Mathematical Modeling and Analysis of Materials

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

PhillipsDMS-0630496 The investigator and his colleagues organize a conferencewith the Society for Natural Philosophy on the topic,"Mathematical Modeling and Analysis of Materials." Theconference The conference program consists of four elements: theTruesdell lecture (a distinguished named lecture instituted bythe Society), six lectures by senior researchers, three lecturesgiven by recent Ph.D.s, and an open forum on future directions. The conference is widely advertised, specifically seekinggraduate student attendance. Participation of graduate studentsand young investigators is especially encouraged by devoting alarge component of the budget to supporting their travelexpenses. The conference themes address mathematical andphysical aspects of the interaction between thermal, electric,and mechanical properties in novel crystalline and soft mattersystems. The systems addressed include ferroelectric liquidcrystals and polycrystals, and elastomers. Applications includeelectro-optical switches for video displays, actuators, sensorsand miniature pumps designed to exploit electro-mechanicalinteractions. These are important state-of-the-art applicationsthat present significant mathematical challenges in theiranalyses. The speakers are mathematicians and physicists whopresent their research on analysis, modeling, and simulations forthese systems. Several common themes are highlighted. Thenatural setting for these systems is in the form of films,filaments, and thin strips. One theme is the application ofgamma-convergence and compactness techniques to capturelower-dimensional models. These systems all have complex energylandscapes with many meta-stable states. A second major theme isdeterministic and stochastic investigations of dielectric andferroelectric switching between such states. A third theme isthe investigation of flows in these materials. The Society for Natural Philosophy Conferences have ahistory of being cross-disciplinary endeavors and that spirit iscentral to this meeting. The conference is advertised to thescience community and the list of speakers includes physicistsand engineers. A goal of the conference is to expose studentsand young researchers to the challenges and open problems in thisarea. This is accomplished by supporting the travel expenses forthese people, having young researchers as speakers, and byholding a session on future directions.