Composite Materials and Processes Platform

Numerous technological means of manufacturing composites are grouped together within the Composite Materials and Processes Platform, in the T building on campus, which was inaugurated in 2014. The platform provides the right conditions for the world-class research activity conducted in the field of mechanics of materials and processes.

Beyond the scientific and technical motivation, the rational implementation of technological means on the premises provides for a thematic grouping of activities and an optimal management of incompatible experimental work (fine analysis equipment is separated from the machines used to produce the composites).

This experimental equipment makes it possible to produce organic composites and to characterize materials in physical terms.

Research work

Process modeling

The objectives in all the processes studied is to reduce costs (non-autoclave processes), to allow for an optimized design (robotic placement, welding) and to produce at high speed (stamping of thermoplastic prepregs and semi-pregs, high pressure RTM injection).
 

Calculation strategies

In order to facilitate the calculations used in the numerical simulation of processes, but also to solve as yet unresolved problems, various demonstrators based on model reduction techniques, and more particularly the PGD method (Proper Generalized Decomposition) have been set up. This technique is based on a separation of variables, allowing the introduction of extra-coordinates in the model with minimal impact in the calculation.
 

Robust models of manufacturing processes  - the object of increasing interest from industry and researchers

Manufacturers need to have digital and analytical tools capable of predicting the performance of manufacturing processes in order to simultaneously design the product and its process of industrialization under the more general concept of "Virtual Manufacturing". It is therefore a question of putting in place methods and tools, incorporating business constraints and which are based on a scientifically formalized approach to develop, analyze and optimize efficient manufacturing processes, both for the process (sequencing of tasks) and for the method, by integrating their interactions with the product.

RTM Dual-component thermoplastic machine with temperature-controlled, high-pressure mold

Hot plate press (up to 350°C)

3-axis machining center

Atomic Force Microscope (AFM)

RTM Dual-component thermoplastic machine with temperature-controlled, high-pressure mold
Hot plate press up to 350°c
Autoclave, the world's leading aerospace technology (evacuation, extraction of polymerization residues)
3-axis machining center
Two-screw extruder
Atomic Force Microscope (AFM)
Electronique scanning microscope
Microtomograph (study of the internal structure of materials, study of damage tracking, cracking networks)
XRADIA multi-objective X-ray microtomograph to obtain 3D images of samples ranging in size from 5 to 100 mm and ranging in resolutions from 1 μm to 100 μm
1200kN compressive force capacity mechanical testing machine