Diving into the world of atoms. This is possible through modern atomistic simulation methods, which enable the study of diverse material phenomena on computers.

Dislocations are defects in the atomic lattice of materials such as metals. They play a major role in inelastic deformation. Using the methods of continuum mechanics, their collective behavior can be described on the meso- and macroscopic length scale.

Phenomenological models are simplified physical models, which represent the essential physics only. Visco-elasticity, visco-plasticity, damage, diffusion, heat transfer can be efficiently described on the macroscopic length scale.