  Starting from some relevant facts concerning the behaviour of the universe
over large scale and time span, the analogy between the geometric approach of
General Relativ- ity and the classical description of an elastic strained
material continuum is discussed. Extending the elastic deformation approach to
four dimensions it is shown that the accelerated expansion of the universe is
recovered. The strain field of space-time repro- duces properties similar to
the ones ascribed to the dark energy currently called in to explain the
accelerated expansion. The strain field in the primordial universe behaves as
radiation, but asymptotically it reproduces the cosmological constant.
Subjecting the theory to a number of cosmological tests confirms the soundness
of the approach and gives an optimal value for the one parameter of the model,
i.e. the bulk modulus of the space-time continuum. Finally various aspects of
the Strained State Cosmology (SSC) are discussed and contrasted with some
non-linear massive gravity theories. The possible role of structure topological
defects is also mentioned. The conclusion is that SSC is at least as good as
the LCDM standard cosmology, giving a more intuitive interpretation of the
physical nature of the phenomena.
