9714400 Brinson The objective of this research is to attempt to quantify the mechanical properties within the interphase interface bonded media. To accomplish this task will require the measurement of strains within regions smaller than one micron. As most, if not all, engineering methods to measure strains are for regions larger than a millimeter, it is clear new approaches must be taken. It is felt that a new exploratory program based on newly acquired equipment at UH and a new approach may yield significant results. The award of an SGER is made to ascertain if proposed new procedures will allow measurement of strains in submicron regions and, if so, to serve as a beginning for a longer range program. The effort has a short term and long term goal. The short term goal is to use high resolution digital imaging together with optical and scanning electron microscopy to measure deformations and strains in sub-micron size regions. The long term goal is to develop a method based on a near field scanning optical microscope (NSOM) to measure deformations in even smaller regions. A substantial portion of the effort will be to begin the development of a new analytical approach which will correctly represent material behavior within such small regions. The approach of necessity will include heterogeneous and anisoptropic behavior. Indeed, it should be recognized that observation of materials at such a small scale may not be compatible with current continuum theories of materials. ***
