Nanomechanical Testing in Materials Research and Development VIII

An ECI Conference Series

October 2-7, 2022
Le Méridien Lav Split
Split, Croatia

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Call for Abstracts

About This Conference

This conference will bring together people working in the field of nano- and micromechanical testing in materials research. The mechanical behavior of materials is typically controlled by processes that span several length and time scales. There has been a rapid expansion of available testing strategies in recent years to examine elastic, plastic, fracture and fatigue properties at multiple length scales, with control of loading mode, temperature and atmosphere, including imaging during deformation and using a multitude of available signals. This conference brings together the research community working in the field of experimental mechanics with a focus on nano- and micro-mechanical testing and a special emphasis on bridging observations across multiple length scales, coupling them with modelling and using new methods from data science. In particular, this includes:

1. Observing phenomena at different length scales, from processes occurring at the atomic scale (i.e., dislocation nucleation and propagation in single crystals or at individual interfaces) to the mesoscale (from oligocrystals to polycrystals); in this sense, contributions bridging observations across multiple length scales are especially welcome;
2. The use of in-situ deformation studies in SEM, TEM, AFM, optical microscopy, X-Ray, neutron and electron characterization (both imaging and diffraction);
3. The use of different spectroscopy techniques (photon, phonon, electron, ion, or combinations), i.e., correlated microscopy, to understand deformation processes in advanced structural materials;
4. The implementation of nano- and micromechanical tests, including testing under service conditions (in operando);
5. The post processing of the data, including full field measurements by image and volume correlation, as well as time-resolved experiments to unravel dynamic processes far from equilibrium;
6. Integration with modeling for mechanistic discovery, experimental interpretation, parameter calibration, or model validation.
7. Application of artificial intelligence, data-driven methods and materials informatics in materials science in the context of materials’ deformation at the nano- and microscale.

Applications of these nano- and micromechanical testing methods have become more and more important in all fields of materials research including metals, ceramics, glasses, polymers, coatings, composites, and biomaterials and will improve our understanding of the complex mechanical behavior of advanced materials. Besides hardness, time dependent properties, phase transformations, fracture phenomena and toughness can be quantitatively evaluated with the new test methods. For many applications, the temperature and rate dependence and other environmental parameters, such as exposure to aggressive atmosphere or radiation, are of great interest. These nano- and micromechanical testing techniques will help in the development of design concepts for materials based on their local mechanical properties and underlying deformation mechanisms. 

This conference will bring together people working in the field of nano- and micromechanical testing in materials research. It will provide a forum for discussion of the latest activities in application of nano- and micromechanical testing methods.

Conference Organization

Conference Chair

Sandra Korte-Kerzel, RWTH Aachen University

Steering Committee

Gerhard Dehm, Planck Institute for Iron Research, Germany
Karsten Durst, Technical University Darmstadt, Germany
Mathias Göken, University Erlangen-Nurnberg, Germany
Marc Legros, CEMES-CNRS, France
Carl McHargue, University of Tennessee, USA
Johann Michler, EMPA, Switzerland
Jon Molina-Aldareguia, IMDEA Materials Institute, Spain
George M. Pharr, Texas A&M University, USA

Preliminary Program and Poster List

Pre-Conference Tutorial

• Studying rate and temperature dependence in nanomechanics – Verena Maier-Kiener, Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria
• Processing and analysing micrographs with artificial intelligence – Setareh Medghalchi, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
• Analyzing dislocations in the TEM – Stefanie Sandlöbes-Haut, RWTH Aachen University, Germany

Conference Fees and Registration

Conference Fees

All conference fees are inclusive. They include registration, accommodations (nights of Sunday October 2, Monday October 3, Tuesday October 4, Wednesday October 5 and Thursday October 6), all meals and taxes from dinner on Sunday through breakfast on Friday.  Incidental fees (telephone calls, faxes, spa, laundry, minibar etc.) are billed to your personal account by the hotel.  

ALL PARTICIPANTS (INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE AND INVITED SPEAKERS) ARE REQUIRED TO REGISTER.

