Projects and achievements
Some of the challenges that inspire our work at GRAM include the creation of advanced hearing-protection devices for workers, the development of acoustic materials and tools for predicting, measuring and localizing noise. Discover more projects here:
Hearing protection devices
The main objective of this research theme is to improve devices dedicated to auditory protection or assistance. Toward this end, GRAM is focusing on the following:
- Better understanding the various types of discomfort caused by wearing these devices.
- Developing digital and experimental tools for predicting and measuring the acoustic response within the auditory canals of human heads equipped with these devices, including all transmission paths through tissue.
- Developing more comfortable passive and active devices (e.g.: bionic ear) that allow for improved intelligibility of useful sounds, better communication in noisy environments, reduced occlusion and reduced mechanical pressure on the walls of the auditory canal.
- Partners: Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST)
- Funding: NSERC Discovery grants (Prof. Olivier Doutres)
- Project period: 2023-2028
- Partners: Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), Le Mans Université (France)
- Funding: NSERC Idea to Innovation (INNOV - phase I, Prof. Olivier Doutres)
- Project period: 2023-2024
- Partners: Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), ÉTS, INRS (France), ISL (France)
- Funding : IRSST (grant per program #2022-0034)
- Project period :2022-2027
- Partners: Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), ÉTS, INRS (France), ISL (France)
- Funding: NSERC Discovery grants (Adj. Prof. Franck Sgard)
- Project period: 2022-2027
- Partner: ÉTS
- Funding: NSERC Discovery grants (Prof. Rachel Bouserhal)
- Project period: 2021-2026
- Partners: Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), ÉTS, Université de Sherbrooke, INRS (France), University of Sheffield (UK)
- Funding: IRSST (collaborative research project #2015-0014), Mitacs, INRS, University of Sheffield
- Project period: 2018-2023
- Partner: ÉTS
- Funding: NSERC Discovery grants and FRQNT - Establishing new university researchers (Prof. Olivier Doutres)
- Project period: 2016-2023
- Partner: ÉTS
- Funding: NSERC Discovery grants (Prof. Jérémie Voix)
- Project period: 2017-2022
- Partners: ÉTS, Sonomax Technologies Inc.
- Funding: NSERC, Sonomax Technologies Inc.
- Project period: 2016-2021
- Partners: ÉTS, Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST)
- Funding: IRSST (research activity #2017-0032), Mitacs
- Project period: 2017-2019
- Partners: Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), ÉTS
- Funding: IRSST (collaborative research project #2013-0017), Mitacs
- Project period: 2015-2019
- Partners: Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), ÉTS
- Funding: IRSST (research activity #2016-0020), Mitacs
- Project period: 2016-2018
- Partner: ÉTS
- Funding: NSERC Discovery grants (Prof. Jérémie Voix)
- Project period: 2012-2017
- Partners: ÉTS, Sonomax Technologies Inc.
- Funding: NSERC, Sonomax Technologies Inc.
- Project period: 2010-2016
- Partner: ÉTS
- Funding: FRQNT
- Project period: 2015-201
- Partner: ÉTS
- Funding: NSERC Engage grants
- Project period: 2013-2014
- Partners: ÉTS, Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST)
- Funding: IRSST (Activity estimate)
- Project period: 2011-2014
- Partner: ÉTS
- Funding: Mitacs (Accelerate)
- Project period: 2011-2013
Materials and meta-materials
The main challenges associated with this area of research include the eco-design of lighter, less cumbersome and more efficient materials for absorbing and/or insulating against low- and medium-frequency noises and vibrations.
- Partners: ÉTS, Université de Sherbrooke, McGill University, Université de Bourgogne (ISAT), University of Salford
- Funding: NSERC Discovery grants (Prof. Thomas Dupont)
- Project period: 2019-2024
- Partners: ÉTS, McGill University, Université de Sherbrooke, Université de Bourgogne (ISAT)
- Funding: FRQNT (Team grants)
- Project period: 2021-2024
- Partners: ÉTS, Université de Sherbrooke, Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST)
- Funding: IRSST
- Project period: 2021-2022
- Partners: ÉTS, Université de Bourgogne, Université de Sherbrooke, University of Salford
- Funding: ÉTS
- Project period: 2018-2021
- Partners: Université de Sherbrooke, ÉTS, NRCC, University of Hamburg, Airbus Operations GmbH, 3M Canada, Mecanum, Hutchinson Aerospace GmbH
- Funding: NSERC, CRIAQ, CARIC, Mitacs, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research
- Project period: 2017-2021
- Partners: ÉTS, Soft dB
- Funding: NSERC Engage grants
- Project period: 2020
- Partners: ÉTS, Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST)
- Funding: ÉTS, IRSST
- Project period: 2015-2016
Sources and transmission paths
Under this theme, we seek to identify and prioritize sources of noise, which is made possible thanks to a microphone antenna combined with source localization algorithms. The goal of our research is to improve these algorithms in order to create a precise acoustical image of surrounding noise sources.
We also strive to understand the noise-generation mechanisms of the sources once they have been identified. The main noise sources studied at GRAM include sources of impact or impulsive noises that are frequently encountered in the working environment, such as nail guns.
In addition, we are working toward demystifying the dynamic behaviour of systems, structures and interfaces, because the vibrations generated by these noise sources and mechanical systems can also be transmitted to the structures to which they are attached, and then emitted in the form of noise. Our research aims to reduce this type of noise, which is referred to as structure-borne noise.
- Partners: Bombardier Inc
- Funding: Mitacs Accelerate
- Durée: 2023-2024
- Partners: Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), ÉTS, Université de Sherbrooke
- Funding: IRSST (project #2018-0026), Mitacs
- Project period: 2021-2025
- Partners: ÉTS, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), Université de Sherbrooke, McGill University
- Funding: IRSST, Mitacs
- Project period: 2021-2025
- Partners: Bombardier, Bell Helicopter, Parker Canada, Université de Sherbrooke
- Funding: CRIAQ, NSERC, Bombardier, Bell Helicopter, Parker Canada
- Project period: 2018-2021
- Partner: ÉTS
- Funding: NSERC Discovery grants (Prof. Frédéric Laville)
- Project period: 2014-2019
- Partners: ÉTS, Soft dB
- Funding: NSERC Engage grants
- Project period: 2017
- Partners: ÉTS, Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST)
- Funding: IRSST (research activity #2015-0075)
- Project period: 2015-2017
- Partners: ÉTS, Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST)
- Funding: IRSST (collaborative research project #0099-6580)
- Project period: 2013-2017
Environmental noise
Research projects conducted in connection with this theme focus on studying characterization methods, indicators, threshold values and solutions for reducing environmental noise.
- Partner: ÉTS
- Funding: Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec (MSSS)
- Project period: 2018-2020
- Partners: McGill University, ÉTS, Université Laval
- Funding: Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec (MSSS), ministère de l'Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques (MDDELCC)
- Project period: 2018-2020