Fundamentals of Nanoindentation and Nanotribology IV

Nanoindentation and nanotribology are fundamental, evolving, and complementary disciplines within materials science. Recent years have resulted in rapid convergence of the biomechanical and materials disciplines, real wear and fracture problems appearing in microelectromechanical devices, and the explosive growth of the nanotube and nanostructured materials fields. The expansion of nanomechanical testing into these new fields has been accompanied by similarly rapid growth in our understanding of, and ability to perform, mechanical tests with ever-smaller forces and displacements. This occurs even as the materials and relevant length scales diverge from traditional engineering materials. Furthermore, the understanding of fundamental mechanical measurement techniques must continue to advance to understand and design new systems and materials to meet the challenges of technology.