Theoretical and computational mechanics focuses on the deformation and failure of materials with a given shape when in rest (e.g., the earth solid parts, human built environments, and biological matter such as the human body). A general subject is the study of the physics involved into the reactions of a solid body to several excitations such as stress, deformation, temperature changes, electromagnetic changes, fluid flows, and the way in which these induce failure in the aforementioned body. Such studies are carried out in different length scales (from a set of atoms all the way to tectonic plates) by means of experimental, theoretical and computational techniques. Furthermore, they include the material’s behavior at different time scales (from picoseconds to geological time scales).

 

        INSπRE (former T&CMG) has as its goal covering the fields of theoretical, computational, and applied mechanics, provided these are the main bridge between fundamental science and industry. In specific, an area of especial interest for INSPIRE is the mechanics of granular media, which are complex materials with a broad range of geotechnical (volcanic phenomena, landslides, debris flow) and industrial (food, pharmaceutics, construction, mining) applications in which are the second material most used after water (P. Richard et al., 2005).

 

      Hence, a deeper understanding of the physics behind these types of materials has a direct impact on engineering design and computations. This turns society into the main beneficiary of the scientific contributions related to a better understanding of these novel materials.

 

        Such aforementioned benefits are translated not only into the creation of new science and its divulgation through scientific papers, academic spaces for societal outreach, and technical specialization, but also into the creation of new software with more sophisticated and accurate models for fields with a direct influence on life quality and wellbeing.