Projets novateurs réalisés

Reconstruction de la microstructure de l’acier inoxydable martensitique S41500

Ce projet de recherche est axé sur le développement d’outils numériques permettant de simuler l’endommagement de la microstructure des aciers utilisés chez Hydro-Québec. Cette démarche permettra de mettre évidence les différents mécanismes qui favorisent l’apparition des fissures dans une structure soumise à différents types de chargement. Cependant, pour être en mesure de prédire de tels phénomènes, il est nécessaire de posséder un modèle numérique le plus représentatif possible de la microstructure réelle de l’alliage. Ce modèle numérique sera utilisé pour mener des simulations par ordinateur. Dans ces simulations, les chargements mécaniques rencontrés lors de la mise en service des pièces/structures seront reproduits pour être en mesure d’étudier le comportement mécanique du matériau lors d’une sollicitation mécanique réelle.

Les familles d’emploi au service de la gestion de relève : Approche empirique basée sur 40 années de recherche appliquée

L’utilisation de tests psychométriques pour la gestion de la relève en entreprise est de plus en plus valorisée. SuccessFinder détient le test psychométrique du même nom qui comprend 85 traits comportements et 35 intérêts de carrière. Le test permet de capter le profil unique de chaque personne en milieu de travail. Au fil des années, SuccessFinder a accumulé d’innombrables données sur les caractéristiques reliées au succès pour différents postes. Ce projet de recherche vise à offrir une nouvelle solution pour la gestion de la relève en rassemblant ces données en catégories plus larges de familles d’emploi. Ce processus permettra aux entreprises d’avoir un portrait global des talents potentiels par catégorie, facilitant ainsi la suite du processus de gestion de relève. Le projet de recherche servira plus précisément à valider scientifiquement cette nouvelle solution.

Physical Activity Opportunities in Saint John, New Brunswick: A Neighbourhood Assessment by Income

Physical activity can help people prevent and manage diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. Currently, many Canadians are not sufficiently active, citing lack of time, money, knowledge, and access to physical activity programs as barriers. This compilation of physical activity programs in Saint John, New Brunswick, will gather details of the types of physical activity programs available and will map them by average income in local neighbourhoods to determine if access is equal for all. Programs will be compiled into a physical activity “where-to” guide for physicians to facilitate exercise prescriptions that can be tailored to individual needs. A second report will examine program availability relative to neighbourhood income. The results will be useful to physicians, citizens, city planners and recreation professionals, and The Heart and Stroke Foundation as it promotes physical activity and health promotion, and will provide a template for other communities to conduct similar scans.

Understanding the structure and outcomes of two écoquartiers in Paris: does good governance bring good results?

The student will conduct research as part of the FCRF project Ecourban Neighbourhood Outcomes in France and Canada: Toward greater validity in comparative international urban research. Based in Paris at Université Paris I (La Sorbonne), the student will interact with and collect data from government representatives at the City of Paris and the relevant federal ministries in order to build an understanding of what constitutes good governance in the écoquartiers program. She will also conduct case study research into two Paris écoquartiers, including design studies, collection of data on planning process and public participation of tenants and residents, and interviews with residents and visitors, in order to contribute to the FCRF team’s efforts to understand what constitutes success “on the ground” in écoquartier as well as Canadian model sustainable neighbourhood initiatives. She will additionally assist with research data management and planning a research workshop in Paris.

Measuring the forces involved in cancer cells migration in vitro

What makes cancer so lethal is the ability of tumor cells to migrate from one organ to another through the blood circulation. Typically, cancer cells first detach from primary tumors, and then enter the blood vessels to be carried over long distances. At the target site, the tumor cells attack the blood vessel walls cover by endothelial cells to create a gap through which they can escape into the surrounding tissues and organs. My research deals with the last phase of this process, the so-called trans-endothelial migration (TEM). The novelty of my approach is to explore the connection and coupling between biochemical signaling and mechanical forces that determine cell deformation and movement. For this purpose, I will combine experimental measurements with computer simulations to elucidate the factors that enable the success of TEM, and to seek strategies to disrupt it.

Exploring a Sca!able Rule Based Architecture in Semantic Matching

The on-line dating industry currently has over 1400 different sites, including known sites such

as eHarmony, Match.com and LavaLife, however, research indicates a general

dissatisfaction in the quality of relationship matches generated by these sites. The research

proposal will investigate the use of rule based semantic technologies in providing accurate

and higher quality matching service. The commercial partner, Atwood Technology Inc., is

expecting to leverage this technology to gain a competitive edge over the existing

competition.