The conference fees are:

	Register on or before Sept 1, 2022	Register after Sept 1, 2022
Participant (single occupancy or sharing room with a guest; guest fee additional)	US $2,420	US $2,620
Participant (sharing a room with another participant)	US $2,130	US $2,330
Bona fide Graduate Student (sharing a room with another student) (Those in this category must upload proof of current status during registration – copy of current Student ID or a letter from your University confirming your student status)	US $1,715	US $1,915
**Fees for Guest/accompanying person sharing bedroom with a participant. (Includes all conference included meals and excursion)	US $830	US $830

If you plan to bring children to the conference, please contact Kathy Chan for pricing.

Conference Registration

You will need a login name and password to register for ECI conferences through our online system. If you have been a recent participant at an ECI conference or have submitted an online application or request for information about an ECI Conference, you may already have an account with us. If you know your login information, please use it.

If you are not sure whether you already have a login and password, please click on automated password retrieval and enter your e-mail address before creating a new account. If we don’t have a valid email address on file for you, a pop up window will appear stating that no records were found. Click “OK” and then follow the instructions to create a new account.

If you have any questions or experience any difficulties, please email Kathy Chan.

Special Notes and Payment Instructions

We suggest that you register as soon as possible to be certain that you will have a hotel room at the conference rate.

All participants are encouraged to register before September 1, 2022.  There is a discounted price for registering before this date.  Hotel space cannot be guaranteed for registrations received after this date.  Your registration is not officially confirmed until we receive payment of the amount due and COVID-19 vaccination proof is verified by ECI staff.  ECI reserves the right to cancel your room registration if payment is not received or your vaccination proof is invalid. Your invoice/receipt will automatically be e-mailed upon of receipt of your registration.  Should you need a signed receipt, please contact Kathy Chan.

Because of contractual guarantees made with the hotel for room and meal functions, no shows, late arrivals, missed meals and early departures cannot receive fee adjustments.  If you have a disability and may require accommodation in order to participate fully in this conference, please indicate this when you register. An ECI representative will contact you to discuss your specific needs. If you have special dietary requirements (e.g., vegetarian or a food allergy), please make a note on your registration.  The chef needs to know this information in advance if we are to accommodate you. ECI will attempt to accommodate special requests such as Kosher or Halal meals, but such meals may not be available at all conference sites. The participant must pay any additional costs for special meal requests that ECI pays a surcharge for.

Payment must be made by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, and Amex), check or money order drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. dollars, payable to ENGINEERING CONFERENCES INTERNATIONAL. Checks or money orders in any other currencies are NOT ACCEPTABLE.  Payment must be made on the web site except for those who are sending payment by wire transfer or have a purchase order from their company/institution.

WIRE TRANSFER PAYMENT: If you are planning to make payment by wire transfer, please contact Kathy Chan for the bank information. You must add $30 to cover ECI bank charges. Please reference your full name and the conference title.  Please email a scanned copy to Kathy Chan.  This is very important – otherwise it is extremely difficult to trace your payment and you may not receive a receipt prior to the conference.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellation must be received by ECI in writing at least 28 days prior to the start of the conference in order for a full refund (less a processing fee) to be considered. The ECI auditors require that refunds for all conference cancellations be processed after the conference so that the necessary back-up information (e.g., hotel list of those in-house) can be attached to the refund request and ECI can verify that the hotel has not charged a cancellation fee.

Cancellation fees:

• Cancellations received more than 28 days prior to the conference start date are subject to a processing fee of 4% of the total fee, plus any direct expenses incurred by ECI.
• Cancellations received 15 – 28 days prior to the conference start date are subject to a $250 cancellation fee plus any direct expenses incurred by ECI.
• Cancellations received 8 – 14 days prior to the conference start date are subject to a $500 cancellation fee plus any direct expenses incurred by ECI.
• No refunds will be issued for cancellations received less than 7 days prior to the conference start date.
• No refunds will be issued due to inclement weather or travel disruptions/cancellations.

Registrations may be transferred without incurring any penalty or cancellation fee.

Denied or delayed visa

If a participant is forced to cancel due to a denied or delayed entry visa, ECI will issue a full refund if ECI has been notified of a potential visa issue at least four weeks prior to the conference start date.

