A universal material model subroutine for soft matter systems

TL;DR

This paper introduces a universal subroutine that simplifies the integration of complex, novel material models into finite element analysis software, enabling more accurate and accessible soft matter simulations.

Contribution

It presents a versatile, automated subroutine that allows easy incorporation of new constitutive models into finite element packages without extensive expertise.

Findings

Successfully integrated diverse soft matter models in case studies

Enabled non-experts to perform reliable soft matter simulations

Facilitated innovation in soft matter modeling

Abstract

Soft materials play an integral part in many aspects of modern life including autonomy, sustainability, and human health, and their accurate modeling is critical to understand their unique properties and functions. Today's finite element analysis packages come with a set of pre-programmed material models, which may exhibit restricted validity in capturing the intricate mechanical behavior of these materials. Regrettably, incorporating a modified or novel material model in a finite element analysis package requires non-trivial in-depth knowledge of tensor algebra, continuum mechanics, and computer programming, making it a complex task that is prone to human error. Here we design a universal material subroutine, which automates the integration of novel constitutive models of varying complexity in non-linear finite element packages, with no additional analytical derivations and algorithmic implementations. We demonstrate the versatility of our approach to seamlessly integrate innovative constituent models from the material point to the structural level through a variety of soft matter case studies: a frontal impact to the brain; reconstructive surgery of the scalp; diastolic loading of arteries and the human heart; and the dynamic closing of the tricuspid valve. Our universal material subroutine empowers all users, not solely experts, to conduct reliable engineering analysis of soft matter systems. We envision that this framework will become an indispensable instrument for continued innovation and discovery within the soft matter community at large.