LERCA — European Laboratory for Research on Advanced Composites

Understanding, modelling and designing the composite materials of tomorrow

LERCA develops experimental and numerical approaches to characterise the multi-scale behaviour of organic and ceramic matrix composites, serving the aerospace, space and energy industries.

Independent European research · Materials · Structures · Processes

Research areas

Our work is organised around four complementary thematic areas, from microstructural characterisation to the design of industrial processes.

Fatigue and damage

Study of damage mechanisms under cyclic and multiaxial loading. Lifetime modelling of laminated and woven composite structures.

Team ENDOC — Lead: Dr. C. Feuillard

Manufacturing processes

Development and optimisation of RTM, infusion and automated fibre placement processes. Flow simulation in porous fibrous media.

Team PROCOM — Lead: Pr. A. Bergeret

Ageing and durability

Characterisation of hydrothermal, photo-oxidative and thermal ageing. Long-term behaviour prediction in severe environments.

Team DURACOMP — Lead: Dr. N. Peyrac

Eco-design and recyclability

Bio-sourced composites, recyclable thermoplastic matrices, life cycle analysis. Contributing to sustainable development goals in the transport industry.

Team BIOCOMP — Lead: Dr. M. Lacoste

News

Publication

New publication — multi-scale modelling

The paper by F. Arnould et al. on multi-scale modelling of fatigue damage in 3D woven composites has been accepted for publication in an international journal. This work proposes an original coupled meso-macro approach.

Defence

PhD defence — Léa Marchetti

Léa Marchetti will defend her thesis entitled 'Characterisation and modelling of hydrothermal ageing of carbon fibre reinforced epoxy matrix composites' at the laboratory.

Event

Thematic day — process simulation

LERCA hosted a thematic day devoted to numerical approaches for composite manufacturing process simulation. Over 40 participants from various industrial and academic backgrounds.

Award

Award — best doctoral paper

Thomas Raunier (ENDOC team) received a best doctoral paper award at a national conference for his work on in-situ tomography applied to fatigue damage monitoring.

Recent publications

A selection of recent work from the laboratory.

Multi-scale modelling of fatigue damage in 3D woven composites: a coupled meso-macro approach

F. Arnould, C. Feuillard, J.-P. Moreau, R. Teixeira

International journal

Hydrothermal ageing of carbon/epoxy composites: experimental characterization and predictive modelling

L. Marchetti, N. Peyrac, A. Bergeret

International journal

In-situ X-ray computed tomography monitoring of fatigue crack propagation in woven CFRP laminates

T. Raunier, C. Feuillard, M. Salaün

International journal

Recyclability assessment of thermoplastic-matrix composites for automotive applications: an LCA perspective

M. Lacoste, S. Duval, E. Ortiz

International journal