Study of the propagation of cracks in homogeneous, heterogeneous and/or architectural environments: The experimental work developed makes an important contribution to the understanding of the failure and mechanics of heterogeneous and/or architectural materials. They aim to better understand and describe the relationships between the microstructure and porosity of a material and its mechanical failure properties. The published work shows in particular how to interpret the post-mortem patterns and roughness observed on fracture surfaces (in mode I and mixed mode I+III); how to explain the intermittent dynamics observed during the slow propagation of a crack in a heterogeneous material and, on another scale, in the seismic activity associated with earthquakes; and how to report the cracking rates observed during the dynamic fracture of fragile polymeric glass.
Architectural and bio-inspired materials: We systematically explore the process parameters of additive manufacturing (FDM, SLS and Stereolithography) in order to manufacture materials that have controlled mechanical properties. We are looking to develop two classes of materials. (i) materials whose structure would control the path of a crack propagating through them, and (ii) materials with bio-mimetic structures.