Change of payment method

If an attendee who has already paid the conference fee with a credit card requests that the fee be refunded to that card so that it can be paid in a different manner (e.g., charged to an alternate credit card, or paid via check or bank transfer), a processing fee of 4% of the total fee amount will apply.

Disclaimer

It may be necessary for reasons beyond the control of ECI to alter the content and timing of the program or the identity of the speakers. In the unfortunate circumstance that an event is cancelled, ECI is not liable for any costs incurred by participants in connection with their attendance.

Smoking is prohibited at ECI conferences and conference functions. 

Should you have specific questions regarding your registration, please contact Kathy Chan.

Call for Abstracts

One-page abstract/s that include specific results and conclusions to allow a scientific assessment of a proposed oral presentation or poster are invited.

Oral abstract deadline: April 15, 2022

Poster abstract deadline:  May 1, 2022

Abstracts should be submitted electronically and submissions must follow the template: docx or doc. 

ECI will sponsor poster competition for students.

Previous Conferences in This Series

Instrumented Indentation Testing in Materials Research & Development
October 9 – 15, 2005 – Crete, Greece
Conference Chairs:
George M. Pharr, University of Tennessee, USA
Carl McHargue, University of Tennessee, USA

Nanomechanical Testing in Materials Research & Development II
October 11 – 16, 2009 – Barga, Italy
Conference Chair:
Mathias Göken, University Erlangen-Nurnberg, Germany

Nanomechanical Testing in Materials Research & Development III
October 9 – 14, 2011 – Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
Conference Chair: Gerhard Dehm, University of Leoben, Austria

Nanomechanical Testing in Materials Research & Development IV
October 6 – 11, 2013 – Albufeira, Portugal
Conference Chair: Johann Michler, EMPA, Switzerland

Nanomechanical Testing in Materials Research & Development V
October 4-9, 2015 – Albufeira, Portugal
Conference Chair: Marc Legros, CEMES-CNRS, France

Nanomechanical Testing in Materials Research & Development VI
October 1-6, 2017 – Dubrovnik, Croatia
Conference Chair: Karsten Durst, Technical University of Darmstadt, Germany

Nanomechanical Testing in Materials Research & Development VII
September 29-October 4, 2019 – Torremolinos/Malaga, Spain
Conference Chair: Jon Molina-Adlareguia, IMDEA Materials Institute, Spain

Venue Information

Split is Croatia’s second largest city, lying on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea.  It was founded as a Greek colony in the 2^nd or 3^rd century BC and then became the capital of the ancient Roman province of Dalmatia.  It later became a Byzantine city and during the middle ages Split enjoyed autonomy as a free city.  Later it was caught in the struggle between Venice and Croatia and for a period of time was a Venetian city, a heavily fortified outpost surrounded by Ottoman territory.  After being occupied in 1813, it became part of the Austrian Empire until the fall of Austria-Hungary in 1918 and the formation of Yugoslavia.  In World War II, the city was annexed to Italy, then liberated by Partisans and then re-occupied by Germany, liberated again by Partisans in 1944 and was included in the post-war Yugoslavia.  In 1991, Croatia seceded from Yugoslavia in the Croatian War of Independence.  In the years following 2000, Split again began development with a focus on tourism.  Approximately 350,000 people reside in the Split metropolitan area.

Split has a borderline humid subtropical and Mediterranean climate.  During our conference period, we can expect highs of 23C and lows of 16C.  The average amount of rain in October is about 75 mm. 

The historic center of Split is included as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Among the things to do in Split:

Diocletian’s Palace – This palace dominates the city’s historic core – a wonderfully preserved 4^th century complex building.  Because of its size, it is more a citadel than a palace.  The original Roman streets sill have their original paving stones.

St. Duje’s Cathedral – The Cathedral of Saint Domniu is the seat of the Archdiocese of Split-Makarska.

Peristil Square – the original Roman court.  Still standing are to 3,500-year old Egyptian sphinxes brought to the city by Diocletian.

Marjan – A hill on the pensinsula of Split, it is covered in a dense Mediterranean pine forest and completely surrounded by the city and the sea, making it a unique site.

Campanile – Split’s iconic bell tower, next to the cathedral.  View of the cityscape and the Adriatic are worthwhile.

