Members

IMMC

Paul Fisette
Professor
Contact
Recent publications

All our ongoing projects involve multibody dynamics:
- Optimization and control of road tilting vehicles
- Modeling and analysis of railway vehicles and infrastructure
- Study of the human spine kinematics and dynamics
- Historical study of ancient piano action
- Design of a virtual haptic piano keyboard based on real time models
- Coupling multibody dynamics with granular materials
- Efficient symbolic modeling of multibody models for real time applications
- Investigation of human muscle overactation via multibody approach
- etc.

IMMC main research direction(s):
Biomedical engineering
Computational science
Dynamical and electromechanical systems

Keywords:
biomechanics
multi-body systems
vehicle dynamics

Research group(s): MEED

PhD and Post-doc researchers under my supervision:

WholeTrack
Nicolas Docquier

The project aims at improving railway track lifecycle by improving its components such as the ballast, the sleeper, elastic pads, ... It consists in developing computer models coupling multi-body system dynamics (MBS) and granular modelling method (the discrete element method, DEM). Full scale experiments are conducted in parallel to validate the numerical models and assess the developed solutions.

Couplage entre dynamique multi-corps et méthode des éléments discrets
Olivier Lantsoght

Surgical planning for spinal fusion.
Gabriel Abedrabbo Ode

A biomechanical model may be useful in providing the surgeon the information needed for planning the best treatment. In this context, intervertebral efforts represent an essential input in guiding the surgical planning of scoliosis.

This project seeks to develop a clinical protocol based on experimental data and a multibody model of the upper body, to quantify the intervertebral efforts for idiopathic scoliotic adolescents during moderate gait. The estimation of intervertebral efforts is based upon four interwoven topics: patient physiology, spine geometry, spine and pelvis kinematics, as well as muscular forces.

A dynamic-based approach for road vehicle design optimization
Aubain Verle

Due to urban zone densification and energy rarefaction, some facets of life habits have to be revised. The mobility doesn’t derogate from this trend and is one of the major future challenges. Automotive industry is developing new solutions to cope with the increasing problem of mobility, the need for energy efficiency and customer requirements. Facing this multiplication of objectives, often conflicting, it is quite unlikely that one particular solution would satisfy all customers in all daily needs as it was with the car until now. Several new kinds of vehicles appear, each of them being able to answer a particular use. In the special case of urban and personal mobility, tilting three-wheelers seem to be a promising solution. Small and agile, they improve the traffic flow while the associated reduction of weight allows better energy efficiency.
Because of the increase – in number and quality – of the criteria imposed to tomorrow’s vehicles, the industry must propose new types of morphologies, incorporate new technologies and detect a maximum of synergies between the latter. Thus we observe a constant increasing design tasks complexity while the development times are shorter than ever. There is a real need for global design methodologies that include, from the earliest stage of the process, a multitude of components among which the dynamics takes place.
This work aims at developing a design methodology especially dedicated to road vehicles. The method has the particularity to enable to manage the trade-off between dynamic performances and mechanical feasibility. The method is being applied to a new three-wheeler under development in our laboratory. The main characteristics of this vehicle are a unipersonal seated position, a narrow track and a electric motorization.
We achieved the design of a first prototype on the basis of the optimization processes. In particular, we develop some very specific mechanical arrangements especially designed to maximize the dynamic performances of the tilting vehicle suspensions. Moreover, it is expected that a first implementation of the prototype will be built in the future to carry out some comparison between experiment and simulation.

Development of a haptic feedback device for digital keyboards based on real-time multibody models of piano actions
Sébastien Timmermans

The touch of a piano keyboard is an essential sensory information for pianists and results from the dynamics of the actions equipping traditional acoustic pianos. Present-day digital instruments offer the possibility of nuancing sound thanks to certain dynamics which imitates that of a traditional piano, but which is far from reproducing the finessed required by pianists.

