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Rudy Valette

Rudy Valette

Professor

Center · CEMEF

Discipline(s)
Applied Mathematics, Condensed Matter Physics, Nanosciences, Complex Systems, Fluid Mechanics, Process Engineering
Topic(s)
Industrial Sovereignty, Nuclear, Polymer, Recycling, Renewable Energy

Keywords

Awards & distinctions

  • 2002 Prix de thèse du Groupe Français de Rhéologie

Team

CFL - Calcul Intensif et Mécanique des Fluides

Biography

Rudy Valette is a researcher specializing in the study of complex flows and multiphase phenomena, with particular expertise in rheology, numerical simulation, and industrial processes. His work covers a wide range of topics, from the analysis of heat transfer during film boiling to 3D printing of polymer solutions for biomedical applications. He is particularly interested in the behavior of non-Newtonian fluids, interactions between phases (liquid-gas, solid-liquid), and the computational challenges posed by modeling these systems, particularly using adaptive finite element methods. His research incorporates innovative experimental approaches, such as the use of high-speed cameras or microfluidic devices, coupled with multiphysical simulations to validate and refine theoretical models. His contributions also include the study of granular materials, colloidal suspensions, and shaping processes such as extrusion and molding, with applications in the biomedical, energy, and aerospace fields.

Publication(s)

Teaching

Mechanics of Continuous Media

Lecturer

In-person instruction is structured around plenary sessions in the lecture hall and tutorial sessions in smaller classes (PC) with fewer students. Independent work consists (in addition to the engine disassembly and reassembly activity mentioned above) of studies conducted individually or in small groups: work based on course materials (handouts, textbook), and solving two problems selected from an extensive list of highly varied problems (as mentioned above; see details below).

Fluid Mechanics (PI MECAERO)

Course Director

Mechanics of Materials and Structures (PI MECAERO)

Course Director

Project (PI MECAERO)

Course Director

Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) track

Guest Lecturer

The Second Year: Discover, Observe, Experiment The two-week elective period is devoted to a mini-project in pairs, in one of the School’s two laboratories (the Materials Center in Evry or the Materials Processing Center in Sophia-Antipolis, with more than 70 faculty members supporting the elective). The topics revolve around a specific industrial project. The focus is on discovering physical, chemical, and mechanical phenomena—and on quantifying them. A detailed report and an oral presentation allow students not only to develop communication skills but, above all, to learn from one another. Some topics include: investigation of a railway brake failure, investigation of non-conformity in metal seals, welding (instrumented testing and numerical modeling), study of foam formation mechanisms for automotive seats, aerogel formation for super-insulation or biomedical applications... The 3rd Year: Understanding, Making Choices, Optimizing The two highlights of the third year are the elective month (starting at the beginning of the academic year) and the personal project, which takes up the rest of the time allocated to the elective. The elective month: “Materials and Engineers” in a specific industrial sector. The elective month is devoted to materials engineering and focuses on a specific industrial sector (2004 and 2005: the automotive industry; 2006 and 2007: aerospace; 2008 and 2009: construction; 2010 and 2011: energy; 2012 and 2013: healthcare; 2014 and 2015: aerospace). The wide range of activities fosters hands-on learning and helps build a cohesive group, enriched by the diverse backgrounds and personalities of both students and teachers: industrial tours: the development, processing, and use of materials in the chosen field; a few lectures given by industry experts; “Industrial Discovery” mini-projects: 5 days in groups of 2 to 4 students at an industrial site, supervised by on-site engineers, working on an engineering problem; a written report (for internal company use) and an oral presentation allow the different groups to share the knowledge and experiences gained in the field; a few “classes”—which are actually preparatory sessions for the visits and “debriefing” sessions in the form of Q&A sessions with faculty regarding the lectures and industrial visits. The elective project: applying methods and knowledge to solve an industrial problem. These individual elective projects form the backbone of the third year. Defined as early as October, in accordance with each student’s preferences, they focus on a clearly identified industrial problem. Lasting at least 4 months (a total of 8 months for Polytech students in the “specialized track”), they take place at an industrial site under dual supervision: engineers from the company on one hand, and a faculty researcher from one of the School’s two “Materials” laboratories on the other. The emphasis is on understanding the underlying phenomena and solving the practical problem at hand. Some representative elective topics covered in recent years: selection of a material for a Formula 1 racing car component (Renault, Viry-Châtillon); modeling of thin films deposited on glass (Saint-Gobain, Thourotte); selection and sizing of a shock-absorbing foam (SNCF, Le Mans); feasibility of coating pistons via plasma spraying (Toyota, Evry—Belgium – Japan); an innovative steel continuous casting process (Vallourec, Aulnoye-Aymeries / Brazil); optimization of the fiber-reinforced polymer injection molding process (Bosch, Germany); analysis of medieval gilded enameled glass (Laboratoire des Musées de France, Paris); prediction of fracture properties of steels for gas pipelines (ArcelorMittal, Ghent, Belgium). acceptance criteria for forging defects (PSA, La Garenne-Colombes); painting defects on automotive plastic body parts (Mécaplast, Monaco) welding of superalloy parts for space launch vehicles (Snecma, Vernon) improvement of non-destructive testing of power plant components (EDF, Saint-Denis) decontamination of concrete used in civil engineering for nuclear power plants (Bouygues, St-Quentin / CEA, Marcoule) Improving the manufacturing of composite parts for the aerospace industry (Dassault, Argenteuil) Material selection for endoscopic probes with integrated microscopes (Mauna Kea Technologies, Paris) Key features of the track: Hands-on experience! The track includes very few courses in the traditional sense: knowledge and skills are acquired through courses offered to all students (core curriculum, specialized courses) and, above all, by sharing each student’s real-world experiences in the field. It’s about experimenting on your own and as part of a team (with dual mentoring by an industrial engineer and a faculty researcher). Intensive group work The diversity and number of students in the track allow everyone to learn from and with one another. This provides effective training in self-directed learning methods that engineers will use throughout their careers to remain key players in their fields of expertise and take control of their professional development. Interdisciplinary Approach The field of materials lies at the intersection of disciplines such as physics, chemistry, mechanics, applied mathematics, and numerical modeling. Elective projects often include both an experimental component and a modeling component, providing a well-rounded education in materials science. The track covers ceramics, “plastics,” metals, and alloys, as well as ancient artifacts (archaeology) and the latest innovations (“biological” steels, bio-based and non-bio-based aerogels, etc.).

Fluids (Course)

Course Director

Mécanique des milieux continus et transferts thermiques

Course Director

Cours doctoral

Rhéologie

Course Director

Cours doctoral

PhD supervision

  • 2025 Valorization of sawing by-products for energy: transformations, flows and compaction of a fibrous paste in extrusion processes COUSSOT Candice
  • 2024 Study of the industrial coating process by immersion using complex shapes and non-Newtonian fluids ALALI Aya
  • 2024 Rheological study and modeling of the filling process of complex shapes by a granular material, used for foundry casting. MOZANNAR Sokaina
  • 2024 Modeling of the reactive mixing process for waste conditioning in a cement matrix CHOUDHARY Rakesh
  • 2023 Numerical modeling and simulation of dewetting for Newtonian and viscoelastic fluids HERTEL Nicolas
  • 2022 Instabilities and texturing under flow of thin films of non-Newtonian fluids CAILLY Léa
  • 2021 ARRAY(0x841b2b6a8) ISUKWEM Kindness
  • 2021 Multi-scale modeling of interfacial instabilities and bubble dynamics: application to filling flows in the lost foam casting process. EL ZAHABI Jennifer
  • 2021 From cellulose ethers to bio-aerogels: Towards additive-free drug delivery vectors YU Sujie
  • 2020 High-fidelity numerical modeling and simulation of the Lost Foam process HAYEK Cynthia
  • 2020 Models and simulation of acoustic-thermomechanical coupling in complex fluids BOUTHIER Louis
  • 2018 Study of the rheology of ceramic pastes for the shaping of nuclear fuel by extrusion MOUGARD-CAMACHO Pierre-François
  • 2018 Numerical and experimental study of boiling phenomena - Application to quenching BRISSOT Charles
  • 2017 Analysis of the flow behavior at the wall of polymers under internal mixer conditions THIRUNAVUKKARASU Prashanth