The SPIN Centre at Mines Saint-Étienne structures its research activities around two recognised units, at the intersection of materials science, geosciences, the mechanics of complex media, the physics of natural processes and process engineering. This research, both fundamental and applied, is conducted through academic and industrial partnerships, in support of the environmental and technological transition.
The Georges Friedel Laboratory is a CNRS Joint Research Unit, part of the Institute of Engineering Sciences and Systems (INSIS). It is located at the École des Mines de Saint-Étienne and is jointly led by Mines Saint-Étienne and the CNRS.
LGF brings together all of the School’s expertise in materials, mechanics and processes, with a strong multi-scale and interdisciplinary approach.
SPIN Centre teams conduct research there on:
- rheology and the mechanics of granular and complex media;
- materials processing (forming, sintering, compaction, shaping);
- experimental and numerical modelling of non-linear behaviour;
- industrial applications in the energy, environment, transport and metallurgy sectors.
The EVS Research Unit develops an interdisciplinary approach focused on environmental, social and territorial transformations. Within EVS, SPIN Centre researchers focus on natural resources (soils, geomaterials, the subsurface, water) and their sustainable management. They analyse interactions between natural dynamics, risks and spatial planning, with a view to supporting public decision-making and the ecological transition.
Research focuses in particular on:
- physical and chemical characterisation of natural environments;
- hydrogeological and geophysical models;
- assessment of the environmental impacts of developments;
- risks related to the exploitation or preservation of resources.
Research at the interface between natural and industrial environments
Building on these two Research Units, the SPIN Centre develops high-impact work combining experimentation, modelling, observation and simulation. It actively contributes to addressing the challenges of the ecological transition, control of industrial processes, and sustainable valorisation of natural resources.