Ali HARKOUS

Assistant Professor

School of Engineering of Beirut

+961 (1) 421 000 ext 3457 ali.harkous2@usj.edu.lb

Mechanical engineer, PhD in “Materials & Process”. • Lecturer in the “Electricity and Mechanics” department at the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Saint-Joseph University of Beirut since 2023. • In 2011, he took part in an exchange program between the Faculty of Engineering at the Lebanese University (UL) and École Centrale de Nantes (ECN). He completed his final year in a double degree program before obtaining his mechanical engineering diploma from UL and his master's degree in “Energy & Propulsion” from ECN. • He completed his final year project at the Renault Group's Lardy technical site, where he studied the dynamics and thermography of engine valves. • In 2012, he began a doctoral thesis at the GEPEA laboratory at the University of Nantes. His thesis was the laboratory's contribution to an FUI (Fonds Unique Interministériel) project involving several industrial partners. The subject studied concerned the thermo-rheo-kinetic behavior of Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) and the study of its adhesion to thermoplastic parts during overmolding operations. • In 2015, he obtained his doctorate from the University of Nantes in “Materials & Process” as well as his qualification in “Energetics, Process Engineering” (section 62). • In 2016, he worked on a CNRS-funded post-doctorate project at the LTEN laboratory in Nantes. During this period, he studied the fusion bonding process for thermoplastic composite parts. This project, involving several academic and industrial partners, aimed to test the feasibility of this process with a view to applying it to lightening cars by replacing metal parts with others made of composite materials. • Between 2018 and 2023, he was a lecturer in the Mechanical Department of the Faculty of Engineering at the Lebanese University, as well as Head of the Mechanical Department at AUL University. • He participated in several AUF (Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie) projects and competitions on the theme of entrepreneurship, and with the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) as part of the “Implementation of the sector methodology for corruption risk management” strategy. • In 2022-2023, he was a member of the scientific committee of the OEA (Order of Engineers and Architects). And since 2022, he has been a member of the body of delegates. • Areas of expertise: materials (silicone, rubber, elastomers, thermoplastics, composites), injection molding and overmolding processes (2k injection), characterization, rheology, modeling, thermos-kinetic simulation, adhesion, mechanical testing, R&D, project coordination and management.

Education

Degree University Country Year
Doctorat - Génie mécanique Ecole centrale de Nantes / IFSTTAR France 2015
Diplôme d'ingénieur - Génie mécanique Université Libanaise Liban 2011
Master - Génie mécanique Université Libanaise Liban 2011

Research themes

Materials (silicone, rubber, elastomers, thermoplastics, composites), injection molding and overmolding processes (2k injection), characterization, rheology, modeling, thermos-kinetic simulation, adhesion, mechanical testing.

Publications and communications

• “Influence of the temperature on the composites’ fusion bonding quality”, Esaform 2017, Ireland, AIP Conference Proceedings. 1896 (2017) 030007.• “The kinetic behavior of Liquid Silicone Rubber: A comparison between thermal and rheological approaches based on gel point determination”, Reactive and Functional Polymers, 101 (2016) 20-27.• “Thermo-kinetic analysis of Liquid Silicone Rubber”, Esaform 2013, Portugal, Key Engineering Materials, 554 (2013) 1634-1648.