GDR MePhy

The past years have seen a renewed interest in the physics community for solid mechanics. Physicists, mainly condensed matter physicists, have started to revisit problems of mechanics and materials, thought to be classical by engineers and mechanicians. This renewed interest brought a research stimulus in the solid mechanics community. An example can be found in the theme of elastic structures where buckling, once thought as something to avoid, is now used to design and optimize systems: soft structures working in the post-critical regime are bringing new functionalities while still exhibiting excellent mechanical performances. Other examples can be found in biomechanics, the interplay between fluid and solids, growth and form, fracture mechanics.