Browsing by Author "Firooz, S."

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5

Open Access
A versatile implicit computational framework for continuum-kinematics-inspired peridynamics
(Springer, 2023-11-13) Firooz, S.; Javili, Ali; Steinmann, P.
Continuum-kinematics-inspired peridynamics (CPD) has been recently proposed as a novel reformulation of peridynamics that is characterized by one-, two- and three-neighbor interactions. CPD is geometrically exact and thermodynamically consistent and does not suffer from zero-energy modes, displacement oscillations or material interpenetration. In this manuscript, for the first time, we develop a computational framework furnished with automatic differentiation for the implementation of CPD. Thereby, otherwise tedious analytical differentiation is automatized by employing hyper-dual numbers (HDN). This differentiation method does not suffer from round-off errors, subtractive cancellation errors or truncation errors and is thereby highly stable with superb accuracy being insensitive to perturbation values. The computational framework provided here is compact and model-independent, thus once the framework is implemented, any other material model can be incorporated via modifying the potential energy solely. Finally, to illustrate the versatility of our proposed framework, various potential energies are considered and the corresponding material response is examined for different scenarios.
Open Access
Extended general interfaces: Mori–Tanaka homogenization and average fields
(Elsevier Ltd, 2022-08-24) Firooz, S.; Chatzigeorgiou, G.; Steinmann, P.; Javili, Ali
A well-established methodology to capture interphases in heterogeneous materials is to replace them by a zero-thickness interface model. Commonly accepted interface models intuitively assume that to satisfy the angular momentum balance, interfaces must coincide with the mid-layer of their corresponding interphases. Recently, via adopting weighted averages, an extended general interface model has been developed that allows for arbitrary interface positions while fulfilling the angular momentum balance. This manuscript incorporates this novel interface model into the Mori–Tanaka method within the framework of homogenization. Analytical solutions are developed to determine effective properties as well as average local fields for fiber-reinforced and particle-reinforced composites. Computational simulations using the finite element method (FEM) are carried out to compare with the analytical solutions. Through a set of numerical examples, the significance of the interface position on the overall response of heterogeneous materials is highlighted. Our extended framework clarifies various ambiguous observations originating from the trivial assumption of restricting the interface position to the mid-plane. One advantage of the current interface model is that it covers both the elastic and cohesive interface models at its limits and therefore the analytical solutions are widely applicable regardless of the interface type.
Open Access
Generalized interfaces via weighted averages for application to graded interphases at large deformations
(Elsevier Ltd, 2021-04) Saeb, S.; Firooz, S.; Steinmann, P.; Javili, Ali
Finite-thickness interphases between different constituents in heterogeneous materials are often replaced by a zero-thickness interface model. Commonly accepted interface models intuitively assume that the interface layer is situated exactly in the middle of its associated interphase. Furthermore, it has been reported in the literature that this assumption is necessary to guarantee the balance of angular momentum on the interface. While the interface coincides with the mid-layer of a uniform interphase, we argue that this assumption fails to sufficiently capture the behavior of graded or inhomogeneous interphases. This contribution extends the formulation of the general interface model to account for arbitrary interface positions. The issue of angular momentum balance on general interfaces is critically revisited. It is proven that the interface position does not necessarily have to coincide with the mid-layer in order to satisfy the angular momentum balance. The analysis here leads to a unique definition of the controversially discussed interface configuration. The presented general interface model is essentially based upon the weighted average operator instead of the commonly accepted classical average operator. The framework is geometrically exact and suitable for finite deformations. The significance of the interface position is demonstrated via a series of examples where the interface position is identified based on a full resolution interphase.
Open Access
Homogenization of composites with extended general interfaces: comprehensive review and unified modeling
(ASME, 2021-08-03) Javili, Ali; Steinmann, P.; Firooz, S.
Interphase regions that form in heterogeneous materials through various underlying mechanisms such as poor mechanical or chemical adherence, roughness, and coating, play a crucial role in the response of the medium. A well-established strategy to capture a finite thickness interphase behavior is to replace it with a zero-thickness interface model characterized by its own displacement and/or traction jumps, resulting in different interface models. The contributions to date dealing with interfaces commonly assume that the interface is located in the middle of its corresponding interphase. This paper revisits this assumption and introduces an extended general interface model, wherein a unifying approach to the homogenization of heterogeneous materials embedding interfaces between their constituents is developed within the framework of linear elasticity. Through utilizing a weighted average operator, we demonstrate that the assumption of enforcing the interface to coincide with the midlayer is not required and thereby develop a new class of interfaces where the interface is allowed to take any arbitrary position between its bulk neighbors. The proposed novel interface model can recover any of the classical interface models. Next, via incorporating this extended general interface model into homogenization, we develop bounds and estimates for the overall moduli of fiber-reinforced and particle-reinforced composites as functions of the interface position and properties. Finally, we carry out a comprehensive numerical study to highlight the influence of interface position, stiffness ratio, and interface parameters on the overall properties of composites. The developed interface-enhanced homogenization framework also successfully captures size effects, which are immediately relevant to emerging applications of nanocomposites due to their pronounced interface effects at small scales.
Open Access
On continuum modeling of cell aggregation phenomena
(Elsevier, 2022-07-21) Firooz, S.; Kaessmair, S.; Zaburdaev, V.; Javili, Ali; Steinmann, P.
Cellular aggregates play a significant role in the evolution of biological systems such as tumor growth, tissue spreading, wound healing, and biofilm formation. Analysis of such biological systems, in principle, includes examining the interplay of cell–cell interactions together with the cell–matrix interaction. These two interaction types mainly drive the dynamics of cellular aggregates which is intrinsically out of equilibrium. Here we propose a non-linear continuum mechanics formulation and the corresponding finite element simulation framework to model the physics of cellular aggregate formation. As an example, we focus in particular on the process of bacterial colony formation as recently studied by Kuan et al. (2021). Thereby we describe the aggregation process as an active phase separation phenomenon. We develop a Lagrangian continuum description of the problem which yields a substantial simplification to the formulations of the governing equations. Due to the presence of spatial Hessian and Laplacian operators, a gradient-enhanced approach is required to incorporate C1 continuity. In addition, a robust and efficient finite element formulation of the problem is provided. Taylor–Hood finite elements are utilized for the implementation to avoid instabilities related to the LBB condition. Finally, through a set of numerical examples, the influence of various parameters on the dynamics of the cellular aggregate formation is investigated. Our proposed methodology furnishes a general framework for the investigation of the rheology and non-equilibrium dynamics of cellular aggregates. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd