ADVANCES IN HETEROGENEOUS MATERIAL MECHANICS: CUTTING-EDGE AND GROWING POINTS ------ OBSERVATION AND INSPIRATION FROM ICHMM2008

This paper is a systematic review of the cutting-edge and growing points of the heterogeneous material mechanics. It includes not only the contents of presentations and discussions of the six special workshops held in the ICHMM-2008, but also includes the focuses of recent researches and their new achievements. Specifically, this paper discusses advances in the following aspects: Multiple physics and multiscale modeling, atomistic to continuum analyses of material structure and behavior, stochastic microstructure evolution and degradation, modeling of realistic microstructure, biological and nature-inspired material design, in situ experiments and model validation, mechanics of functional gradient materials, and the development of micron-nano devices and systems. Among them, the topic of multiple physics and multiscale modeling is paid much attention, including its background, objectives, needs, advantages and disadvantages of the existent methods, obstacles for its development, applications, intrinsic connections with other research areas, as well as illustration of the cutting-edge points and notable new developments.