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Franck Pigeonneau

Franck Pigeonneau

Research Director

Center · CEMEF

Discipline(s)
Energy, Thermal Sciences, Fluid Mechanics
Topic(s)
Additive Manufacturing, CO2, Energy Efficiency, Nuclear

Keywords

Team

CFL - Calcul Intensif et Mécanique des Fluides

Biography

Franck Pigeonneau is a researcher specializing in the study of material forming processes, with particular expertise in heat transfer physics, complex fluid mechanics, and the science of glassy and polymeric materials. His work focuses in particular on the numerical modeling of multiphase flows, heat and mass transfer phenomena, as well as the optimization of industrial processes such as optical fiber manufacturing, the extrusion of filled polymers, and 3D printing via fused filament deposition. His research integrates experimental and theoretical approaches to analyze interactions between phases (solid, liquid, gas) and their impact on the final properties of materials, such as electrical conductivity, porosity, or light diffusion. A significant portion of his work also focuses on the control of nanoparticles in optical fibers, where he explores the mechanisms of nanoparticle formation, structuring, and dispersion for applications in distributed sensors and fiber lasers.

Publication(s)

Teaching

General Engineering Professions (MIG)

Lecturer

A MIG is a personalized, project-based learning program that brings together a group of 12 or 14 students, guided by the School’s faculty members, to explore a complex problem in its various dimensions—including, of course, scientific and technical aspects, but also cross-disciplinary aspects (socioeconomics, management, law, the environment, etc., depending on the field being studied). Ten different topics are offered. They all reflect current research themes being developed by the School’s centers and industry. The challenges students will tackle through these 10 projects address major issues facing the industry of the future and society: From Energy Resource Transformation to Management, Data Science and Innovative Applications, Raw Material Extraction and Environmental Impact, Design and Materials for Aerospace and Automotive, and Medical and Hospital Care Engineering Each MIG topic is addressed through complementary and interrelated activities during an intensive three-week period: - company visits, lectures, and classes - a period of experimentation and/or modeling at a research center or in a company, in the form of mini-projects carried out in small groups. In addition, each group of students collectively summarizes their work in the form of a written report and an oral presentation before a panel of industry professionals. This presentation will allow you to better understand all aspects of the topic and to deepen your teamwork skills.

Materials for Engineers

2025 Lecturer

The in-person component (27 hours) is structured into plenary sessions in a lecture hall (12 hours), small-group sessions (12 hours) with fewer students, and presentations of lab reports to a panel (30 minutes). It also includes a written exam (2 hours and 30 minutes). Students’ independent work (18 hours) includes (in addition to the engine disassembly and reassembly mentioned above): A self-assessment multiple-choice quiz (30 min) on prerequisites. This self-assessment is conducted prior to the first class to identify students’ strengths and weaknesses and then focus on certain aspects during face-to-face instruction. An assignment on phase diagrams (2 hours) An assignment on material aging (2 hours) Laboratory work at the CMAT (6 hours): 13 lab sessions are conducted in groups of 4 to 5 students, supervised by the Center’s engineers and technicians as well as doctoral students, since most lab topics are related to current thesis projects. A 20-minute oral presentation for each lab is given at the end of the day in two parallel sessions. Students therefore complete one of the lab sessions and participate in or attend half of the presentations at the end of the day. Two similar days are organized to accommodate the entire class. Final exam review (5 hours)

Glass and Ceramics

2021 – en cours Course Director

Solid materials are traditionally divided into three classes: “polymers,” “metals,” and “glasses and ceramics.” This course provides an introduction to this third class of materials, which lies at the heart of current and future technological developments. The course is divided into two equal parts: the first focuses on glasses, and the second on ceramics. Glasses The course will begin with a general overview of oxide-based glasses, which make up the majority of everyday glasses. The origins of glass will be discussed, and an overview of its essential properties will be provided. To conclude this introductory section, data on glass production and current decarbonization challenges will be presented. The course continues with an in-depth examination of the glass transition and the viscosity of glasses. The concept of relaxation time will be introduced. The structural relaxation of glasses will be discussed by introducing the concept of fictitious temperature. The configuration entropy of glasses will be presented within the framework of Adam-Gibbs theory. This provides insight into the laws governing the viscosity of glasses. Glass manufacturing will be discussed by presenting the various components used to make industrial glass. The chemistry of the glass-forming mixture (raw materials) will be presented. After examining the energy required to melt glass, industrial processes will be presented. The stages the molten glass undergoes during melting will be discussed. Finally, depending on the time remaining, forming processes will be covered. A more technical section of the course provides a foundation in heat transfer by radiation, thermal convection in furnaces, and aspects of redox reactions and bubble dynamics in glass-forming liquids. This section will be assigned to students for independent reading. Ceramics First, a general definition of ceramics will be presented, emphasizing the characteristic properties of this family of materials, from the atomic scale to the macroscopic scale. The distinction between technical ceramics and traditional ceramics will then be clarified. In this context, the main ceramic manufacturing processes—including the shaping and sintering stages—will be detailed. Next, two specific categories of ceramics will be explored in greater depth: ceramic-matrix composites, both oxide and non-oxide, which will highlight specific mechanical properties; refractory products, particularly those used in the glass industry, which will provide an opportunity to address issues related to resistance to corrosion and very high temperatures. Finally, future challenges related to these various industrial sectors will be discussed, taking into account technological, environmental, and economic developments.

PhD supervision

  • 2025 Digital twins and deep learning for optimized and decarbonized design of industrial glass furnaces AYOUN Yassine
  • 2025 Study of the kinetics of femtosecond laser-induced phase separation in nanoparticle-doped optical fibers SAHNOUNE Imane
  • 2025 Digital twins and Deep Learning for optimized and decarbonized design of industrial glass furnaces STENTA Marion
  • 2024 Deep reinforcement learning for innovative design and development of digital twins of packaging molds ZAAYTER Tony
  • 2021 Modeling of chemical reaction kinetics, heat transfer, and residual stresses in high optical index ophthalmic lenses. TABORE Alan
  • 2019 Thermo-mechanical study of the solidification of electrofused refractory products based on alumina, zirconia, and silica HOUDARD Tiphaine
  • 2018 Thermomechanical analysis of the additive manufacturing process by fused polymer filament deposition: Experimental and numerical study. XU David
  • 2017 Oxygen bubble formation mechanisms in a molten glass bath in the context of nuclear waste vitrification DE PAULA PEREIRA Luiz