Thin films and coatings play essential roles in many technological applications from microelectronics devices, energy storage to automotive and aerospace structures. Their principal functions in the specific applications may not be structural, and consequently, the load-carrying capacity of the thin films may not be the major factor for design and material selection. However, the fabrication of thin-film configurations often results in internal stress in the film of a magnitude sufficient to induce mechanical damage or failure, which may eventually affect the intended functional properties. Therefore, the mechanical and interfacial reliability of the thin film and coatings often needs to be characterized along with their functional property considerations. In this talk, I will present examples of our work including: 1) thin film interfacial adhesion characterization ranging from low-dielectric constant (low-k) coatings in computer chips to polymer rain erosion coatings in aircraft, and 2) thermomechanical strengthening mechanisms of metallic multilayers for anti-wear sliding-contact applications. The experimental techniques involved include nanomechanical characterization and laser-induced stress waves which can be readily transferred to many other thin film and coating systems.

Junlan Wang is a Professor in Mechanical Engineering and an Adjunct Professor in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Washington, Seattle, where she has been a faculty member since December 2008. Her research focuses on mechanics of thin films/multilayers, biological and bioinspired materials, high strain rate phenomena, and metal additive manufacturing. She obtained her BS and MS degrees in Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering from the University of Science and Technology of China, Ph.D. in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and postdoctoral training at Brown University.

Her honors include an NSF CAREER Award, ASEE Beer and Johnston Outstanding New Mechanics Educator Award, ASME Fellow, and Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM) Frocht, Durelli and Hetenyi Awards. She has served multiple leadership roles in ASME, SEM and SES, such as the Chair of the ASME Multifunctional Materials and Experimental Mechanics Technical Committees, ASME Materials Division Executive Committee, General Chair of the ASME Mechanics and Materials Conference, member of SEM Executive Board, and Associate Editor for Journal of Applied Mechanics and Experimental Mechanics.