Introduction

Abstract

Why is mechanics related to advanced functional materials? It is a well-known fact that mechanics, especially solid mechanics, is directly related to structural materials. The focus of the subject is mainly concerned with displacement, deformation and strength problems. In fact, based on Newton’s classical mechanics theory, mechanics gradually becomes a subject for studying only the mechanical motion of particles and its related phenomena. Since the widespread application of continuum mechanics in modern engineering, deformation, stiffness, strength and many mechanical properties have become the overwhelming priorities of modern solid mechanics. Advanced functional materials refer to those materials with some unique electronic, magnetic and optical properties. Therefore, it is common sense that functional materials are far from mechanics areas. An exceptional case is that of piezoelectric materials in which the electric field can induce deformation, whereas the applied stress field can create some electric charges.