Cette recherche explore l'utilisation des résidus de bauxite, ou boues rouges, comme substitut aux matériaux routiers conventionnels au Québec. En conditionnant le résidu et en optimisant son incorporation dans l'asphalte, les travaux visent à réduire la dépendance aux granulats naturels, à réutiliser les déchets industriels, à diminuer les coûts et à prolonger la durée de vie des routes de six à dix ans.

This research explores using bauxite residue, or red mud, as a substitute for conventional road materials in Quebec. By conditioning the residue and optimising its incorporation into asphalt, the work aims to reduce reliance on natural aggregates, reuse industrial waste, lower costs, and extend road lifespan from six to ten years.

This research investigates how microscopic structural defects affect the performance of rubber materials. By creating nearly defect-free polymer networks and introducing controlled flaws individually, the work isolates how each defect changes material behavior. The findings could improve the design of stronger, safer, and more reliable rubber products used across industry and medicine.

Plastic is indispensable yet environmentally damaging, especially when recycling increases tool wear in manufacturing. This research develops optimized PVD hard coatings that protect production tools without hindering recyclability. By extending tool life and improving efficiency, it supports a more sustainable, circular plastic economy where materials can be reused with less waste.

Millions of U.S. homes still rely on lead pipes, prompting a shift toward bimodal polyethylene replacements. This research examines how molecular branching affects pipe durability under chlorinated conditions. Using accelerated aging tests, it links polymer structure to long-term performance, guiding the design of safer, longer-lasting water pipes for future infrastructure.

This research improves the reliability of metal 3D-printed parts by studying internal porosity using X-ray computed tomography and extreme value statistics. By modeling the largest, failure-critical pores and accounting for uncertainty and geometry effects, it enables better prediction of fatigue performance in aerospace and medical components.

This research redesigns long wind-turbine blades for low-wind-speed sites by shifting structural strength from the internal spar to the aerodynamic shell. The new “eggshell-like” design reduces bending under the blade’s own weight, requires less material, and lowers costs—helping make wind power cheaper than fossil fuels without relying on political action.