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Prof. Michele Marino, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy, "Multiscale and multiphysical modelling of materials: chemo-mechanics of smart hydrogels and biological tissues", 28 March - 1 April 2022

Hours:
20 hours (5 credits)

Room:

Aula Riunioni del Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione, Via G. Caruso 16, Pisa - Ground Floor

To register to the course, click here

Short Abstract:

Constitutive modelling in Mechanics is the art of describing the mechanical properties of materials by means of mathematical problems, which are formulated in connection with physical concepts and experimental evidence. The analysis and design of novel products can take advantage from numerical simulations only if constitutive models provide a comprehensive description of materials behavior. For advanced applications, material responses have to be analyzed from a multiscale and multiphysical perspective. This is true for instance when addressing material design for smart behaviors (e.g., hydrogels) or in the analysis of biological tissues and bioprosthetic products. Therefore, constitutive models should correlate macroscale mechanical properties with the behavior and the arrangement of constituents. Moreover, physico-chemical processes taking place at small scales have to be modelled since triggering an effective behavior at larger scales.
This course opens with the general mathematical requirements of constitutive laws for the mechanical behaviour of materials in a finite strain framework. Then, the micromechanical approach for material homogenization is described, introducing the rationale behind multiscale approaches. Furthermore, thermodynamic requirements of multiphysical constitutive laws are outlined and applied in the context of chemomechanical systems. Specific applications on smart hydrogels and biological tissues will be presented, describing and connecting multiphysical descriptions and multiscale effects.

Course Contents in brief:

  1. Constitutive laws for the mechanical behaviour of materials in a finite strain framework
  2. Micromechanical approach for material homogenization
  3. Thermodynamic requirements of multiphysical constitutive laws
  4. Applications on smart hydrogels and biological tissues

Schedule:

  1. Day1 - 4 hours - Constitutive laws for the mechanical behaviour of materials in a finite strain framework
  2. Day2 - 4 hours - Micromechanical approach for material homogenization
  3. Day3 - 4 hours - Thermodynamic requirements of multiphysical constitutive laws
  4. Day4 – 4 hours - Applications on smart hydrogels
  5. Day5 – 4 hours - Applications on biological tissues