The Open Laboratory of Nonlinear Continuum Mechanics (LNM) in Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences was founded in June 1988. After 10 years’growth and development, LNM was approved by the Department of Science and Technology to set up “The State Key Laboratory of Nonlinear Mechanics (LNM)”, LNM has passed its acceptance inspection by the group of specialists from the Department of Science and Technology in April 2001. March 2005, ?? The first chief director of LNM was Prof. Zhen Zhemin (academician of CAS) (from June 1988 to July 1993) and its successors are Prof. Bai Yilong (academician of CAS) (from July 1993 to Oct.2001), Prof. Zhao Yapu (from Oct.2001 to Dec. 2005). The current chief director is Prof. He Guowei (from Jan. 2006).

The research directions and short, intermediate and long term objects of LNM are as follows:

The three intermediate and long term research subjects of LNM are:

(1) Nonlinear mechanical properties in the deformation, damage and failure of solid.

• Nonlinear macro constitutive relation of solid; relation between solid micro and meso structure and its macro mechanical behavior; nonlinear dynamical phenomenon in the course of deformation, damage and failure; mechanical behavior at high temperature and high strain rate; surfaces and interfacial mechanics.

 (2) Nonlinear behaviors of fluid motion

• The emergence of nonlinear waves and vortices in fluids; their propagation, evolution and interactions; nonlinear theory of flow instability and transition; flow patterns, bifurcation and chaos; turbulence theory, turbulence control and numerical simulation of turbulence; micro-and nano-fluidics.

(3) Basic theory and methods applied to the nonlinear problems in material and environmental systems

Recent highlighted innovative directions of LNM:

(1) Nano/micro scale mechanics and multi-scale correlations

•  theory, experiment and simulation of nano/micro scale mechanics;
•  multi-scale mechanics of molecular(atomic)- meso- macro scales;
•  multi-scale theory and experiments of constitutive relation, strength, failure;
•  large scale simulation of micro structure evolution dynamics of solids and micro structure design of materials  

 (2) NEMS/MEMS

•  scaling and interfacial effects in multi-physics couplings (mechanical – thermal – electrical-  magnetic- optical etc.)
•  law of motion, control and mechanism of failure of NEMS/MEMS
•  computer-aid design and virtual experiment of NEMS/MEMS 

（3）Dynamics and control theory of multi-scale complex flow

• Nonlinear evolution process and dynamic theory of complex flow;
• Research on large-scale scientific computing and flow structure of transition and turbulence;
• Delicate experimental study on the law of motion of micro/multi scale complex flows;
• Study on the basic laws and their applications of multi-phase flows.

Short term objectives:

 Keeping its existing and unique features on the study if nonlinear mechanics and incorporating the innovative directions aforementioned; strengthening the infrastructure build up of the NEM/MEMS mechanical laboratory; LNM is expected to find its own space among all of its international counterparts on the theoretical and applied study of nonlinear mechanics in nano/micro scales??, NEMS/MEMS, multi-scale correlation and complex flows. At the same time, some studies conducted in LNM will also become a necessary reserve in terms of knowledge and technique for some domestic industries, such as material design, integrated MEMS, engineering and natural disasters predictions.

Intermediate and long term objectives:

Make LNM a laboratory which has fairly large impact internationally and also one of the best laboratories in China in terms of research standard and equipments.