Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

The engineering programme at École nationale des ponts et chaussées prepares each student to become a real player in sustainable development and planning in all its dimensions. Engineers graduating from École nationale des ponts et chaussées are recognised by companies for their strong scientific skills combined with a capacity for practical implementation of knowledge and projects.

Engineering education at École nationale des ponts et chaussées leads to the development of skills in four dimensions:

• Advanced scientific and technical education: understanding and implementing conceptual, mathematical or numerical modelling approaches while knowing how to critically evaluate the results of a model is one of the foundations of the engineering profession that the School's training enables students to master.

• Project-based and on-the-job training: from the very first year, numerous collective or individual projects are developed, increasingly close to real engineering projects. For students entering the first year, four internships in laboratories and companies will punctuate the curriculum.

• Managerial, human and social skills: integrated from the first year, the human and social sciences give students an understanding of the world and the ability to take into account the problems of society. A solid knowledge of the business world is developed through courses, internships and projects.

• The ability to work in a team and to work internationally: 20% of teaching time is devoted to languages. International stays and contact with many foreign students enable engineering students to learn to work in a multicultural context.

In the context of admissions of international students from partner institutions, it should be specified that :

• The engineering degree from Ecole nationale des ponts et chaussées is a general engineering degree with prerequisites common to all teaching departments in the School's core disciplines: Mathematics (Optimisation, Probability, Analysis and Scientific Computing), Continuous and Solid Mechanics, Quantum Physics and Statistics, Programming, Human and Social Sciences.

•  The vast majority of courses in engineering training are in French. A B1 level in French is therefore required to be proven by a certificate (TEF, TCF, DELF, DALF).

• A TOEIC score of at least 785 points (or an equivalent international test, such as TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge Proficiency, CAE or FCE) is required in order to obtain an engineering degree from Ecole nationale des ponts et chaussées at the end of the course. For this reason, a B1 level in English is required for admission, to be proven by a certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC, CAMBRIDGE).

In addition, each department of engineering education has specific prerequisites:

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Department

Scientific analysis and calculation

Fundamental numerical methods for the engineer: finite differences for time integration of evolutionary equations, finite elements for solving variational problems.

Linear algebra, matrix calculus, tensor calculus.

Laplace transform, Fourier transform.

Partial differential equations and finite elements

Automatic linear

Servoing – Control.

Solid Mechanics

• Kinematics and dynamics of non-deformable solids

• Geometric Transformation: Eulerian and Lagrangian Descriptions

• Internal stresses for 3D continuous medium: Cauchy stress tensor, Green-Lagrange strain tensor, linearization

• Thermodynamic approach to linear thermoelastic behaviour, three-dimensional linear thermoelasticity problems

• Flat deformations

• Theorem of kinetic energy

• The Theorems of Minimum Potential Energy and Complementary Energy

• Principle of the finite element method in linear elasticity

• Linear elasticity finite element method

• Concepts of Limit Analysis and the Study of Linear Elastic Curvilinear Media

Fluid mechanics

• Eulerian Kinematics

• Euler's equations

• Navier-Stokes equations

• Reynolds Number Irrotational plane flows of perfect incompressible fluid

• Actual and complex potential

• Conformal transformations

• Transformation and Zhukovsky profiles

Physico-chemistry of the states of matter

• Basic mechanical properties and physical origins: Elasticity - Plasticity - Viscosity

• Large classes of materials

• Material structures: pure bodies, suspensions, alloys, foams, emulsions, granulars

• Elementary components and structure scale

• Pure components (Main interactions - van der Waals forces - Thermal agitation - Phase changes - Gaseous, liquid, solid and glassy states - Mechanical behaviour and links with local interactions)

• Interactions with surfaces (Adsorption - Surface tension - Wetting - Contact angle)

• Colloids (Brownian motion - Diffusion - Sedimentation - Colloidal forces: van der Waals, electrostatics, depletion, adsorption of polymers - Stability - Concentration regimes - Mechanical behaviour)

Statistical physics

Calculation of entropy and associated thermodynamic quantities for simple physical systems at equilibrium, in the case of phase transitions and in out-of-equilibrium situations, from microscopic model systems (perfect gas, polymer, two-state systems, etc.).

Probabilities

• Fundamental notions (probability space, random variable, law, expectation...)

• Usual laws with real and integer values.

• Concepts of convergence

• Strong Law of Large Numbers

• Central Limit Theorem

• Main algorithms for simulating random variables

• Monte-Carlo method

The programs taught in the Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science Department include compulsory classes, exposure weeks, and elective courses. The compulsory classes are divided into three groups.

• Core curriculum classes (e.g. introduction to law, management, languages…) which aim to give you the basics needed by today’s engineers.
• Classes in department: The emphasis is placed on modelling and the big fields of mechanical engineering (fluids, structures and materials, robotics) together with Eco-design.
• Exposure weeks are organized with contributions from experts, professionals, and researchers in the fields of materials, R&D, and design. Trips and visits to companies are also organized.
• A choice of elective courses delivered by the Department or other departments will help you to combine your knowledge of a domain of application with a familiarity with crosscutting tools.

Classes are balanced:

• Management sciences: 25%
• Mechanical engineering: 50% (Fluids, Structures, Materials – metals, polymers, technical ceramics, composite materials, nanomaterials)
• Projects – design: 5% for mechanical modeling program and 30% for robotic program

• Computational fluid dynamics. Fluid-structure interaction
• Rheophysics
• Acoustics
• Advanced Physicochemistry of cementitious materials
• Applied microporomechanics
• Autonomous vehicles
• Body Advanced Design for Automotive Solution
• Ceramic materials
• Complex fluids
• Compressible flows and thermal transfer 
• Computational fluid mechanics with code Saturne 
• Computer-aided design with Catia
• Dynamics and stability in industry
• Dynamics of systems
• Control of systems
• Programing and architectural design
• Elasticity and strength of heterogeneous materials
• Finite element modeling with Abaqus
• Fluids and granular materials: mixing and rheology
• Flying Structure Designing
• Department Project
• Department Seminar
• Heterogeneous materials and structures  
• homogenization in fracture mechanics
• Introduction to homogenization in continuum mechanics
• Material and structures fatigue
• Mechanical behavior of materials 
• Mechanical parameters identification
• Mechanics of composite materials
• Molecular and micro-mechanical simulation of materials
• Molecular simulation in materials science 
• Nanomaterials
• Numerical approaches for nonlinear mechanics
• Numerical calculation for the industry
• Numerical modelling of equipment & structures & application to seismic analysis 
• Physical mechanics of climate change
• Physics of Porous Solids  
• Plates and Shells 
• Polymers
• Poromechanics
• Rapid Prototyping
• Seminar "Challenges of Electricity in Energy Systems"
• Simulations and tests in dismantling nuclear power plants
• Structural mechanics
• Structural mechanics (elastic beams)
• Sustainable engineering design
• Uncertainty engineering in Mechanics    

Course catalogue

Access to the entire range of courses is not guaranteed: some courses are limited in number or have specific pre-requisites.
To consult the accessibility of the courses in the catalog > go to the "department" tab.
Up to 30% of programme courses can be chosen among other departments (City, Environment, Transportation; Civil and structural engineering; Industrial engineering; Applied mathematics and computer science; Economics, management, finance; Languages and Cultures; Humanities and Social Sciences).

This program prepares students for potential highflying positions in industry and public sector, requiring strong scientific and technical capacities in the research, development, and design of new products and materials.

• Research engineer or design engineer
  It provides access to a first job as a research or design engineer in the mechanical engineering domain. It lays the foundations for eco-focused design and emphasizes the responsibilities of design engineers with regard to sustainable development issues.
   
• Senior executives
  It provides a springboard for fast track promotion towards positions heading major projects or industrial programs, such as the design of a new vehicle at one of the big car manufacturers or the development of a new material in a major global industry in the sector. This could lead to a career as an international expert or senior executive in such companies.