We analyze the development of investigations and scientific results in the field of physicochemical mechanics of materials, which plays the role of contemporary scientific direction in materials science. The main stages of development of this direction in the Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences are considered and the role of H. V. Karpenko in the formation and development of this branch of science is described. We also synthesize the most important scientific results, illustrate some their practical applications, and formulate urgent problems of the future investigations.