Mechanics of size-dependent materials

The main driving force in modern technology is to make systems of smaller dimensions and novel materials. This poses enormous technological challenges to manufacturing procedures, both at structural and microstructural levels.Onthe other hand, the researchers face mechanical behavior that is inherently size-dependent.Many examples in the literature show that both natural and man-made materials exhibit complicated microstructures with exceptional micro- and nano-scale phenomena. Concepts from mechanics of materials that are based on a classical, size-independent continuum description are not able to account for this complex behavior. Thus, there is a need for new mechanics able to address the size-dependent behavior of materials. As a result, various types of size-dependent models of continuum mechanics have been developed.