Sophie Berveiller, a lecturer and researcher at the LEM 3 laboratory on the Metz campus, embarked on a new project at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble in September 2021.
What is the objective of your project?
The aim of the project is to reconstruct the microstructure of metallic materials in 3 dimensions: using synchrotron radiation diffraction data, we can obtain the shape of the grains and their position in a sample. This gives us a digital twin of a real test piece. I am currently working on a shape memory alloy used in the aerospace industry; we are reconstructing a tensile test that was carried out under radiation. The experiments are very short: in a few days, we acquire several terabytes of data; post-processing takes from a few months to over a year.
What are the results of the project at the halfway point?
During these first six months, we adapted an initial series of reconstruction algorithms to these alloys, which yielded fairly satisfactory results. A second algorithm, which takes into account material deformation, will be tested by the end of June.
It has also been a very good human experience. All daily exchanges are in English: the team I am working with is made up of eight people (including three women) of six different nationalities. It is interesting to see their analysis of the French research system.
Do you still have a lot of contact with the Metz campus?
Boris Piotrowski, a research engineer on campus, is involved in this project. He uses the digital twin and feeds it into finite element simulations. This allows us to compare all the experimental and numerical results.
On the other hand, I continue to supervise my doctoral students and teach the materials courses, which I try to do in person at least half the time.
What does the insignia of Officer in the Order of Academic Palms, which you received on April 8, mean to you?
It is an honorary title awarded by the Ministry of Education on the recommendation of the campuses. It is recognition by the school for commitment to teaching and active participation in school life and bodies. Christophe Lescalier, a teacher-researcher whom I have chosen as my sponsor, will do me the honor of presenting me with the insignia at the staff general meeting.
