Development of a variety of characterization tools to assess surface hardness and bulk particle/crystal/granule strength, as well as other mechanical properties, as they relate to powder flowability, caking, crystallinity, tabletting, and attrition resistance.   Bulk mechanical properties may be determined by uniaxial compaction, whereas surface variations may be probed by nanoindentation.  Approach has been applied to a variety of drug applications, as well as excipients and catalysts.