In particular, we examine the role of hegemony in relation to the co-option of SEA literature and sustainability in the Brazilian context by the logic of development for economic growth in emerging economies. The methodological approach adopts a post-structural perspective that reflects Laclau and Mouffe’s discourse theory. The study employs a hermeneutical, rhetorical approach to understand and classify 352 Brazilian research articles on SEA. We employ Brown and Fraser’s (2006) categorizations of SEA literature to help in our analysis: the business case, the stakeholder–accountability approach, and the critical case. We argue that the business case is prominent in Brazilian studies. Second-stage analysis suggests that the major themes under discussion include measurement, consulting, and descriptive approach. We argue that these themes illustrate the degree of influence of the hegemonic politics relevant to emerging economics, as these themes predominantly concern economic growth and a capitalist context. This paper discusses trends and practices in the Brazilian literature on SEA and argues that the focus means that SEA avoids critical debates of the role of capitalist logics in an emerging economy concerning sustainability. We urge the Brazilian academy to understand the implications of its reifying agenda and engage, counter-hegemonically, in a social and political agenda beyond the hegemonic support of a particular set of capitalist interests.

This study aims to conduct a pertinent assessment of the concept of business competitiveness and how Portugal can progress in that field, for the sake of becoming a more sustainable and wealth-creator economy.

The research was elaborated with 65 in-depth interviews with expert persons from the Portuguese business ecosystem, who were asked to reflect on the state of the economy and competitiveness of the country.

There is much room for improvement in almost all areas of activity, in particular by promoting an innovative, value-adding and exporting private sector and a lighter and more efficient public sector. The conclusions point to modernisation of the Portuguese economy as a way of making it more competitive in a highly competitive and demanding global scenario.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first time that a reflection with experts of the local Portuguese economy has been carried out, especially after a difficult period of COVID.