Ali HARKOUS
Mechanical engineer, PhD in “Materials & Processes”
37 years old
Driving License
Nantes (44000) France
Professional Status
Employed
Available
Postdoctoral researcher at CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research)
École Polytechnique de Nantes, France
Since 2016
- Context: My postdoctoral fellowship is the contribution of the LTN Laboratory (Laboratoire de Thermocinétique de Nantes) to the "STIICPA" project formed by several industrial and academic partners. The global objective is to reduce CO2 emissions of cars by decreasing their weight. Hence, metallic parts are replaced by composites ones.
- Target: Study of the thermoplastic composite parts’ adhesion: the fusion bonding case.
- Completed tasks:
- Identification of factors influencing the adhesion quality.
- Preparation of an experimental device that permits the full control of process conditions (temperature, pressure and cycle time).
- Realization of adhesion tests according to a design of experiments.
- Characterization of adhesion by peeling tests.
- Mechanical calculation of the adhesion and analysis of the factors’ impact.
- Calculation of a model representing the bonding force evolution in function of process factors.
- Thermo-kinetic simulation confronted to the experimental tests.
- Supervision of a Master’s intern.
- Identification of factors influencing the adhesion quality.
PhD student
Université de Nantes, France
2012
to 2015
- Context: My thesis was the contribution of the GEPEA laboratory to the "FUI LSR" project. It was financed by the Ministry of Industry and formed by thirteen partners including eleven industrialists (Bluestar Silicones, Spit, ARaymond, Billion ...) and two academic laboratories. Its objective was to improve the position of the French producers of LSR (Liquid Silicone Rubber) in the international market.
- Target: Identification and analysis of the process factors' impact during the overmolding of Liquid Silicone Rubber on thermoplastic parts.
- Completed tasks:
- Thermo-rheo-kinetic characterization of Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR).
- Calculation of the behavior laws and the gel point.
- Design, simulation and thermo-kinetic modeling of a thermally controlled device (a special mold) used for performing overmolding tests under reproducible conditions.
- Identification of factors influencing the adhesion quality in overmolding process.
- Design and injection of thermoplastic inserts (PA6).
- Carrying out overmolding tests according to a design of experiments.
- Mechanical characterization of the adhesion using tensile-shear tests.
- Impact analysis of different factors and their interactions by statistical methods.
- In-situ detection of LSR cross-linking.
- Validation of the modeling after comparing to the experimental results.
- Optimization of the process (thermal conditions and cycle time).
- Project management, oral and written communication, monitoring of deliverables, preparation of reports and contacting partners and suppliers.
- Thermo-rheo-kinetic characterization of Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR).
Teaching
Substitute teacher, Institut Universitaire de Technologie (IUT) de Nantes, France
2012
to 2014
- Teaching “Numerical Analysis” course at the SGM department (Science and Materials' Engineering department).
Master’s internship
"Groupe Renault", France
April 2011
to September 2011
- Dynamic characterization and thermographic study of engine valves.
Internship
National Office of Litani river, Lebanon
July 2009
to August 2009
- Maintenance work on turbines at "Joun hydroelectric plant".
Representative of Student Council at the mechanical department
Lebanese University, Faculty of Engineering, Lebanon
2008
to 2010
- Thesis entitled “Analysis of the thermo-rheo-kinetic behavior and the adhesion of Liquid Silicone Rubber”.
- Done in the Process Engineering Laboratory (GEPEA).
- Training was part of an exchange program between the Lebanese University (LU) and Ecole Centrale de Nantes (ECN).
- The courses of the last year of engineering cycle were also monitored at the ECN.
- Given by equivalence of grades obtained at Ecole Centrale de Nantes.
- English: Good professional practice. Total of 840 on 990 on Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC).
- French: Fluent (first language of education and seven years lived in France).
- Arabic: Mother tongue.
- Dynamic rheometry (plate-plate), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Conductivity measurement, FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), Adhesion characterization, Tensile tests, Shear tests, Peeling tests, Thermoplastic and silicone injection (molding and overmolding).
- Catia (V5R20), Comsol Multiphysics (5.2), Moldflow, Cadmould, Matlab, AutoCAD, SpecView, Mérimée (Diesel engine simulation), Hap, Borland C++, PhotoShop CS5.
- Word, Power Point, Excel (measurements’ treatment, solver, office management), Latex, EndNote (bibliography).
- “The kinetic behavior of Liquid Silicone Rubber: A comparison between thermal and rheological approaches based on gel point determination”, Reactive and Functional Polymers, 101 (2016) 20-27.
- “Thermo-kinetic analysis of Liquid Silicone Rubber”, Esaform 2013, Portugal, Key Engineering Materials, 554 (2013) 1634-1648.
- “Applications and processing of Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR): a Review”, Submitted.
- “Influence of the temperature on the composites’ fusion bonding quality”, Submitted.
- “Thermally controlled overmolding of Liquid Silicone Rubber: Design and validation of a device in laboratory scale”, in progress.
- “Fusion bonding of Polyamide composite: Influence of process parameters on the final adhesion”, in progress.
- Esaform international conferences: 2013 (Aveiro, Portugal) and 2017 (intended for April in Dublin, Ireland).
- GFP Ouest conferences: 2013 & 2014 (France).
- 2016 (6 months): Supervision of a Master’s intern
- 2013: Member of the organizing committee of the "GFP Ouest" conference.
- Steven LE CORRE: Supervisor of the postdoctoral project, university professor at Polytech' Nantes and head of the TTMI axis at the LTN laboratory. Tel: + 33 2 40 68 31 13, e-mail: steven.le-corre@univ-nantes.fr
- Rémi DETERRE: Thesis director, Professor at the University of Nantes and head of the OPERP team at the GEPEA laboratory. Tel: + 33 2 28 09 20 60, e-mail: remi.deterre@univ-nantes.fr
- Henri POLGE: Internship supervisor at Renault, Head of the "Powertrain Product Engineering" section at Renault-Nissan, India. Tel: + 91 99622 74197, e-mail: henri.polge@renault.com
- Adel HOUMANI: Internship supervisor at "Joun hydroelectric plant", General director of the National Office of Litani river, Lebanon. Tel: + 961 1 66 04 82, e-mail: ahoumani@litani.gov.lb
- Since January 2016: Head of the North-West branch of the “AMIFL” association (Association du Message Interculturel Franco-Libanais).
- 1998-2010: Member of the musical troupe of the Lebanese Scouts. Participating with the troupe to the 6th Francophonie Games, Lebanon 2009.
- Futsal, jogging, Strength training.
