Nicolas Richart

Nicolas Richart is a Lecturer at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), affiliated with the School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering (ENAC) and the Computational Solid Mechanics Laboratory (LSMS). He works as an HPC Applications Expert within EPFL's SCITAS-GE unit, specializing in parallel computing and finite element simulations.

• Engineer in Computer Science (2005) from ENSEIRB, France
• PhD in Computer Science (2010) from Université de Bordeaux 1

His research focuses on computational mechanics, particularly finite element methods, non-local continuum damage modeling, and high-performance computing applications. He develops the open-source Akantu finite element library and investigates geomechanical modeling of CO2 storage, fault stability, and dynamic crack propagation in ceramic materials.

Recent publications highlight his expertise in continuum damage mechanics, cohesive zone modeling, and parallel computing applied to structural failure analysis and geomechanical simulations. Key subfields include fault stability in CO2 storage, micro-mechanical modeling of masonry, and dynamic fracture analysis in ceramics.

As an active contributor to computational mechanics research, Richart collaborates with institutions across Europe and the United States on seismic response analysis, crack propagation modeling, and non-local damage formulations. His work bridges software development (Akantu library) with practical applications in structural and geomechanical engineering.

He maintains dual office locations at EPFL's ME B2 454 and GC A2 505 buildings, with both teaching and research responsibilities spanning computational methods, structural analysis, and high-performance computing.