Symposium on "Mechanics of Nano-, Biological and Cellular Materials"
2006 ASME IMECE, Chicago, IL

The objective of this mini-symposium is to discuss recent advances in multiscale modeling of nano-, biological and cellular materials and to identify future research opportunities in the subject area. Various aspects of development of modeling strategies and their applications in describing the behaviors of nano- biological materials will be addressed. Innovative theoretical, computational and experimental approaches will be discussed. The contributions will include, but are not limited to, the following topics:
Atomistic and continuum computations, and computational schemes to couple various scale in both time and space; Material modeling, non-local and higher-order strain gradient continuum theories; Failure criteria, plasticity and deformation in materials, including fracture, diffusion, size effects and dislocation dynamics; Nanocomposites reinforced by carbon nanotubes or other nanoparticles; Modeling of biomaterials such as proteins and DNA, tissue and cellular mechanics; Artificial bio-materials; Simulation and design of new bio-sensing materials, and computer aided protein engineering; Structure-property relationships: cellular materials and structures, including honeycombs, auxetic foams, truss core and frame structures, and sandwich composites with foam cores; Multifunctional behavior and failure of foamed materials; Mechanics of nonlinear materials ; Experimental techniques; Loading responses: static and dynamic.
Symposium Organizers:
Dr. Emmanuel Ayorinde, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Wayne State University
Detroit, MI 48202, Ph: (313) 577-5548, e-mail: ayorinde@eng.wayne.edu
Dr. Xin-Lin Gao, Department of Mechanical Engi A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, Ph. 979-845-4835, e-mail: xlgao@tamu.edu
Dr. Valeria La Saponara, University of California, Davis, e-mail: vlasaponara@ucdavis.edu

Symposium on "Surface and Interfacial Phenomena in the Micro- and Nanomechanical Behavior of Materials",
2006 ASME IMECE, Chicago IL

The purpose of this symposium is to present recent advances in the modeling, simulation, and characterization of surfaces and interfaces. Our goal is to provide a forum to discuss similar challenges and techniques in understanding deformation and tribological properties of heterogeneous materials through fundamental mechanisms of defect microstructures. Contributions will be accepted on topics related to but not limited to the following: Relaxation of crystalline-amorphous interfaces; Mechanical behavior of nanostructured materials; Internal stress and mechanical properties of thin films and multilayers; Mechanical properties of polycrystals, ultra-fine grain crystals, nano-crystals; Grain boundary sliding, migration, interaction with dislocations; Plasticity in small volumes; Tribological properties of nanostructured materials and thin films; Friction-property relationships across multiple length scales; Adhesion mechanics of surfaces; Solid lubricants in nanostructured materials; Elastodynamics related to friction; Novel experimental methods, in-situ techniques.
Symposium Organizers:
Prof. Wei Cai, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University caiwei@stanford.edu
Profs. Robert V. Kukta, and Chad S. Korach, Department of Mechanical Engineering, State University of New York at Stony Brook, robert.kukta@sunysb.edu chad.korach@stonybrook.edu

Second Meeting of the "Thin-Air Philosophical Society"

In August of 2005, we organized a workshop on “Current Challenges in Mechanics and Materials” at the University of Wyoming. The workshop was supported by NSF and the University of Wyoming.
Under the title “Current Challenges in Mechanics of Materials,” the four-day workshop included four major themes, one for each day. These themes are (a) Current Issues in Mechanics and Materials, (b) Computational Issues in Mechanics and Materials, (c) Mechanics and Materials in the Bio-World, and (d) Review and Discussion.
The workshop was attended by more than thirty participants. All the presentations can be found at: http://wwweng.uwyo.edu/mechanical/research/ccmm/Schedule2005.html
This file includes the final workshop schedule, the technical report compiled after the end of the workshop, and the list of registered participants.