Scope |
This symposium will highlight nanomechanics and mechanomaterials that aim to proactively deploy mechanical forces and designed geometries during fabrication to program properties of materials from the nanoscale and up. This is a paradigm shift from conventional mechanics of materials approaches which largely focus on passively describing the behaviors of materials in response to mechanical forces. Presentations will include recent developments of designed materials and structures to achieve targeted mechanical properties and functionalities including strength, toughness, fatigue resistance, lightweight, flexibility, and robust/reversible adhesion among others.
This award symposium was established to honor Professor William D. Nix and the tremendous legacy that he has developed and shared with the minerals, metals, and materials community and to highlight and promote continued progress and innovation relevant to research into the underlying mechanisms and mechanical behavior of macro-, micro-, and nanoscale materials. This symposium specifically recognizes Professor Nix’s influential roles at the interface of mechanics and materials science for more than half a century.
Professor Nix’s research and seminal contributions to structural materials, thin films, and nanoscale plasticity have had significant impact on critical U.S. industries, spawned new fields of study, and motivated generations of researchers working in fields that span from aerospace to microelectronics. Breakthroughs in technologies for these critical industries depend heavily on the availability of advanced materials that can be engineered and optimized at the nanoscale. Professor Nix’s groundbreaking contributions have allowed us to characterize, understand, and predict the mechanical behavior and reliability of such materials and have been critical enablers of these key technologies. |