Dimensional Digital Metrology Applied to the Characterization of Hygrothermal Properties of Wood in Building Construction

Scientific Context and Challenges: In 2021, the French government identified the renovation and maintenance of buildings as a priority sector for civil engineering development over the next 30 years, as part of the "France Relance" plan. This sector necessitates innovations in construction materials, particularly wood and wood-derived products, which require better characterization of their thermal and moisture-related properties to address challenges related to energy performance, user comfort, and health. These materials, when exposed to varying environments, present significant challenges for precise in-situ measurements, which are essential for energy flux analysis and performance modeling. Currently, the lack of adequate equipment hampers research in this field, making energy renovation and the rehabilitation of older buildings more complicated. Comprehensive research is essential to develop precise, non-destructive measurement tools tailored to real-world conditions, thereby optimizing material selection and improving the environmental performance of buildings.

Research Objectives: The thesis project aims to first improve existing in-situ measurement protocols. Following this step, it will involve designing or enhancing a prototype for measuring thermal and moisture properties on a real-scale building wall, leveraging dimensional digital metrology techniques. The subsequent steps will focus on validating the protocol, measurement system, and associated models. Finally, the experimental device will be applied to create a database of thermal and moisture properties of innovative or unregistered wood-based materials.

The Faculty of Sciences and Technologies (FST) is located in the southern suburbs of Nancy, in the townships of Villers-lès-Nancy and Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy. Within the Université de Lorraine, this Training and Research Unit (UFR) is forming with the UFR SciFA and MIM in Metz, the Collegium of Sciences and Technologies.

Many bilateral agreements with other European universities enable students to study a semester or a year abroad. Several courses are international as Physics integrated curriculum, built in partnership with Saarland University or other courses as Erasmus Mundus Masters built with consortia of several partner universities.

On the campus, students can study in excellent conditions: computer rooms, language laboratories, experimental platforms... With the experience and knowledge of 360 Professors, assistant Professors or lecturers and the proximity of excellent research laboratories housed on campus in which they can do internships, our students are trained at the forefront of technology and innovation.

The campus also houses the University Library of Sciences and Techniques. The Botanical Garden of Montet(link is external) quite near is an extra teaching tool for students in plant biology while the Aquarium Museum of Nancy, accessible by tram No. 1 which serves the campus, can be used by students in animal biology. The educational resource centre AIP-PRIMECA Lorraine on the campus is used as experimental support for some of our training courses in engineering. It promotes the implementation of manipulations of an industrial nature. The close proximity of the University restaurant of the Vélodrome and student residences are additional assets facilitating studies. Lastly, the campus hosts a large number of students’ associations which contribute to the animation of the site and allow a rapid integration of newcomers.

Concerning LERMAB (see https://lermab.univ-lorraine.fr/qui-sommes-nous) :

LERMAB (Laboratory for Studies and Research on Wood Materials) is a multidisciplinary laboratory of the University of Lorraine (UR 4370) linked to the INRAE center in Nancy-Lorraine as USC (unit under contract). It is located on two main sites (on the Épinal wood campus and at the Faculty of Science and Technology in Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy), and also has a presence in Longwy in IUT.

It has just over fifty permanent staff, mainly teaching researchers with expertise in different scientific fields (physical and organic chemistry, mechanics, chemical engineering, biology), as well as around forty non-permanent staff (PhD students, post-docs, contract scientists and undergraduate or master's interns).

Drawing on various scientific skills such as biology, chemistry, energy, process engineering, physics, mechanics, and civil engineering, the laboratory develops research related to wood and natural fibers, ranging from the molecular scale to the macroscopic level of the material, and even to the scale of wood structures.

Due to its unique position related to the nature of its object of study, the laboratory plays a privileged role as an interface between research and the wood industry, developing fundamental and applied research through collaborations with different technology transfer centers such as Critt Bois or CETELOR as part of the Fibres Energivie competitiveness cluster.

• Education: Master’s degree or engineering diploma in Civil Engineering, Materials Science, Energy, Metrology, or related fields.
• Technical Skills: Thermodynamics, heat and moisture transfer, scientific instrumentation, numerical simulation (programming optional).
• Personal Qualities: Rigor, autonomy, innovative mindset, teamwork, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Additional Experience: In-situ experimentation or experimental device design is a plus.
• Language Skills: Proficiency in English (written and spoken) is essential.