Applied Mechanics and Civil Engineering

Administrative framework

The team is managed by Fabrice BOLAERS.

Workforce

21 permanent teacher-researchers (members)

Research areas}

Mechanical behavior of bio-based composite materials and special finite elements

The “Mechanical Behavior of Organic-Sourced Composite Materials and Special Finite Elements (MecoBIOS)” axis has been developing research activities around the durability of plant-fiber composites for several years. These research activities contribute on the one hand to the development of new, more environmentally-friendly materials, and on the other, to the valorization of national natural resources such as flax and hemp. The MecoBIOS project is a continuation of this research, focusing on complex stresses such as fatigue and impact. Particular attention will also be paid to bio-sourced composites developed using additive manufacturing techniques, which will create a collaborative research dynamic between three delocalized sites of our university where the ITheMM research unit is positioned: the UFR Sciences Exactes et Naturelles in Reims, the Ecole d’Ingénieurs en Sciences Industrielles et Numérique (EiSINe) in Charleville-Mézières and the IUT in Troyes”. This dynamic will also enable more ambitious national and international projects to be initiated through existing and future collaborations.

Civil Engineering

The Civil Engineering (CE) axis is mainly focused on the mechanical characterization of structural materials (concrete, steel, composite, etc.), and particularly on the study of the mechanical behavior of structures assembled using flexible or rigid structural adhesives. There are long-standing collaborations and/or partnerships with industry (Sika, Fressinet, etc.), and universities (UTCM Sofia in Bulgaria, etc.), which are continuing and will develop further with the new doctoral and international projects. In line with the establishment’s projects, the studies carried out by this civil engineering team are focused on the use of bio-sourced materials in the reinforcement of concrete structures, and on industry 2.0 of 3D-printed sustainable construction (partnership project with the Haute École Robert Schumann in Belgium), thus forming part of the bio-economy and sustainable development sector by proposing reinforced concrete structures in a more environmentally-friendly environment.
The objectives are :
– dimensioning of natural fiber materials ;
– measurement techniques ;
– study of structural reinforcement.
– analytical and numerical study of reinforced structures.

Dynamics, Systems and Structures Monitoring (DS3)

Axis 3 brings together 7 permanent EC and 1 Design Engineer. The work addressed concerns the monitoring of rotating machines in the context of 4.0 maintenance of production systems. Initiated in 1993, this axis focuses on the detection, diagnosis and monitoring of faults in mechanical components subject to fatigue, such as bearings and gears... Today, the team is part of the “Industrial Transition” approach, which is one of the 3 regional strategic priorities for higher education, research and innovation 2020-2030 (SRESRI), in particular the sectoral priority “Technology and equipment for industrial transition”. The team’s focus is on the digitization of the enterprise, with the contribution of digital twins and artificial intelligence methods for monitoring the mechanical behavior of systems and structures.

Research initiatives include :

the development of digital twins,
implementation of artificial intelligence monitoring strategies for rotating machines,
the development of early fault detection methods,
numerical and phenomenological modeling of bearing fatigue damage to estimate the residual life of mechanical components,
development of dedicated monitoring instrumentation.

The work is based on a test platform funded under the CPER SURVIB (2004-07). This platform comprises several modules for reproducing mechanical faults on rotating machines in the laboratory. These activities have enabled us to develop close collaborations with international academic institutions and companies in the mechanical engineering and automotive sectors.

SURVIB platform description->70]