Meet the Team

Dr. Matthieu Gresil - senior lecturer

Dr. Matthieu Gresil joined the Department of Materials Sceince and Engineering in May 2020 as Senior Lecturer. He obtained his BSc degree in Physics (University of Nantes, France) and MSc degree in Physics option Matter and Materials (University of Nantes, France). He completed his PhD from Ecole Normale Superieure of Cachan, France in 2009 in collaboration with DCNS (French Navy) on the integration of functions (structural health monitoring and electromagnetic shielding) in composite materials. He joined the University of South Carolina as Post-doctoral Research Fellow (2010-2014) and conducted research on SHM using multi-physics finite element to study guided wave propagation in composite and metallic structures. Then, He joined the Department of Materials at the University of Manchester in 2014 as Lecturer in multifunctional composites.

His interdisciplinary research is focused on (i) multifunctionality that could be built into a composite structure, such as health monitoring, self-healing, reprocessing, recycling, thermal-load dissipation, and electrical enhancement; (ii) emerging polymer materials such as vitrimers which can heal and morph with a thermal trigger; and (iii) bio-inspired 2D/3D morphing materials using printing technology and nanotechnology.

Research interests

• Advanced multifunctional composite materials

• Structural health monitoring (Ultrasonics, Acoustic emission, distibuted optical fibre sensors)

• Nano-composites (2D based materials)

• self-healing, reprocessing, and recycling composite materials

• emerging polymer materials such as vitrimers

• multi-physics multi-scale finite element simulation

• Bio-inspired morphing composites

Quentin-Arthur Poutrel - PhD researcher

Quentin-Arthur Poutrel completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Nantes, studying mathematics and fundamental Physics. He obtained his Master Degree in Nanosciences, nanomaterials and nanotechnologies at the University of Nantes in 2016. After working at the University of Manchester on the dispersion and alignment of graphene nanoplatelets in epoxy resin, Quentin chose to pursue a PhD in ‘3D printing of Graphene-Based Hybrid Inks for Thermal Management in Composite Structures for Aerospace Applications’.

The aim of the research project is to develop Graphene/polymer-based ink for additive manufacturing technique and thermal management in composites. Additive manufacturing has the potential to decrease time and cost for manufacturing complex shape structures. However, very little research has been done to print high performance polymers (HPP) whose are increasingly attractive for aerospace application since the last decades. The primary challenge is to determine the adapted polymer for printing with graphene. Then, the project will focus on designing different structures and their mechanical and thermal characterisation.

Marilyne Philibert - PhD researcher

Marilyne obtained her Master degree in technical textiles and advanced materials at the French engineering school ENSAIT in 2015. She decided to pursue her study on composite materials by undertaking a PhD in a joint research programme between the University of Manchester and the Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR) in Singapore, started in September 2016. She is going to spend two years in Singapore to complete the project.

The aim of the research is to develop a piezoelectric active sensing method for damage assessment in composite materials for aerospace application. An integrated network of piezoelectric transducers could be used to monitor complex structures over the time for life prognosis through generation and sensing of guided ultrasonic Lamb waves. Structural Health Monitoring may achieve damage detection, location, quantification and severity. The main challenge is to detect damage in a T-shaped composite structure and subsequently follow its evolution under mechanical loading. Impact damage will be induced and identified through digital signal processing techniques.