Welcome to Sacha Wattel
© 2021 EPFL
After obtaining his Master's degree in Civil Engineering at EPFL, he started his PhD at LSMS in January 2021. He is enrolled in the EDME Doctoral Program in Mechanics.
A few questions to Sacha :
What is your field of research?
My field of research is the numerical exploration of tribology, more specifically adhesive and abrasive wear of brittle materials. My goal is to reduce empiricism in the current engineering models by investigating physic-based numerical wear models in order to both further the understanding of the underlying mechanisms and establish new engineering wear laws.
Why did you choose this field and what are you particularly enthusiastic about it?
Tribology is omnipresent in the mechanical world, anytime two contacting objects are in relative motion, you have friction and wear. The applications are wide, crossing scales from nanobots to teeth brushing to earthquake science, with implication in important and current challenges such as the emission of polluting particulate matter. Recent breakthrough at LSMS in the understanding of third-body formation during adhesive wear has sparked new interest in the field. I am enthusiastic about the LSMS method of using numerical simulations as a virtual laboratory to uncover novel understanding of physics.
Outside the lab, what do you enjoy doing most?
I enjoy hiking, biking and camping in the beautiful Swiss landscapes. When I am not in the mountains, I practice martial arts and like to share my home-brewed beers with friends.