Within the framework of the TIGER  project, the University of Le Havre Normandie is carrying out a study on the in-situ ageing of structural bonding of composite materials using non-destructive ultrasonic methods (NDT ultrasound). The materials studied are conventional carbon-epoxy composite and recyclable composite based on recyclamine.

To quantify the damage levels as a function of in-situ ageing time, the measurements will be compared with the results from a rheological model (finite element methods).

The objective of this work is to improve the understanding of ageing phenomena in a hostile environment, both in terms of the material and the quality of the adhesion, and thus contribute to improving the quality of tidal turbine blades and minimising manufacturing costs.

Samples were immersed at the Paimpol-Bréhat tidal turbine test site on 3 June 2021 and some will be periodically taken, analysed and compared with reference samples.

This work is the result of a collaboration between ULHN, in charge of the study, SEENEOH SAS (Cerenis & Energie de la Lune) for the design and manufacture of the submerged structure containing the samples and the organisation of the operations at sea and EDF, the concessionaire of the Paimpol-Brehat site, for access to the site and administrative authorisations.