Observations, Insights and Analyses: What’s New in the World of Micro Mechanics

It is widely recognized that material properties, mechanisms of deformation, and modes of failure can change drastically when sample dimensions are small compared to physical and microstructural length scales. The novel properties and size effects that arise from these changes have important implications for performance and reliability of materials in modern and emerging technologies. To address these implications, we need to understand the critical roles of elasticity, plasticity, and failure in small structures. However, mechanical measurements at the nanometer or micrometer scale present significant new challenges. They also present opportunities for direct comparisons to atomistic or micromechanical models. In addition, mechanical phenomena in small-scale biological materials and structure, soft materials and gels offer enticing opportunities to researchers in materials science and applied mechanics, who can investigate these phenomena with concepts and methods that have not previously been exploited in the biological sciences. It is the aim of the 2014 Gordon Conference on "Thin Film and Small Scale Mechanical Behavior" to discuss recent studies and future opportunities regarding research on material behavior at small scales. An overarching goal of this conference will be the integration of materials and modeling approaches to provide a fundamental understanding of material behavior at small scales. As in the past, the conference will benefit from contributions from fundamental studies of physical mechanisms linked to materials science and engineering reaching toward application The conference will feature novel test methodologies and in situ measurements as well as recent progress in atomistic and micromechanical modeling. Both experimental and computational work will be included in the oral and poster presentations at this Conference. We look forward to discussing these and other topics in the informal, collegial atmosphere of this GRC meeting, and encourage both former and new attendees to actively participate in the Conference.