
General framework of the activity
The GeM is a Joint Research Unit of Centrale Nantes, the University of Nantes and the CNRS. The research teams are also all involved in analysing the in-service functionality of structural components: performance under extreme mechanical and environmental conditions (earthquake, crash), sustainability in the broadest sense (especially risk management, lifecycle analysis). To develop predictive analytical methods for short and medium term application in industry, the laboratory draws on core skills and expertise shared by the different research groups. This expertise takes root in experimental techniques, modelling and numerical simulation. His research themes are:
MATERIALS-ENVIRONMENT-STRUCTURES
- Soil Structure Interactions
- Durability of civil engineering structures and multi-physical couplings
PROCESSES AND MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
- Design, modelling and technology of innovative processes
- Experimental techniques, modelling and numerical tools for mechanics of materials
MODELLING AND SIMULATION
- Couplings: multi-physics problems, contact
- Durability: damage, fracture, fatigue
Specific skills in the MRE field
EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS AND MODELLING OF GEOMATERIALS
- Concrete in marine environment : GeM presentation at the WEAMEC Meeting on concrete in marine environment (in french)
- Constitutive laws for soils under cyclic loadings
SOIL STRUCTURE INTERACTION
- Superficial foundations and on pile of offshore wind turbines
- Development of macro-elements
MULTISCALE MODELLING AND CABLE FATIGUE ANALYSIS
- Umbilicals
- Mooring lines
COMPOSITE STRUCTURE MANUFACTURING / PMM TEAM
- Multi-physics coupling
- Application for wind turbine blades
STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING
Real-time monitoring of structures at sea is a major challenge to reduce maintenance costs, and costs of marine energy.
MArine Growth
Marine Growth is an important phenomenon for the sustainability of offshore structures. GEM has developed skills in marine growth modeling (BIOCALMAR software), on its characterization, notably by image analysis and the marine growth potential evaluation of an offshore site (offshore platform BIOCOLMAR).
Projects in MRE
Involvement in weamec projects
Geotechnical and structures:
- MUSCAS project – Coordinator
- ROS-3D project – Coordinator
- DYNA project
Marine Growth:
- Lehero-MG project – Coordinator
SHM:
- SHM-OWTGrout project – Coordinator
Concrete in marine environment:
Composite in marine environment :
- FIRMAIN project – Coordinator
- CEAUCOMP project – Coordinator