Statue of Grgur Ninski – Sculptor Ivan Mestrovic created this scultpture of the 10^th century bishop who conducted religious ceremonies in the Croatian language (defying the pope) and helped spread Christianity in Croatia.  People rub Ninski’s big toe for good luck. 

Split is home to numerous museums and galleries:

• Archeological Museum
• Museum of Croatian Archeological Monuments
• Split City Museum
• Ethnographical Museum
• Croatian Maritime Museum
• Split Science Museum
• Gallery of Fine Arts
• Ivan Mestrovic Gallery

There should be no difficulty in Split finding a field for the Nanomechanical Testing football matches traditionally organized by Marc Legros as Split residents consider their city as “the sportiest city in the world.”  The largest football stadium has a capacity of 35,000, far larger than the typical number of fans watching the Nanomechanical match.

Le Meridien Lav, Split

The hotel is located 25 km from the SPU International Airport of Split, and about 8 km south of Split in Podstrana on the Dalmatian Coast.  It enjoys a beautiful setting, boasting an 800 m stretch of beach with fantastic sea views across to the city and its surrounding islands.  Each guestroom has a floor-to-ceiling window that opens to a large balcony, a 32” flat screen TV, Wi-Fi and high-speed internet access, individually controlled air conditioning, a hair dryer and an in-room safe.  In addition to excellent meeting facilities, the hotel also has a spa, fitness center, outdoor terraces, four tennis courts, heated indoor and outdoor pools plus numerous restaurants and bars.

Transportation

The Split Airport website gives an overview of the flights, transportation and services.

More information will be posted when registration opens; however, the hotel does not provide shuttle service but can make arrangements for transportation with its partners or conference participants can take a taxi directly from the airport.  Currently the estimate taxi fare is 40 EUR (one way).

Pre/Post Conference Reservation Form

If you are arriving early or staying after the conference and wish to extend your stay in the conference hotel, please download and complete the Pre/Post Conference Reservation form posted below and send it directly to the conference hotel. ECI does not guarantee or pay for rooms reserved before or after the conference – you must reserve extra nights directly with the hotel and you are responsible for paying the hotel directly for any extra nights.

Sponsors

Sponsorship Opportunities

Package A: $1,500

• Name of company on Sponsor List in Program
• Company logo displayed on screen between sessions

Package B: $2,500

• Half-page ad in program booklet
• Name of Company on Sponsor List in Program
• Company Logo displayed on screen between sessions
• Company logo & link on conference website

Package C: $3,500

• Table to display company information
• Full page ad in program
• Name of company Sponsor List in Program
• Company Logo & link on conference website
• Company Logo displayed on screen between sessions

Package D: $5,000

• Table to display company information
• Promotional Poster Presentation during conference poster sessions
• Large company logo and link on conference website
• Full page ad in program
• Company logo displayed on screen between sessions
• Name of company on sponsor list in program

ECI Associate Director Kevin Korpics (kevin@engconfintl.org) 1-212-514-6760 may be contacted for invoicing or other questions. Payment can be made via check, bank transfer or credit card. Please reference the conference title or code (21-AN) when making payment.

Please note that none of the sponsor packages include free or discounted registrations for attendees from sponsor companies. Attendees from sponsor companies are required to pay the conference fee as well.

General Information about ECI

Engineering Conferences International (ECI) is a not-for-profit, global engineering conferences program, originally established in 1962 that provides opportunities for the exploration of problems and issues of concern to engineers and scientists from many disciplines.

The format of the conference provides morning and late afternoon or evening sessions in which major presentations are made. Poster sessions will be scheduled for evening discussion as well. Available time is included during the afternoons for ad hoc meetings, informal discussions, and/or recreation. This format is designed to enhance rapport among participants and promote dialogue on the development of the meeting. We believe the conferences have been instrumental in generating ideas and disseminating information to a greater extent than is possible through more conventional forums.

All participants are expected both to attend the entire conference and to contribute actively to the discussions. The recording/photographing of lectures and presentations is forbidden. As ECI conferences take place in an informal atmosphere, casual clothing is the usual attire.

Smoking is prohibited at ECI conferences and conference functions.