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Alan Needleman Computational Issues in Mesoscale Solid Mechanics A mesoscale solid mechanics model is intermediate between a direct atomistic and an unstructured continuum description of mechanical behavior. A range of mesoscale solid mechanics theoretical frameworks have been and are being developed. The motivation for this is the wide variety of circumstances where key deformation and fracture events occur at size and time scales larger than corresponding atomistic scales yet where a predictive model requires more structure than can be incorporated into a conventional continuum constitutive relation. Various mesoscale mechanics modeling issues having computational implications will be discussed, with particular attention given to: (i) constitutive descriptions of crystalline solids that incorporate a size dependence; (ii) fracture prediction; and (iii) modeling the effects of boundaries and interfaces on mechanical behavior. Among the issues to be considered are: (i) what information can be provided by mesoscale modeling that is difficult or impossible to obtain from atomistic or conventional continuum modeling; (ii) the input data needed for mesoscale solid mechanics models and how it can be obtained (experimentally or by lower level modeling); and (iii) the advantages and disadvantages of various mesoscale theoretical frameworks with a focus on the computational challenges they present.
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