The Multi-Physics Modeling and Simulation Department at Sandia National Laboratories, California, is seeking a technical staff member to develop finite element-based simulation codes for linear and nonlinear solid mechanics and/or to perform solid mechanics and structural dynamics modeling and simulation. Typical departmental programs include: detailed analyses of weapon systems; design guidance of weapon components through analysis; development of forging and welding modeling capabilities; pressure vessel analysis including aging and failure; penetration modeling; ground shock and hydrodynamics modeling and simulations; failure model development and implementation (metals and composites); thermal and dynamic analysis of artillery projectiles; and electromagnetics and EM wave propagation analysis.

The Mechanics of Materials Department performs experimental and analytical studies to understand the mechanical behavior of materials. Our experimental work covers the entire discoverycharacterization-
validation spectrum. Motivated by observations, we develop models to simulate material responses under various loading and environmental conditions. The fidelity of our models and simulations vary from atomic to continuum scales corresponding to the requirement of Sandia applications. Accuracy of the models for specific applications is validated by experimental data. Numerical codes are developed to allow implementation of the
material models for high performance computing simulations.

The highly motivated scientist or engineer with expertise in experimental mechanics will work as a part of a diverse team in our state-of-the-art laboratories. The applicant is expected to develop and apply experimental research methods in one or more of several research areas, including: material model development, failure
model development, rate-dependent material effects and advanced experimental methods/diagnostic technique development.

Introduction:

This is the Fifteenth Conference in Mechanical Engineering series that started in 1992. The conference is concerned with the latest in theoretical, mathematical and scientific developments in Mechanical Engineering as well as application of established techniques to new domains. Following tradition of conference, ISME 2007 will provide an international technical forum for experts and researches from both the academia and industry to meet and exchange new ideas and present their findings of ongoing research in various Mechanical engineering disciplines.

Although nanostructures, such as nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanowires, nanobelts, and nanometer thick films, nanostructured materials and nanocomposites have been synthesized and fabricated by various techniques, their mechanical properties have not been well explored. These nanostructures are being used as structural and functional building blocks to construct micro/nanodevices. Some nanostructured materials exhibit the breakdown of Hall-Petch behavior. The failure of conventional reinforcing models has been found in nanocomposites. The extremely small dimensions of nanomaterials and micro/nanodevices impose tremendous challenges to many existing experimental techniques and modeling tools. An in-depth understanding of mechanics at the nanoscale is greatly needed. Development of mechanical testing, and manipulation instruments and techniques, is also a technological necessity. This symposium will focus on research on mechanical properties of nanostructures, nanostructured materials and nanocomposites, and reliability testing of micro/nanodevices.

Rui Huang's post early today reminded me of writing to all of you who are going to ASME meeting in Chicago, 5-10 November 2006, a short 10 days from today.

As I wrote in September, much of the initial planning for the next year's Congress will happen at the committee meetings this year. These meetings will formulate possible topics for symposiums in the next Congress. Surely you would like to see your favorite topics get picked.

Meetings of all Technical Committees are open to all. Please find the meeting times of the Technical Committees that interest you. You may also want to know who are the Chairs of the 17 Technical Committees in the Applied Mechanics Division.

In response to a proposal by Zhigang Suo in November 2005, the Executive Committee of the Applied Mechanics Division (AMD) of ASME has created a new Technical Committee on Integrated Structures. The main purpose is to provide a home at AMD for those who are working in the interdisciplinary areas involving applied mechanics and integrated materials/structures such as microelectronics and biomedical technologies. Read more here.

To forge the link between academia and industries, the committee will be co-chaired by industrial and academic members. For the first year, Jun He of Intel and Rui Huang (myself) have served as the co-chairs. As the 2006 ASME Congress (November 5-10) coming around the corner, we would like to draw your attention to our first activities at the congress.

The Fuel Cells and Solid State Chemistry Department at Risø National Laboratory, Denmark, is seeking a postdoc to work on the fracture mechanics of solid oxide fuel cells.

The work consists of theoretical analysis, computations as well as experimental work. You will work together with the people making cells and stacks, and with the fracture mechanics group in the Materials Research Department.

See full details at: http://www.risoe.dk/stillinger/Postdoc_ABF_271-06_uk.htm

I am pleased to announce that a new blolg associated with the International Journal of Fracture has been created by Springer. This is an ambitious project that aims to augment the published version of the papers and to create a dialogue between authors and readers. All articles beginning with the Dec 2004 issue now have a blog entry; ealier volumes will be added as digital processing of information continues. Discussion is not restricted to papers published in the journal, but should relate to the fracture/failure/structural integrity theme/micromechanics. Please see my post of Oct 25, 2006 for a detailed description of the obectives of the blog. I welcome your particpation in this experiment to enhance archival publication.

Dear Fellow ASME Micro & Nano Professionals :

There still is time to participate in the "Micro & Nano Society-Wide Forum" which will be held on Wednesday, November 8th, 5-8 pm, Williford Room C at the Chicago Hilton and Towers during ASME's Congress 2006.

The intention of this program is to stimulate cross-disciplinary knowledge-exchange, networking and synergy among ASME Members and other professionals interested in the development of nanotechnology. We extended the submission due date to Oct. 25th. (Previous one was a too short notice.)

A complimentary light dinner along with beverages will be provided during the program. All you need is your poster which will be tacked onto a poster board that is 96 inches by 48 inches (2.4 m by 1.2 m).

The effects of light propagation direction on the stress induced polarization dependence of silicon-based waveguide were studied. As silicon is an anisotropic material, the change of polarization dependence induced by the photoelastic effect depends on the light propagation directions. It is found that when the light propagates in <100> directions on {100} silicon, the changes of refractive index and polarization shift are about 20% more sensitive to the stress than those when the light propagates in <110> directions. (IEEE Photonic Technology Letters, vol. 18, No.