[en] This paper reviews and presents work carried out in the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) on the subject of nuclear severe accidents, i.e. those which are accompanied by melting of the nuclear core material. The emphasis is on the (crucial) thermodynamic and material behaviour of corium melts in the solidus-liquidus temperature interval, which is linked to the thermal hydraulic description. A global model approach is proposed. The work is presented in the context of the overall international effort in the area. (authors)