Cutting-edge research for real-world applications
ENSTA Bretagne conducts its research activities in connection with engineering, addressing the real-world civil and military challenges facing industrial companies and the Ministry for the Armed Forces (DGA, AID). The fields of application are primarily: defense systems, maritime, land and air transport, aerospace, energy and health.
This applied research is conducted in 3 main subject areas: mechanical sciences, information & communication science & technology and humanities for engineers.
Mechanical sciences
UMR CNRS 6027 IRDL (Institut de Recherche Dupuy de Lôme : ENSTA Bretagne, UBS, UBO and ENIB), member of Carnot "ARTS" Institute
Information and communication technology
UMR CNRS 6285 Lab-STICC (ENSTA Bretagne, IMT Atlantique, UBO, UBS and ENIB)
Humanities and Social Sciences
EA FoAP (Formation et Apprentissages Professionnels: ENSTA Bretagne, Cnam Paris and AgroSup Dijon)
The research teams work within national and international industrial chairs and laboratories, in conjunction with other engineering schools, universities, national research bodies (particularly the French National Center for Scientific Research/CNRS) and the school’s longstanding industrial partners.
ENSTA Bretagne’s research center is constantly expanding. It has a nearly 300-strong workforce, divided into some fifteen thematic teams. It operates across six buildings (7,500 sq.m.) and boasts significant test facilities in the mechanical sciences, pyrotechnics, IT, cybersecurity and robotics. A 7th building is currently in the pipeline. This will harbor a vast test tank for research on marine and airborne drone systems.
These developments stem from a research strategy focusing on key issues for the future, which has secured financial backing from Europe, the French State, the Brittany region and Brest Métropole. 6 scientific projects involving ENSTA Bretagne teams will receive funding from 2021 to 2027 via the contract for regional development between the French State and the Brittany region (CPER) worth €9.85m in total, on such themes as naval design, observation of the oceans, drones and space technologies, maritime cybersecurity, industrial digitization, materials for the energy transition and exploratory robotics.
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The MASMECA Technology Platform
ENSTA Bretagne’s scientific mission is achieved through the implementation of tools that predict ageing in mechanical structures, thereby allowing optimal sizing. This process requires multiscale testing, measurement and observation equipment that covers a wide range of scales from micro- to ministructure.
Structured around 5 technical platforms, the MASMECA (Advanced Experimental Mechanics on Materials and Structures) technology platform links research centers with local socioeconomic and industrial organizations, promoting vigilance and transfer of technology to businesses.
MASMECA provides industrial firms with access to its experimental facilities and skills with the aim of:
- promoting transfer of technology and techniques;
- meeting businesses’ testing needs and contributing to innovation;
- developing partnerships between research centers and socioeconomic and industrial stakeholders;
- expanding the platform’s resources.
The 5 technical platforms:
DYNAMIC CHARACTERIZATION
Equipment for high-speed loading tests
- Hopkinson Bars
- Taylor Gun
- Shock tube
- Shock machine with retractable tank for water impact testing
- Spectra-Physics Quanta-Ray Pro 350 pulsed laser
- IDIL Photonic Doppler Velocimeter (maximum speed 20km/s, 1550nm laser)
THERMOMECHANICAL CHARACTERIZATION
Loading samples and structures in controlled mechanical and environmental conditions
- 3 servo-hydraulic tension-compression testing machines
- 4 electro-mechanic testing machines
- 2 servo-hydraulic tension-compression/torsion testing machines, including a Tema Concept machine
- Tri-axial servo-hydraulic test bench (maximum force 2500kN) (see Photo 3)
- Vibrophore and rotating fatigue machine
- Ovens and thermal and induction heat test chambers
PHYSICO-CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION
Evaluating the effect of microstructure on materials’ mechanical behavior
- Instrumented micro- and nano-hardness testing machines (formerly Anton Paar TriTec SA)
- METRAVIB DMTA machine with IR measurement
- Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC)
- Electrodynamic testing machine (±3.2kN, ±24N.m)
- Netzsch 402P differential dilatometer
- Shimadzu TGA-50H thermogravimetric analyzer
- Cryogenic chamber
MEASUREMENTS & OBSERVATIONS
Cutting-edge equipment for measurement and analysis
Motional and temperature field measurement equipment:
- 2 infra-red FLIR SC7000 cameras (see Photo 6)
- 2 GOM ARAMIS stereo digital image correlation systems (see Photo 7)
- FASTCAM high-speed camera and 3 CCD cameras
- X-ray diffractometer (DRX) and other equipment associated with this observation method, including a dosimeter
Analysis and observation equipment:
- 2 optical microscopes (including one 3D digital microscope), scanning electron microscope, etc.
