People

Dr. Antoine le Duigou is Associate-Professor in Institut de Recherche Dupuy de Lome at Université de Bretagne Sud (Lorient France).

Antoine obtained his PhD in Materials Science at Université de Bretagne Sud and Ifremer in 2010, under the supervision of Pr C Baley P Davies where he developed natural fibre biocomposites for marine application. In 2014, he introduced the novel concept of Hygromorph biocomposites. Natural fibres’ main drawback, i.e moisture sensitivity, is for the first time turned into an advantage thanks to biomimicry paradigm. A new functionnality for natural fibres was proposed. He won Young’s researcher award from French Composites Association (AMAC) in 2017 and from European Society of Composite Materials (ESCM) in 2018. He defended his Habilitation in 2017 dealing with Composites materials and natural fibres : From reinforcement to hygromorph actuators . He has published more than 65 internationally peer reviewed articles and has given more than 80 conferences.

From a pedagogical and administrative point of view, Antoine is in charge of the Master 1 “Eco-Design of Polymers and Composites”.

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Dr. Mickaël CASTRO is currently a lecturer at the University of Southern Brittany, France, since 2009. He obtained his PhD at the University of Saint-Etienne in 2004, studying the morphology and rheological behavior of co-continuous immiscible polymer blends for lithium battery applications. During his post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Minnesota, he studied the rheology of concentrated surfactant systems, under the supervision of Pr. C.W. Macosko. He joined the Materials Engineering Laboratory of Brittany in the Smart Plastics group in 2006 to develop self-sensing conductive polymer composites as part of a European project under the supervision of Pr. J-F. Feller. In recent years, efforts have mainly focused on the integration of conductive composite sensors in composite structures, for monitoring the health of composites structural parts (SHM). The work on the monitoring of structural parts and the submission of a patent are at the origin of the creation of a startup (Sense in).

Finally, more recently and following internal collaborations, he has collaborated in the development of functional biocomposites for applications of hygromorphic passive actuators, and have participated for example in the addition of conductive formulations in these systems to monitor and/or modify the kinetics of their response. From a pedagogical and administrative point of view, Mickael is in charge of the Master 2 “Eco-Design of Polymers and Composites”, and of a University diploma entitled “3D Printing: Innovative Composite Materials”. He is elected to the operating council of his Sciences faculty, and also to the Research Commission of the University of Southern Brittany.

Roxane is currently pursuing her PhD at Université de Bretagne-Sud on the design of a biologically inspired autonomous solar tracker made with 4D printed shape-changing architectured composite materials for space environment. She graduated from EPF (Paris). Her research project is funded by the European Space Agency (AAP Off earth Manufacturing and Building) and IRT Saint-Exupéry, while being co-supervised by Antoine Le Duigou and Mickaël Castro at the IRDL laboratory, and Justin Dirrenberger at PIMM. Roxane is also advised by Fabrizio Scarpa (ACCIS Bristol).

Thomas is currently pursuing his PhD at Université de Bretagne-Sud on 4D printed adaptive biocomposite structures for marine applications. He graduated from ECPM (Strasbourg). His research project is funded by ISBlue (https://www.isblue.fr/fr/) and Region Bretagne, while being co-supervised by Antoine Le Duigou and Mickaël Castro at the IRDL laboratory, Pierre Sauleau at LBCM and Ryosuke Matsuzaki et Tokyo University of Sciences (JP).

Thomas won mobility funds from ISBLUE in 2020.

Charles is currently pursuing his PhD at Université of Bristol and Université de Bretagne Sud on the design of a biologically inspired autonomous structures made with 4D printed shape-changing architectured biocomposite materials for defense application. He graduated from Arts et Metiers (Cluny). His research project is funded by DSTL (UK/FR application), while being co-supervised by Fabrizio Scarpa (Bristol University), Adam Perriman (Bristol University) and Antoine le Duigou (IRDL).

Malik is currently pursuing his PhD at Université de Bretagne Sud on the design of 3D printed autonomous shape-changing structures for hydrofoil applications. He graduated from UTT (Troyes). His research project is funded by Region Bretagne, while being co-supervised by Vincent Keryvin, Noelie Di Cesare and Antoine le Duigou (IRDL)

Guillaume is currently pursuing his PhD at Université de Bretagne Sud on the development of novel 3D and 4D printed composites for marine and morphing applications. He graduated from Polytech (Montpellier). His research project is funded by Region Bretagne, while being co-supervised Antoine le Duigou (IRDL) and Mickael Castro.

