This area covers the study, modeling and characterization of the behavior of materials and structures under thermal, mechanical and nuclear stresses, as well as the design and - study of new materials. In particular, it aims to:

  • Understand and model the static or dynamic mechanical behavior of materials and structures (from the fuel scale to that of containment vessels), under normal or accident conditions, via mechanical and acoustic characterizations.
  • Study and monitor the integrity of structures from commissioning to dismantling (controllability) using non-destructive testing and characterization methods, with a particular focus on understanding wave/material interactions, their modeling and implementation.
  • Understanding phase interactions and equilibria for waste management or LOCA-type accidents, via thermochemical characterization of inorganic materials up to high temperatures.

The work carried out in this area also forms part of the MISTRAL joint laboratory. MISTRAL is a joint laboratory between AMU/CNRS/Centrale Marseille and CEA that came into being on January 1, 2019. This joint laboratory is attached to the Laboratoire de Mécanique et d'Acoustique (LMA UMR7031) in Marseille. MISTRAL's scientific objectives are to anticipate, prevent and remedy as far as possible the failures of complex multi-scale systems hosting multi-physical phenomena, in order to increase their safety under operational conditions. This potentially concerns all high-risk industries, but one of MISTRAL's major fields of application is low-carbon energy production (fission and fusion, but also other energy sources). The objects of study are materials and structures of various scales placed under extreme conditions and stresses. MISTRAL's research methodology is based on multiphysics (mechanics, acoustics, thermics, etc.) and multi-scale aspects, as well as on state-of-the-art testing facilities and equipment. In the long term, MISTRAL aims to be a force for innovative proposals, for example, to improve safety and influence the design of future reactors (reverse engineering) and monitoring systems during operation. More specifically, MISTRAL focuses on six scientific challenges:

  1. How can we accurately model multi-physical phenomena?
  2. How can mechanical phenomena be modeled automatically across spatial scales (including contact zones), while controlling errors (in discretization and resolution) in relation to the exact (but unknown) solution?
  3. Homogenizing the behavior of materials & structures
  4. Behavior of a structural assembly in the presence of fluid flow and nonlinearities under external mechanical loads
  5. What measurable parameters are relevant for detecting & characterizing in situ "anomalies" in the evolution of structural behavior?
  6. How to characterize and monitor a heterogeneous environment?

It comprises 46 permanent staff and 12 non-permanent staff in 2024.