diff --git a/examples/python/cohesive/material.dat b/examples/python/cohesive/material.dat
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fe0c97f54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/python/cohesive/material.dat
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+model solid_mechanics_model_cohesive [
+  cohesive_inserter [
+    bounding_box = [[0,10],[-10, 10]]
+  ]
+
+
+  material elastic [
+           name = virtual
+  	 rho = 1     # density
+  	 E   = 1   # young's modulus
+  	 nu  = 0.3      # poisson's ratio
+  	 finite_deformation = true
+  ]
+  
+  material cohesive_linear [
+           name = cohesive
+  	 sigma_c = 0.1
+  	 G_c = 1e-2
+  	 beta = 1.
+  	 penalty = 10.
+  ]
+]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/examples/python/cohesive/plate.geo b/examples/python/cohesive/plate.geo
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8774dd2d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/python/cohesive/plate.geo
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+h1 = .5;
+h2 = 1.;
+L = 10;
+l = L/20.;
+Point(1) = {0, 0, 0, h1};
+Point(2) = {L, 0, 0, h1};
+Point(3) = {L, L, 0, h2};
+Point(4) = {0, L, 0, h2};
+Point(5) = {l, 0, 0, h1};
+
+Point(6) =  {0, 0, 0, h1};
+Point(7) =  {L, -L, 0, h2};
+Point(8) =  {0, -L, 0, h2};
+
+
+Line(1) = {1, 5};
+Line(2) = {4, 1};
+Line(3) = {3, 4};
+Line(4) = {2, 3};
+Line(5) = {5, 2};
+
+Line Loop(1) = {2, 3, 4, 5, 1};
+Plane Surface(1) = {1};
+
+Line(6) =  {5, 6};
+Line(7) =  {6, 8};
+Line(8) =  {8, 7};
+Line(9) =  {7, 2};
+Line Loop(2) = {6, 7, 8, 9, -5};
+Plane Surface(2) = {2};
+
+
+Physical Surface(8) = {1,2};
+Physical Line("XBlocked") = {2,7};
+Physical Line("YBlocked") = {8};
+Physical Line("Traction") = {3};
diff --git a/examples/python/cohesive/plate.py b/examples/python/cohesive/plate.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..57808ef0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/python/cohesive/plate.py
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+from __future__ import print_function
+
+import akantu
+import numpy as np
+
+################################################################
+
+
+def solve(material_file, mesh_file, traction):
+    akantu.parseInput(material_file)
+    spatial_dimension = 2
+
+    ################################################################
+    # Initialization
+    ################################################################
+    mesh = akantu.Mesh(spatial_dimension)
+    mesh.read(mesh_file)
+
+    model = akantu.SolidMechanicsModelCohesive(mesh)
+    model.initFull(akantu.SolidMechanicsModelCohesiveOptions(akantu._static,
+                                                             True))
+
+    model.initNewSolver(akantu._explicit_lumped_mass)
+
+    model.setBaseName('plate')
+    model.addDumpFieldVector('displacement')
+    model.addDumpFieldVector('external_force')
+    model.addDumpField('strain')
+    model.addDumpField('stress')
+    model.addDumpField('blocked_dofs')
+
+    model.setBaseNameToDumper('cohesive elements', 'cohesive')
+    model.addDumpFieldVectorToDumper('cohesive elements', 'displacement')
+    model.addDumpFieldToDumper('cohesive elements', 'damage')
+    model.addDumpFieldVectorToDumper('cohesive elements', 'traction')
+    model.addDumpFieldVectorToDumper('cohesive elements', 'opening')
+
+    ################################################################
+    # Boundary conditions
+    ################################################################
+
+    model.applyBC(akantu.FixedValue(0.0, akantu._x), 'XBlocked')
+    model.applyBC(akantu.FixedValue(0.0, akantu._y), 'YBlocked')
+
+    trac = np.zeros(spatial_dimension)
+    trac[int(akantu._y)] = traction
+
+    print('Solve for traction ', traction)
+
+    model.getExternalForce()[:] = 0
+    model.applyBC(akantu.FromTraction(trac), 'Traction')
+
+    solver = model.getNonLinearSolver('static')
+    solver.set('max_iterations', 100)
+    solver.set('threshold', 1e-10)
+    solver.set('convergence_type', akantu._scc_residual)
+
+    model.solveStep('static')
+    model.dump()
+    model.dump('cohesive elements')
+
+    model.setTimeStep(model.getStableTimeStep()*0.1)
+
+    maxsteps = 100
+    for i in range(0, maxsteps):
+        print('{0}/{1}'.format(i, maxsteps))
+        model.checkCohesiveStress()
+        model.solveStep('explicit_lumped')
+        if i % 10 == 0:
+            model.dump()
+            model.dump('cohesive elements')
+        # if i < 200:
+        #     model.getVelocity()[:] *= .9
+
+    akantu.finalize()
+
+################################################################
+# main
+################################################################
+
+
+def main():
+
+    import os
+    mesh_file = 'plate.msh'
+
+    if not os.path.isfile(mesh_file):
+        import subprocess
+        ret = subprocess.call(
+            'gmsh -format msh2 -2 plate.geo {0}'.format(mesh_file),
+            shell=True)
+        if not ret == 0:
+            raise Exception(
+                'execution of GMSH failed: do you have it installed ?')
+
+    material_file = 'material.dat'
+
+    traction = .095
+    solve(material_file, mesh_file, traction)
+
+
+################################################################
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()