Guillaume won the 2^nd place from the SAMPE Chapter contest in 2019

Qinyu Li graduated from Harbin Institute of Technology, China. I studied mechanical calculation and experimental verification of intelligent aerospace and navigation structures based on shape memory polymer in the Centre for Smart Materials and Structures. The thesis title is Multi-stimuli responsive bioinspired hygromorph biocomposites with shape memory functionality. His supervisors are Fabrizio Scarpa, Hind Saidani-Scott, Giuliano Allegri and Antoine le Duigou.

Thomas is  currently pursuing his Engineer Intership at Université de Bretagne Sud on the understanding of bistability effect on 4D printed biocomposites. His research project is funded by CNRS MITI Biomimetisme, while being co-supervised Antoine le Duigou (IRDL) and Mickael Castro.

His research focuses on the smart processing of composite materials using data assimilation and continuous fiber 3D printing, especially developing a 3D printing machine, understanding the printing mechanism, and optimizing fiber path.

Nihon University

Research activities :  micro-mechanics, joining, and 3D printing of polymer matrix composites.

Noëlie DI CESARE is an Assistant Professeur in IRDL (UMR CNRS 6027), Université Bretagne Sud, since 2017. She’s specialized in the development of smart algorithms to optimize and make the understanding of materials and structures easier. She’s worked on the development of improved versions of metaheutistic optimization algorihms (sur as a PageRank-improved version of the Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm) and their application to stuctural mechanics, continuum mechanics and the development of architectured metamaterials. She’s now developing a research theme about the using of machine learning algorithms applied to theoritical mechanics.She’s teaching in the IUT de Lorient-Pontivy, in the QLIO department. She’s teaching topics related to manufacturing engineering, programming, theoritical mechanics, and numerical modelling of structural mechanics.

Ugo Lafont is Space Materials & Technology Specialist at European Space Agency – ESA
Advanced Materials and Processes development for space application, Polymers / Graphene based technology / Energy storage / Self-healing materials and systems / Smart materials / Coatings, Composite development and associated manufacturing process, Adhesive and joining technology for space related component and structure, Additive manufacturing for space application (thermoplastics and composites) , In-space / Out-of-earth manufacturing

Professor Fabrizio Scarpa (Laurea, PhD, FRAeS) is Materials Theme Leader at the Bristol Composites Institute (ACCIS) of the University of Bristol. Fabrizio Scarpa’s research interests are in the field of mechanical metamaterials, with particular focus on auxetics – negative Poisson’s ratio and negative stiffness materials. Professor Scarpa’s group designs, models and manufacture auxetic foams, composites and architected cellular structures for structural integrity, vibration damping, vibroacoustiics, shape morphing and multifunctional applications. Professor Scarpa also develops predictive micromechanical and structural models for energy dissipation performance in composite and polymeric structures. Professor Scarpa’s activities also involve the design, modelling, manufacture and characterisation of natural fibre reinforcements for composites (sisal, agave, cactus, juncus), and recycled polymers (originated from rubber tyres). Those activities are also connected with the use of Synthetic Biology tools to develop energy absorbent bio-based materials (collaboration with Perriman Group at the University of Bristol).

Another set of research activities carry out by Professor Scarpa is about nanostructures, design and manufacturing with particular emphasis on graphene, CNTs, BN, ZnO and GaN nanostructures. Special focus of the nanostructures-related activities is about the mechanical characterisation of the nanomaterials for applications ranging between nanocomposites to nanocoatings for multifunctional applications.

Professor Scarpa is national coordinator for the Mechanical Metamaterials Special Interest Group of the new UK EPSRC Metamaterials Network.

Dr. Justin Dirrenberger is Associate Professor in the department of Materials Science & Engineering at Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers.

Justin obtained his PhD in Materials Science & Engineering at the École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris in 2012, where he developed computational homogenisation methods for determining the effective properties of architectured materials. After joining CNAM in 2013, he started focusing on the development of metallic architectured materials for structural applications. In 2015, he co-founded XtreeE, a startup company dealing with the integration of advanced digital processes in architectural design and construction. He defended his Habilitation in 2018.

His research activities deal with the mechanics of materials including inorganic glasses (silicate, metallic, chalcogenide), organic glasses (thermosets), flax and carbon fibres. During the past decade, active work has been done on carbon fibre composites with sailing racing teams in Brittany including manufacturing, modelling, characterisation of samples and structural parts such as masts or hydrofoils for round-the-world races.

Formations
Mechanical Engineering