- 1 scanning electron microscope and associated equipment, including Discotom, back-scattered and secondary electron detectors, EDS and EBSD analysis systems, and on-site tension-compression test bench
- High-frequency signal acquisition equipment
PROTOTYPING
Production of samples and parts for experimental set-ups
- SABRE 1000 vertical machining center,
- Alcera Gambin milling machine
- Colchester CNC lathe
- Weiler Primlus CNC lathe and Gallic 16N conventional lathe
contact
Younes Demmouche
Associate Professor
Head of MASMECA Technology Platform
+33(0)2 98 34 89 40
Julien Ogor
© Julien Ogor, Studio Lambé / ENSTA Bretagne
Julien Ogor
Julien Ogor
Presentation brochure of the PFT Masmeca
Certain pieces of equipment were purchased with the help of:
ENSTA Bretagne's PhD Programs
ENSTA Bretagne's doctoral programs are open to Master's graduates or students an equivalent qualification (usually an engineering degree). The PhD is a national degree granted by accredited establishments which support doctoral students' thesis research.
This research usually takes place at one of the school’s research laboratories, or may be partly carried out at a private firm within the CIFRE framework (Conventions Industrielles de Formation par la Recherche). One or more thesis advisors supervise doctoral students' work, generally over a 3-year period. PhD students are enrolled in a doctoral school (école doctorale) which accompanies them throughout their education and research.
This research usually takes place at one of the school’s research laboratories, or may be partly carried out at a private firm within the CIFRE framework (Conventions Industrielles de Formation par la Recherche). One or more thesis advisors supervise doctoral students' work, generally over a 3-year period. PhD students are enrolled in a doctoral school (école doctorale) which accompanies them throughout their education and research.
The PhD is a globally recognized university degree.
Hosting more than 100 PhD students in its labs, ENSTA Bretagne has been accredited to award PhDs since 2017.
Ecole Doctorale SPIN: Engineering Sciences & IT
ENSTA Bretagne is enrolling its PhD students from IRDL (Dupuy de Lôme Research Institute) and Lab-STICC in a wide variety of majors at the Digital and Engineering Sciences Doctoral School, including:
- Electronics
- Industrial engineering, CIM, automation and robotics
- Computer science
- Fluid Mechanics
- Mechanics of Solids, Materials, Structures and Surfaces
- Sound waves, electromagnetism and materials
- Physics
- Materials science
- Signaling, Imaging, Vision
- Telecommunications
ENSTA Bretagne's FoAP PhD students working in Human Science are enrolled in ED Abbé Grégoire at CNAM Paris.
contact
Nathalie Léal
Mechanical Department Academic Assistant
Administrator for ED SPI at ENSTA Bretagne
+33 (0)2 98 34 88 77
contact
Ali Khenchaf
Associate Professor, IT Departement
Head of the PIM team, Lab-STICC laboratory (UMR CNRS 6285)
Deputy Director, SPIN Doctoral School
+33(0)2 98 34 88 45
contact
Patricia Cabel
Administrator for ED SPIN - at ENSTA Bretagne
IT Department Academic Assistant - at ENSTA Bretagne
Research in Human and Social Sciences: FoAp scientific project
Multi-supervisory and inter-regional, FoAP (Training and Professional Learning) is the only laboratory to be dedicated to adult training and vocational training in France. It oversees a network of researchers (ENSTA Bretagne, AgroSup Dijon, CNAM Paris) on training questions in the broad sense, including initial vocational training, higher education, lifelong learning, active apprenticeships and career paths.
ENSTA Bretagne’s academic staff members working in this laboratory have backgrounds in education science, sociology and management science. Within the FPI (Formation et professionnalisation des ingénieurs) team, they focus on how engineering careers and education systems are evolving.
Within the engineering school context, they develop projects that combine scientific input from academic fields with knowledge of professional working environments.
Exploring engineering training and careers
Studies carried out at the lab aim to explore the relationship between social and technical spheres through the lenses of identity, knowledge bases, organization patterns and the learning process. They integrate sociocultural dynamics from micro level (an individual dealing with a technical system) to macro level (the global evolution of engineering education systems).
Areas of expertise
• Analysis of engineering school and higher education curricula
• Identity-building and career paths for engineers
• Innovative processes and training engineers in responsible innovation
• Socio-technical approaches to engineering
Team highlights
- Team created in 2002
- Team associated with the CRF in 2015
- The Research Center on Professional Training and Adult Learning was created on January 1, 2019.
- Completed projects :
- Craken (managerial activity modeling to develop a serious game, 2011–2014),
- A study of the career paths of North African engineers trained in France, PHC Tassili program, 2011–2014,
- Innov’Ing 2020 (innovation training for future engineers: new careers, new training programs, ANR, 2014–2016)
- A-STEP 2030 (ERASMUS+): Attracting diverSe Talent to the Engineering Professions of 2030
- RIIME (PHC): engineering education in the Maghreb (North Africa) in light of the environmental challenges
- Ongoing projects : Holi-D Blue and Innovation in the armed forces (Travid and ID2I projects)
For more information