Poroelastic model parameter identification using artificial neural networks: on the effects of heterogeneous porosity and solid matrix Poisson ratio

Predictive analysis of poroelastic materials typically require expensive and time-consuming multiscale and multiphysics approaches, which demand either several simplifications or costly experimental tests for model parameter identification. This problem motivates us to develop a more efficient approach to address complex problems with an acceptable computational cost.
In particular, we employ artificial neural network (ANN) for reliable and fast computation of poroelastic model parameters. Based on the strong-form governing equations for the poroelastic problem derived from asymptotic homogenisation, the weighted residuals formulation of the cell problem is obtained. Approximate solution of the resulting linear variational boundary value problem is achieved by means of the finite element method. The advantages and downsides of macroscale
properties identification via asymptotic homogenisation and the application of ANN to overcome parameter characterisation challenges caused by the costly solution of cell problems are presented. Numerical examples, in this study, include spatially dependent porosity and solid matrix Poisson ratio for a generic model problem, application in tumour modelling, and utilisation in soil mechanics context which demonstrate the feasibility of the presented framework.