TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Method: The inventive method screens at least two or at least twenty-four samples of the library (102) simultaneously. The force applied to each sample is in sequential order and screening throughput rate is not more than 10 minutes/sample. Environmental conditions of the samples are regulated. The samples are secured on the gas-tight vessel (104) by mechanical, magnetic, electromagnetic, electromechanical, and/or chemical. The gas-tight vessel has openings (106) to which the library of at least four different material samples is removably secured across the openings for screening. Directing force(s) from the source is achieved by directing force(s) to the fluid by a second force source resulting in the fluid directing the force in the form of pressure to each sample causing each sample to displace in response from the pressure.Preferred Component: The response sensing device(s) (112) is electronic pressure sensor; optical response sensing device from optical reflectance, optical interferometry, and/or shadow illumination; an electrical response sensing device from capacitance, resistance, tunneling, and/or electromechanical switching; and/or a dual pressure sensing device. The second force source is piston in a cylinder; a temperature controller for varying the temperature of the fluid; and/or a heat transfer device from a resistance heater, a liquid-liquid heat exchanger that is connected to a reservoir of exchange fluid, a liquid-gas heat exchanger that is connected to a reservoir of exchange fluid, and/or a liquid-gas heat exchanger that is connected to a reservoir of exchange fluid. Two of the fluids are both used to direct the pressure to one of the samples. The voltage is supplied to a voltage supplier from variable voltage power supply, a programmable constant current source and/or a voltmeter. The sensor region and the actuator region are separate structures connected to each other by a platform. Each piezoelectric element comprises a bender having a backing plate, an appropriately polarized ceramic disk attached to the backing plate; and the electrode is secured to the backing plate.Preferred Property: Each sample has an area of less than 100 square mm and a thickness of less than 500 mum. The two fluids are mutually immiscible and separation between the two fluids is maintained by gravity and/or surface tension. The pressure applied to each sample is monotonic, sinusoidal, and/or discontinuous. It may be also a negative pressure. The voltage is (non-)oscillatory.