Citation, Dr. Olivier Coussy, M.A. Biot Medal, 2003
Dr. Olivier Coussy is currently the Director of Institute Nervier, a joint research institute of Laboratories des Punts et Chausses (LCPC), Cole National des Punts et Chausses (ENPC), and University de Marne-la-Vale (UMLV). During the last two decades, he has contributed in many aspects of poromechanics, including fundamental formulation by mixture theory, thermodynamics, poroplasticity, partially saturated porous media, wave propagation, and chemomechanics. Among his large number of technical publications, the 1995 monograph Mechanics of Porous Continua (Wiley & Sons) received the highest acclaim. Its second edition is being prepared. He is also a co-author of Acoustics of Porous Media (1987), with T. Bourbié and Z. Zinszner. He was one of the founders of the Biot Conference on Poromechanics in 1998.
In addition to being a prominent scientist, Dr. Coussy is also a dedicated educator. Among his many excellent students, we can mention L. Dormieux and F.-J. Ulm, both are established researchers in poromechanics in their own rights.
Here are some quotations from the supporting letters:
“(The Mechanics of Porous Continua) was a timely, thorough and rigorous treatment of the subject. … The theoretical framework elucidated by Professor Coussy now makes it possible to attack these types of problems. … I know of no one who has done as much for the field of poro-mechanics in the last decade. His work exemplifies the rigorous and original treatment of practical problems that characterized that of Biot.”
“Prof. Coussy textbook is a modern masterpiece on porous media. … Prof. Coussy and colleagues created the field of chemomechanics of concrete durability and developed remarkable insights to the degradation process of concrete structure. I cannot think any other researchers whose contributions created such exciting new area in concrete research.”
“… his work covers many applied topics of engineering importance, such as the mechanics of concrete and clays. … the combination of depth demonstrated in his book and breadth covered by his papers makes him one of the best engineering scientists in infrastructure materials.”
“… Olivier Coussy developed the different elements of Biot’s original consolidation theory into a consistent mechanical framework, in which Biot’s work appears as a natural extension … his theoretical framework is the basis for many developments in the field of poromechanics, chemomechanics, durability mechanics, bio-chemomechanics, …”
“In 1992 I started teaching Biot’s theory … using much of the material that Olivier has covered in his (French version) book. Olivier’s book, then, was the only complete document that shined the light for graduate and undergraduate students … His energy and scientific motivation are unequaled in the effort to spread and extend the theory of Biot through organizing workshops for industry … (and) the Poromechanics Conference.”
“By its macroscopic nature, the Biot-Coussy Theory (as it s, by now, referred to in the scientific community) … was the first to open the door for modeling and simulation of coupled problems in engineering science such as … mechanically, hygrally, chemically, thermally or biologically induced degradation …”
“Mechanics of Porous Continua is not only the first book devoted entirely to this branch of mechanics, but also more importantly it establishes its rational foundation in the most rigorous terms.”
“Dr. Coussy has been quickly recognized as a leading expert on the mechanical behavior of porous materials such as soils and hydrated cement … has shown many unique skills in developing some of the most complex, sophisticated and powerful models to describe the properties of porous systems.”
“Coussy is widely acknowledged as one of the pioneers of the field of chemo-mechanics which has found many applications within civil engineering ranging from the durability of concrete structure … to the swelling and shrinkage of clays. As a geotechnical engineer I am very excited to find that chemo-mechanics can address some of the most intractable aspects …”
“… Coussy made particularly noteworthy advances in poromechanics … Coussy’s outstanding contributions were already recognized by several highly prestigious awards in France (Mandel and Plumey Awards, and Knight of the National Order of Merit).”
2003