His project aims at developing a haptic feedback device for digital keyboards, based on (i) multibody models of piano actions using Robotran software, (ii) the use of movement sensors and high dynamic actuators (iii) the study of the phenomenon of touch, with our partners in musicology (the Museum of Musical Instruments of Brussels and the Museum of Philharmonic Music of Paris).

Development of a dual-mode tilt control strategy for narrow track vehicle
Quentin Docquier

Nowadays, approximately 50% of the world population lives in cities whereas this number is expected to rise to 75% by the year 2050. As road infrastructures cannot be extended further, innovative vehicle solutions are necessary. Development of NTVs (Narrow Tilting Vehicles with a track of about 80cm) that are able to lean in curves is one of the ways to ensure a fluid urban mobility in the future. Those vehicles are steered like a car by the pilot through the steering wheel, while the vehicle tilt is handled by an embedded actuator. Two different control modes exist for tilting. The first one, named DTC, is efficient at low speed and consists in controlling the vehicle tilt with an actuator located between the suspension assembly and the chassis. The second mode, named STC, is more suitable at high speed and uses an actuator which steers the wheels, so that the lean angle and the vehicle heading can be simultaneously controlled.

The first part of the project focuses on the development of a dual-mode control strategy combining both DTC and STC modes for different vehicle velocities. This involves determining the critical velocity characterizing the transition between DTC and STC and analyzing how this transition must be operated. The dual-mode strategy will be developed on the basis of three criteria: the stability, the energy consumed by the actuators and the pilot vehicle interaction.

The second part of the project consists in approving the developed dual-mode strategy through testing on an experimental demonstrator. The vehicle will be driven according to given scenarios which will allow us to validate the strategy’s performance levels with respect to stability and energy consumption. Concerning the pilot-vehicle interaction, a study of the pilot perceptions with respect to his driving comfort and his safety feeling will be carried out. This will impact the final design of the tilt control strategy.

Quantification of efforts of back and core muscles through multibody models and non-invasive experimental measurements
Simon Hinnekens

This project aims to determine the strength of human back and core muscles in movement. The tools used are a biomechanical model with non-invasive electromyography (EMG) measurements. Results will allow us to quantify intervertebral efforts, which represent objective, essential data for improving current treatments of spine diseases (lower back pain, spondylitis and scoliosis). That is why, in this project, we plan to couple direct and inverse human multibody models, to put EMG signals in them and use phenomena of muscular synergies in numerical approaches - none of which has been studied in this field. Models and simulations will be validated through an experimental campaign carried out at the Gait Analysis Laboratory of UCL.

Recent publications

See complete list of publications

Journal Articles

1. Zobova, Alexandra; Habra, Timothée; Van der Noot, Nicolas; Dallali, Houman; Tsagarakis, Nikolaos G.; Fisette, Paul; Ronsse, Renaud. Multi-physics modelling of a compliant humanoid robot. In: Multibody System Dynamics, Vol. 39, no.1-2, p. 95-114 (2017). doi:10.1007/s11044-016-9545-4. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/179152

2. Abedrabbo Ode, Gabriel; Cartiaux, Olivier; Mahaudens, Philippe; Detrembleur, Christine; Mousny, Maryline; Fisette, Paul. Intervertebral efforts quantification using a multibody dynamics approach: application to scoliosis. In: Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, Vol. 20, no. Suppl 1, p. 1-2 (2017). doi:10.1080/10255842.2017.1382831. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/188794

3. Bokiau, Baudouin; Ceulemans, Anne-Emmanuelle; Fisette, Paul. Multibody dynamics as a tool for historical research. Study of an 18th century piano action of Johann Andreas Stein. In: Multibody System Dynamics, Vol. 37, no.1, p. 15-28 (2016). doi:10.1007/s11044-015-9498-z. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/213577

