2008 Thin Film And Small Scale Mechanical Behavior Gordon Research Conference; Colby College, Waterville, Maine; July 27 to 1 August, 2008

关于“薄膜和小尺度力学行为”的戈登研究会议（GRC）将于2008年7月27日至8月1日在缅因州沃特维尔的科尔比学院举行。财政支持，以帮助支付差旅费和会议费的邀请与会者，研究生，博士后和初级教员。研究的智力价值是双重的：该主题的意义，力学和材料学科，以及该主题的跨学科性质。小尺度力学行为的研究一直是材料力学基础研究和现代技术广泛应用之间的关键环节。在这一领域的重大当前活动的动力来自于需要了解的弹性，塑性，随时间变化的变形，并在许多现代技术中使用的小结构，包括微电子，光学和MEMS器件，在燃气轮机热障薄膜断裂的关键作用，和摩擦涂层。人们认识到，当试样尺寸与某些物理和微观结构长度尺度相比很小时，材料特性可能会发生急剧变化。此外，在纳米或微米尺度的机械测量提出了重大的新挑战，但也有机会直接比较原子或微观力学模型。此外，小尺度生物结构中的机械现象为材料科学和应用力学的研究人员提供了诱人的机会，他们正在用传统材料界的概念和方法研究这些现象。因此，对小尺度力学行为的研究仍然是材料科学和应用力学领域研究的前沿。研究的主题是跨学科的，导致力学和材料学科与相邻学科（如材料科学、凝聚态物理学、微电子学和最近的生物学）之间的人员、思想和工具的流动。因此，本次会议汇集了在薄膜系统的变形和失效以及小尺度与块状材料的机械行为的根本差异方面有共同兴趣的研究人员。之前的会议为许多与会者开创了新的、意想不到的研究方向。2008年会议将突出对该领域具有持久意义的主题（弹性，变形和小型结构的断裂），以及日益重要的主题（小规模生物力学行为和新兴的原位测量技术）。GRC对知识传播和知识基础设施的刺激具有广泛的影响。一个典型的GRC汇集了来自许多学科和国家的国际专家。它还使青年学者在非正式的气氛中与这些专家直接接触。努力邀请不同背景、性别和种族的演讲者和其他与会者。2008年，所有发言者都将首次出席这一会议。每一个受邀的讲座将开始与背景的清晰描述，使与会者的研究前沿，并使一个延长的讨论时间。讨论领导者将代表一个经验丰富的小组，他们可以提供全面的观点。最后，报告员小组 有经验的人，他们做过杰出的工作，善于提出刺激性的问题。 将在每次会议结束时进行总结讨论。为期一周的时间里，来自学术界、国家实验室和工业界的研究生、年轻教师和经验丰富的研究人员将住在新英格兰一个小校园里的廉价宿舍里，在演讲厅、吃饭时和海报前讨论令人兴奋的话题。GRC的经历是独特而难忘的：它为许多人开启并维持了持久的科学友谊，对相当多的人来说，它是他们参加的最令人兴奋的会议。

The Gordon Research Conference (GRC) on "Thin Film and Small Scale Mechanical Behavior" will be held from 27 July to 1 August 2008, at Colby College, in Waterville, Maine. Financial support is requested to help to defray the travel costs and conference fees for invited participants, graduate students, postdocs and junior faculty members.The intellectual merit of the research is twofold: the significance of the subject to the disciplines of mechanics and materials, and the cross-disciplinary nature of the subject. The study of small-scale mechanical behavior has been a critical link between fundamental research in mechanics of materials and broad-ranging applications in modern technologies. The impetus for the significant current activity in this area comes from the need to understand the critical roles of elasticity, plasticity, time-dependent deformation, and fracture in small structures used in many modern technologies, including thin films for microelectronic, optical and MEMS devices, thermal barriers in gas turbines, and tribological coatings. It is recognized that material properties may change drastically when the specimen dimensions are small compared to certain physical and microstructural length scales. Furthermore, mechanical measurements at the nanometer or micrometer scale present significant new challenges, but also opportunities for direct comparisons to atomistic or micromechanical models. In addition, mechanical phenomena in small-scale biological structures offer enticing opportunities to researchers in materials science and applied mechanics who are investigating these phenomena with concepts and methods originating in the conventional materials community. As a result, the study of small-scale mechanical behavior remains at the forefront of research in the fields of materials science and applied mechanics.The topic of study is cross-disciplinary, resulting in fluxes of people, ideas, and tools between the discipline of mechanics and materials and neighboring disciplines, such as materials science, condensed matter physics, microelectronics, and more recently, biology. As such, this Conference draws together researchers who share common interests in the deformation and failure of thin film systems, and in the fundamental differences in the mechanical behavior of small-scale versus bulk materials. Prior meetings initiated new, unexpected research directions for many attendees. The 2008 Conference will highlight topics of lasting significance to the field (elasticity, deformation, and fracture in small structures), as well as topics of growing importance (small-scale biomechanical behavior and emerging in-situ measurement techniques).The GRC has a broad impact on knowledge dissemination and stimulation of intellectual infrastructure. A typical GRC brings together international experts on a subject from many disciplines and countries. It also brings young scholars into direct contact with these experts in an informal atmosphere. Effort is made to invite speakers and other participants who are diverse in background, gender, and race. In 2008, all speakers will be presenting at this meeting for the first time. Each invited lecture will begin with a lucid description of the background, bring the attendees to the forefront of research, and enable an extended period of discussion. The discussion leaders will represent a seasoned group who can provide overarching perspective. Finally, a group of rapporteurs very experienced people who have done distinguished work and are good at raising stimulating questions will lead summary discussions at the end of each session. For a week, graduate students, young faculty members, and seasoned researchers from academia, national laboratories, and industry will live in inexpensive dormitories on a small New England campus, and discuss stimulating topics in the lecture hall, over meals, and in front of posters. The GRC experience is unique and unforgettable: it initiates and sustains lasting scientific friendship for many people, and for quite a few it is the most stimulating meeting they attend.