Research field: Mechanics
Specialized fields: Mechanics of materials, experimental methods, multiscale approaches
School: Ecole des Ponts ParisTech / Université Paris Est
Laboratory: Laboratoire Navier (joint unit Ecole des Ponts ParisTech / IFSTTAR / CNRS)
Localization: Marne-la-Vallée
Deadline for application: 30 March 2012
Contacts:
Karam Sab karam.sab@enpc.fr Phone : 01 64 15 37 49
Michel Bornert michel.bornert@enpc.fr Phone : 01 64 15 37 90
Denis Garnier denis.garnier@enpc.fr Phone : 01 64 15 36 61
Context
This position is aimed at reinforcing the experimental skills of the “Multiscale modeling and experimentation of heterogeneous solids” team of the Navier laboratory. This recently created team currently comprises nine full-time faculties. Its objective is to develop innovative methodologies for the construction of constitutive relations of the mechanical behavior of materials based on their micromechanical and multiscale description
and to apply them to a wide class of materials, with a special focus on those used in the fields of civil engineering, underground storage and energy (cements, concrete, soils and rocks, wood, etc). This approach relies on a relevant dialogue between complementary theoretical, numerical and experimental investigations. The team has recently acquired several new state-of-the-art experimental devices, among which an X-Rays microtomography platform, specifically designed to combine 3D imaging down to micrometric resolutions and complex mechanical solicitation of samples, as well as a nano-identation system which allows to explore mechanical properties at micrometric scales.
Description of the position
The new faculty will develop a research activity on the mechanics of materials, with a strong experimental content, focused on both an improved description of the microstructures of materials and a better understanding of the micromechanisms acting and interacting at local scale, in view of the construction of constitutive relations of their coupled overall thermo-hydro-chemo-mechanical behaviour, and, if possible, the optimization of their properties by means of the control of the elaboration process.
The research will be devoted to the development of innovative experimental techniques and methodologies providing new information and/or to the application of these methods, or more classical ones, on materials of interest for the laboratory, in order to get access to data likely to feed and/or to validate numerical or theoretical upscaling models.
The developments will in particular be linked with
• the nano-indentation device, in view of the improved in situ characterization of the mechanical behavior of the constitutive phases of a heterogeneous material; the faculty will be in charge of the supervision of this new device and its development.
• the various imaging techniques available in the lab, including the microtomography platform, surface and volume digital image correlation systems and classical and confocal optical microscopy.
The hired junior scientist may also develop his activity making use of other advanced experimental devices available in partner labs, such as the other departments of the IFSTTAR, or the member labs of the federation F2Mmsp. He may also run experiments on the national and international facilities like the ESRF and Synchrotron Soleil. Other techniques might also be developed, such as interferometry, ultrasonic investigations, diffraction, thermography, etc whenever their interest in the above described context is
demonstrated.
Expected background
Candidates should have obtained their PhD from a top-level national or international institute. They will have demonstrated their ability to develop a research activity at the best level in the fields of experimental micromechanics and/or multiscale imaging techniques and/or full-field measurement techniques. They should be sufficiently trained in the field the mechanics of materials in order to be able to interact with researcher from the field of theoretical and numerical mechanics. They will also have to demonstrate their ability for teamwork and their autonomy.