4. Bokiau,Baudouin; Ceulemans, Anne-Emmanuelle; Fisette, Paul. Historical and dynamical study of piano actions: A multibody modelling approach. In: Journal of Cultural Heritage, Vol. 27S, p. S120-S130 (2017). doi:10.1016/j.culher.2016.04.010. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/213579

5. Docquier, Nicolas; Poncelet, Antoine; Fisette, Paul. ROBOTRAN: a powerful symbolic gnerator of multibody models. In: Mechanical Sciences, Vol. 4, no. 1, p. 199-219 (2013). doi:10.5194/ms-4-199-2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/130689

6. Abedrabbo Ode, Gabriel; Fisette, Paul; Absil, Pierre-Antoine; Mahaudens, Philippe; Detrembleur, Christine; Raison, Maxime; Banse, Xavier; Aubin, Carl-Eric; Mousny, Maryline. A multibody-based approach to the computation of spine intervertebral motions in scoliotic patients.. In: Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, Vol. 176, p. 95-98 (2012). http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/112454

7. Raison, Maxime; Ballaz, Laurent; Detrembleur, Christine; Mahaudens, Philippe; Lebleu, Julien; Fisette, Paul; Mousny, Maryline. Lombo-sacral joint efforts during gait : comparison between healthy and scoliotic subjects.. In: Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, Vol. 176, p. 113-116 (2012). doi:10.3233/978-1-61499-067-3-113. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/112453

8. Raison, Maxime; Detrembleur, Christine; Fisette, Paul; Samin, Jean-Claude. Assessment of antagonist muscle force during forearm flexion /extension. In: Computational Methods in Applied Sciences, Vol. 23, p. 215-238 (2011). doi:10.1007/978-90-481-9971-6_11. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/113165

9. Docquier, Nicolas; Poncelet, Antoine; Delannoy, Michaël; Fisette, Paul. Multiphysics modelling of multibody systems: application to car semi-active suspensions. In: Vehicle system dynamics, Vol. 48, no. 12, p. 1439-1460 (2010). doi:10.1080/00423110903509335. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/75540

10. Collard, Jean-François; Duysinx, Pierre; Fisette, Paul. Optimal synthesis of planar mechanisms via an extensible-link approach. In: Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization : computer-aided optimal design of stressed solids and multidisciplinary systems, Vol. 42, no. 3, p. 403-415 (2010). doi:10.1007/s00158-010-0500-3. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/33683

Conference Papers

1. Timmermans, Sébastien; Fisette, Paul; Dehez, Bruno; Ceulemans, Anne-Emmanuelle. Real-Time Validation of a Haptic Piano Key based on a Multibody Model. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/210399

2. Docquier, Quentin; Fisette, Paul. Modelling and analysis of two-wheelers equipped with crowned wheels via a constrained MBS approach. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/213569

3. Fisette, Paul; Moreau, Emile. Simulation of the Aerodynamic Effects on an Actuated Pendulum with the Actuator Volume Method. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/213458

4. Timmermans, Sébastien; Fisette, Paul; Dehez, Bruno. Application and Validation of a Linear Electromagnetic Actuator within a Haptic Piano Keyboard. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/207813

5. Timmermans, Sébastien; Fisette, Paul; Ceulemans, Anne-Emmanuelle. A Haptic Piano Keyboard Based on a Real-Time Multibody Model of the Action. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/213090

6. Fisette, Paul; Bokiau, Baudouin; Timmermans, Sébastien. The Grand Piano Action Functioning Demystified thanks to the Multibody Approach. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/215131

7. Hinnekens, Simon; Fisette, Paul; Detrembleur, Christine; Mahaudens, Philippe. Multibody-based Quantification of Abdominal and Back Muscle Forces for Predefined Static Postures. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/213461

8. Hinnekens, Simon; Fisette, Paul; Detrembleur, Christine; Mahaudens, Philippe. EMG Measurements as Inputs for a Musculoskeletal Model: Quantification of Abdominal and Back Muscle Forces in Static Postures. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/218314