CCHP multi-criteria optimization in a bottom-up, decentralized control system with top-down centralized objective and query based control

ElectroMotion Energy has created an all in one AC, heating, hot water, and electricity unit to serve industrial and residential needs. This unit requires optimization algorithms and an advanced control system to optimize performance of the deployed unit around multiple objectives. These objectives consist of: meeting onsite electricity demands, meeting on site heating or AC demands, taking advantage of economical times to sell power to the grid, and to assist the municipal grids in providing electricity during peak demands. The units will decide itself how to act, but will communicate with “supervisor” units to receive guidance on how to help take stress off the municipal grids. This control strategy is the reverse of most conventional systems and may provide a better basis for multi-criteria optimization.

SWAVE Ultrasound Elastography

Organ health is often tested today by biopsy, which involves placing a needle into the body and taking a small tissue sample for analysis in a lab. Researchers at the University of British Columbia invented a new technique to measure the health of tissue without a needle. This technique is called Shear Wave Absolute Vibro-Elastography (SWAVE) and it measures tissue elasticity by recording the small shear waves that result when tissue is vibrated with a loudspeaker-like device pressed against the skin. Fast moving shear waves are found in hard tissue, and slow moving shear waves are found in soft tissue. Many diseases, like cancer or fibrosis, also often cause soft healthy tissue to change into hard tissue. Therefore, SWAVE can measure tissue health by comparing the measured value of a particular patient’s tissue elasticity/stiffness to a known range of healthy to diseased values.

Identifying wetland ecosystems and plants of Eeyou Istchee James Bay that are vulnerable to climate change

Wetlands house a great diversity of plant species, particularly bryophytes as the humid environment permits this poikilohydric group to flourish. Compared to the wetlands of western Canada, our knowledge of the plant biodiversity in Québec’s boreal wetlands is fragmentary. Furthermore, while it has been demonstrated that wetland conditions and functions are affected by climate dependant factors such as precipitation and fire cycle, the link to biodiversity and rare species presence has not yet been investigated at the landscape level. This PhD project will determine the species diversity and rare species occurrences in different wetland types across the black spruce boreal forest of Québec. The The PhD student will analyse the results in the context of climate change to determine the relative vulnerability of different wetland types and their biodiversity to climate change in collaboration with Ouranos (https://www.ouranos.ca/en/).

Construction of a Numerical Model for Hydraulic Fracture Propagation in Multiple-Porosity Shale Petroleum Reservoirs

Shale reservoirs store gigantic volumes of petroleum (oil and gas). However, because of the complex nature of the reservoir rock, it is difficult to recover the oil and/or gas stored in shales. Under normal conditions, it is possible to extract only as much as 10% of the resources in place, thus leaving behind a huge potential that promises to satisfy the energy needs of Canada for several decades. The proposed research project aims to provide a scientific methodology whose practical application will allow increasing the recoveries from shales, i.e., getting more oil and/or gas out of the “difficult to exploit” reservoir. The project is therefore aligned with the interest of Canada for boosting its incipient shale gas industry.

Level the field: sport and disability inclusion

Canadian Sport Policy states a desire to provide sport programs that are accessible and reflect the full diversity of Canadian society. However a recent evaluation of 61 sport organizations in British Columbia revealed that most organizations are ill-equipped to serve people with disabilities wishing to partake in their leisure and sport programs (with some individuals with specific types of disabilities and impairments having little to no opportunity to get involved). Additionally, people with disabilities are underrepresented in other roles within the sport system and face many barriers to getting involved as spectators/fans and volunteers or to pursue careers in sport (for example, working as coaches or sport administrators). This research will investigate what factors facilitate or impede individuals with impairments from engaging in sport in diverse roles. It is intended to inform practices and polices that lead to more accessible and equitable sport opportunities for British Columbians with disabilities.

Investigation of the microbial harbouring quality of stainless and galvanized steel, fibreglass and plastic drains and various drain designs in a food or beverage processing environment

Wastewater drains and drainage systems have been identified as a potential source of microbial contamination in animal, food and beverage processing facilities, which potentially lead to contamination of product and negative downstream public health and economic consequences. Of particular concern are well-known food borne pathogens Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella, which form biofilms on surfaces that allow the organisms to be more resistant to washing and antimicrobials. The ability of various different stainless steel drains and drainage systems to harbour foodborne pathogens and bacteria will be assessed and compared to that of commonly-used drains and drainage systems. The wastewater from hog processing, chicken abattoir, and fermented beverage facilities are to be assessed for microorganisms including Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, coliforms, yeast and mold and aerobic counts.