Abstract

This presentation explores the critical role of flow in polymer composite manufacturing, a fundamental yet often underappreciated aspect of advanced materials processing. It begins by introducing the primary flow mechanisms that govern composite behaviour, followed by an in-depth discussion of flow dynamics across a range of classic manufacturing techniques, including autoclave curing, vacuum bag-only processes, liquid moulding, and discontinuous fibre moulding. Emphasis will be placed on both experimental characterization and modelling approaches that help decode the complexities of flow during processing. Beyond the technical insights, the talk will also reflect on my academic journey, illustrating how a deep focus on flow phenomena has enabled innovative research collaborations with fellow academics and industry partners.

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Biography

Prof. Hubert received a B. Eng. in Mechanical Engineering in 1988 from École Polytechnique de Montréal, an M.A. Sc. in Mechanical Engineering in 1991 from École Polytechnique de Montréal and a Ph.D. in Metals and Materials Engineering in 1996 from The University of British Columbia. Between his Masters and his Doctorate, he worked at Bombardier Transport as a design engineer. After his Doctorate, he worked at Forintek Canada as a research scientist from 1996 to 1999. He joined the Old Dominion University in 2000 as an Adjunct Professor where he conducted research on composite materials manufacturing for aerospace applications at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Prof. Hubert joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering at McGill in 2002 as an Assistant Professor with a Canada Research Chair Tier II. He has over 350 referred conference and journal publications in the field of composite materials. He planned and led large collaborative grants with companies on the development of composite material processing, multifunctional composites, and sustainable composite processing. He teaches and develops courses for the undergraduate and graduate curricula in mechanical engineering and advanced composite manufacturing. He is the Director of a large strategic cluster in Quebec, Canada, the Research Center for High Performance Polymer and Composite System. He is the Immediate Past President of the International Committee on Composite Materials and the Treasurer of the Canadian Association of Composite Structures and Materials.