1) To refine and necessarily adjust the modified continuum model that takes into account influence of surface stresses, established in the previous TRF project, to enhance modeling capability to treat more general boundary value problems.
2) To investigate more complex nano-indentation problems such as those associated with non-axisymmetric data, non-smooth contact and interfaces, and indentation on thin layer substrates.
3) To investigate more complicated nano-size crack problems such as those involving non-planar and multiple cracks.
4) To investigate fundamental problems of nano-inhomogeneities and explore their applications in the area of micromechanics
