Research summary
The need to improve the performance of complex mechanical systems—such as aeronautic turbomachines, power generation turbines and drilling systems—represents a daunting challenge for myriad key sectors of industry in Canada. The challenge lies at the crossroads of environmental, economic and security considerations.
Dr. Alain Batailly, Canada Research Chair in Analysis and Design of Non-Smooth Mechanical Systems, intends to develop digital tools and methods to enable engineers to remove scientific obstacles that are inherent in the design of non-smooth mechanical systems in a number of industrial sectors. Because it is difficult to predict the vibratory responses of non-smooth systems, Batailly and his team are developing methods to analyze mechanical systems featuring non-liner interfaces with high relative speeds between components. In addition to possible complex wear patterns, these systems present isolated solution avenues whose lack of predictability poses severe constraints on design spaces. The research conducted by Batailly and his team will make it possible to optimize mechanical systems in a number of Canada’s key industrial sectors.