Extreme mechanics

With the development of cutting-edge sciences and new technologies, we have to consider the size, the density, the hardness, the stiffness and other properties of engineering materials and structures beyond the conventional ranges, as well as their mechanical behavior in extreme environments, such as ultra-conventional temperature, speed, physical and chemical fields, and severe weather, and more effective theories and methods of mechanics are required. This paper first gives the fundamental definition and the scientific connotation of extreme mechanics, then reviews the studies of extreme mechanics from three aspects: the extreme properties, the extreme loads, and the discipline development, as well as major engineering and scientific challenges. The characteristics of extreme mechanics and major challenges in the aspects of mechanical theory,computational methods and experimental techniques are discussed. Prospectivei developments of extreme mechanics are suggested.