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Physics, Mechanics and Plasticity

The "Physics, Mechanics and Plasticity" Group studies the mechanical behaviour of metals, polymers, glass, composites and living matter, from the elementary mechanisms of deformation (displacement of dislocations and one-off defects, macromolecule reptation).This research requires a pluridisciplinary approach, where mechanics, physics, chemistry and biology are all taken into account.


The subjects studied cover highly varied domains ranging from transport (automobiles and aeronautics) to energy, without neglecting biomedical applications. The stated intention of these studies is to establish structure-properties relationships:

- During the use of newly developed materials
- During the steps leading to their development
- To predict their long-term behaviour in terms of ultimate mechanical properties


Several routes are implemented to better understand the microstructure-physical property relationships of materials:

  • Develop laboratory experimental means at the atomic to mesoscopic scales, not forgetting the molecular one.

  • Develop original experimental devices such as a machine for high temperature, mechanical, trials with synchrotron radiation, full-field measurements, video piloting of mechanical traction trials and trials of high-tension thin membrane swelling etc.

  • Develop laws of behaviour that are as representative of the behaviour of the material as possible, taking into account microstructure evolution, that is itself dependent on the multi-scale formulation and morphology of each type of material. Integrating these behavioural laws into a realistic mechanical model  allows the behaviour of a representative volume of the material to be determined and simulations of physical measurements to be carried out to confront theory and practice.

  • Use the post-mortem analysis of deformed states to learn about the mechanisms of deformation at the atomic scale in crystalline materials and at the molecular scale in polymers, particularly by methods of high resolution or wide experimental window relaxation spectroscopy.



The "Physics, Mechanics and Plasticity" Group is currently based at the Artem campus in Nancy.


The Group is composed of 2 researchers, 8 University lecturers, 4 emeritus professors and one technical staff member. It currently hosts 10 PhD students and post-doctoral fellows. 



Group supervisor:  Isabelle ROYAUD