9. Timmermans, Sébastien; Fisette, Paul; Ceulemans, Anne-Emmanuelle; Dehez, Bruno. Haptic Piano Key based on a Real-Time Multibody Model of the Double Escapement Grand Piano Action. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/201139

10. Lantsoght, Olivier; Fisette, Paul; Dubois, Frédéric; Brüls, Olivier; Docquier, Nicolas. Coupling Multibody and Granular Dynamics: Experimental Validation. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/213345

Book Chapters

1. Docquier, Quentin; Brüls, Olivier; Fisette, Paul. Comparison and Analysis of Multibody Dynamics Formalisms for Solving Optimal Control Problem. In: IUTAM Symposium on Intelligent Multibody Systems - Dynamics, Control, Simulation (IUTAM Bookseries; xxx), Evtim Zahariev, Javier Cuadrado, 2019, p. 55-77. 978-3-030-00526-9. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-00527-6. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/213574

2. Verlé, Aubain; Fisette, Paul. Three-Wheeler Performance Optimization: Dynamics-Based Design Of A First Prototype. In: The Dynamics of Vehicles on Roads and Tracks (Proceedings of the 25th Symposium of the International Association of Vehicle System Dynamics (IAVSD 2017),; xxx), Taylor & Francis: London, UK, 2018, p. 301-306. 978-1-138-48252-4. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/213595

3. Verlé, Aubain; Fisette, Paul. Design of an active tilting three-wheeler: optimization of the dynamic performances via multibody simulations. In: The Dynamics of Vehicles on Roads and Tracks. Proceedings of the 24th Symposium of the International Association for Vehicle System Dynamics (IAVSD 2015), Graz, Austria, 17-21 August 2015 , Taylor & Francis Group: London, 2016, p. 219-228. 978-1-138-02885-2. doi:10.1201/b21185-25. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/182499

4. Habra, Timothée; Dallali, Houman; Cardellino, Alberto; Natale, Lorenzo; Tsagarakis, Nikolaos; Fisette, Paul; Ronsse, Renaud. Robotran-YARP interface: a framework for real-time controller developments based on multibody dynamics simulations. In: Multibody Dynamics Computational Methods and Applications , Springer International Publishing, 2016. 978-3-319-30612-4. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-30614-8. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/173786

5. Raison, Maxime; Laitenberger, Maria; Sarcher, Aurelie; Detrembleur, Christine; Samin, Jean-Claude; Fisette, Paul. Methodology for the Assessment of Joint Efforts During Sit to Stand Movement. In: Injury and Skeletal Biomechanics , xxx, 2012. 978-953-510-690-6; 978-953-51-0690-6. doi:10.5772/49996. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/113098

6. de Juan, A.; Collard, Jean-François; Fisette, Paul; Garcia, P.; Sancibrian, R.. Multi-Objective Optimization of Parallel Manipulators. In: New Trends in Mechanism Science: Analysis and Design , xxx, 2010. 978-90-481-9688-3. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/108309

7. Collard, Jean-François; Duysinx, Pierre; Fisette, Paul. Kinematical Optimization of Closed-Loop Multibody Systems. In: Multibody Dynamics: Computational Methods and Applications , xxx, 2009. 978-1-4020-8828-5. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/108307

Books

1. Samin, Jean-Claude; Fisette, Paul. Multibody Dynamics : Computational Methods and Applications. Springer: Dordrecht, The Netherland, 2013. 978-94-007-5403-4.pages. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/217363

2. Samin, Jean-Claude; Fisette, Paul. Symbolic Modeling of Multibody Systems. Kluwer Academic Publishers: Dordrecht, 2003. 1-4020-1629-8. 469 pages. http://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/217362

Dissertations

1. Fisette, Paul. Génération symbolique des équations du mouvement de systèmes multicorps et application dans le domaine ferroviaire, prom. : Samin, Jean-Claude, 1994. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.1/205365