Advances in materials and mechanics

Abstract

This chapter presents the research opportunities and challenges in mechanics and materials, including nanomechanics, microscopy, radiation scattering, and other nanoscale metrologies, as well as improved engineering, and design of materials in the exciting information age. The National Science Foundation (NSF) has supported basic research in engineering and the sciences in the United States over the previous years. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST, is a nonregulatory federal agency within the US Commerce Department's Technology Administration. NIST's is aimed at developing and promoting measurements, standards, and technology to enhance productivity, facilitate trade, and improve the quality of life. The Center for High Resolution Neutron Scattering, or CHRNS, is a national user facility that is jointly funded by NSF and the NIST Center for Neutron Research (NCNR). The CHRNS develops and operates state-of-the-art neutron scattering instrumentation with broad applications in materials research for use by the general scientific community. The chapter concludes with the discussion of the initiative Engineering Sciences for Modeling and Simulation-Based Lifecycle Engineering that is a three-year collaborative research program by NSF and the Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) focusing on advancing the fundamental knowledge needed to support advanced computer simulations. This collaborative initiative capitalizes on the missions of both organizations. NSF is aimed at advancing the fundamental science and engineering base of the US.