There are currently five main research and innovation areas in mechanics:
-Biomechanics
-Environmental mechanics
-Energy/transport
-Micro-nano mechanics
-Complex mechanics (complex fluids and solids)
In all of these systems, fluid and solids interacts. For example, the deformation of red blood cells affect their transport (biomechanics), cavitation bubbles appearing in xylem cells can block the sap flow in trees (environment), or the micro- (or nano-) pillars of textured surfaces can bend under capillary forces when wetted.
These systems are complex since they involve a large number of parameters. In order to describe them, one needs to simplify them, i.e. to identify the main mechanisms at play. This mandatory simplification phase, that will be encountered by the young Polytechnicians in their future, is a phase of analysis that requires perspective and a synthetic overview on the mechanics of deformable media.
This course is build to help master this process by proposing small research projects involving solid mechanics and hydrodynamics. This course also allows to apply theoretical knowledge to concrete questions.
Starting from a concrete problem, each binome must develop a question, build an experimental setup, and analyze experiments in order to answer to the question.
The goal is to apply the simplification approach to the initial complex problem.
Here are a few examples of recent projects: How to describe the shape of a lasso? How to explain the sinking of the Titanic? build a capillary flipper? understand fin propulsion ? Describe the conditions under which soap bubbles are formed ? Explain why honey does not fall from the spoon when it is rotated ?
Numerus clausus : 14
Evaluation modalities: Presentation of the obtained results during a defense in the form of a mini conference in front of the other groups.
Course language: French or English
- Teaching coordinator: Cohen Caroline
- Teaching coordinator: Duprat Camille