Parameter identification problem in bimaterial human skin and sensitivity analysis : Uncertainties in biomechanics of skin

Scientific Conference (2019, December 09)

The proposed paper concerns the prediction of the numerical response of a biomechanical structure submitted to an unknown external loading state. The methodology is based on homogeneous and then ... [more ▼]

The proposed paper concerns the prediction of the numerical response of a biomechanical structure submitted to an unknown external loading state. The methodology is based on homogeneous and then heterogeneous structures such as healthy or pathological cutaneous tissues that can be mechanically tested in vivo under a patchy knowledge of boundary conditions. Experimental data corresponding to the extension of a piece of skin located between two pads with displacement enslavement, represent input data to the numerical model. Data are reaction force on one pad and displacement field between the two pads and all around. The numerical model consists of a representation of the bi-material domain geometry with neo-hookean behaviors. The boundary conditions and loadings of the experimental extension test are imposed. The materials parameters have been identified by inverse method starting from a constrained cost function minimizing the difference between the calculated displacements field and experimental displacements field obtained by digital image correlation and taking into account the reaction force as a constraint. An analysis of the model sensitivity to material parameters is presented. [less ▲]

Coupled molecular-dynamics and finite-element-method simulations for the kinetics of particles subjected to field-mediated forces

in Physical Review. E ,Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics (2019), 99(6),

A computational approach that couples molecular-dynamics (MD) and the-finite-element-method (FEM) technique is here proposed for the theoretical study of the dynamics of particles subjected to ... [more ▼]

A computational approach that couples molecular-dynamics (MD) and the-finite-element-method (FEM) technique is here proposed for the theoretical study of the dynamics of particles subjected to electromechanical forces. The system consists of spherical particles (modeled as micrometric rigid bodies with proper densities and dielectric functions) suspended in a colloidal solution, which flows in a microfluidic channel in the presence of a generic nonuniform variable electric field generated by electrodes. The particles are subjected to external forces (e.g., drag or gravity) which satisfy a particlelike formulation that is typical of the MD approach, along with an electromechanical force that, in turn, requires the three-dimensional self-consistent solutions of correct continuum field equations during the integration of the equations of motion. In the MD-FEM method used in this work, the finite element method is applied to solve the continuum field equations while the MD technique is used for the stepwise explicit integration of the equations of motion. Our work shows the potential of coupled MD-FEM simulations for the study of electromechanical particles and opens a double perspective for implementing (a) MD away from the field of atomistic simulations and (b) the continuum-particle approach to cases where the conventional force evaluation used in MD is not applicable. [less ▲]

Modelling and analysis of flow-driven energy harvesting devices and associated reduced order models

Scientific Conference (2018, June)

A specific class of energy harvester devices for renewable energy resources allows conversion of ambient fluid flow energy to electrical energy via flow-induced vibrations of a piezo-ceramic composite ... [more ▼]

A specific class of energy harvester devices for renewable energy resources allows conversion of ambient fluid flow energy to electrical energy via flow-induced vibrations of a piezo-ceramic composite structure positioned in the flow field. This energy converter technology simultaneously involves the interaction of a composite structure and a surrounding fluid, the electric charge accumulated in the piezo-ceramic material and a controlling electrical circuit. In order to predict the efficiency and operational properties of such future devices and to increase their robustness and performance, a mathematical and numerical model of the complex physical system is required to allow systematic computational investigation of the involved phenomena and coupling characteristics. The presentation will discuss a monolithic modelling approach that allows simultaneous analysis of the harvester, which involves surface-coupled fluid-structure interaction, volume-coupled electro-mechanics and a controlling energy harvesting circuit. Based on a finite element discretisation of the weighted residual form of the governing equations, time- and frequency-domain analysis enables investigation of different types of structures (plate, shells) subject to exterior/interior flow with varying parameters, and attached electrical circuits with respect to the electrical power output generated. Consequently, options for parametric reduced-order modelling of flow-driven energy harvesters will be discussed. [less ▲]

A Reduced Order Kalman Filter for Computational Fluid-Dynamics Applications

Poster (2018)

Reduced basis Nitsche-based domain decomposition: a biomedical application

Scientific Conference (2017, March 10)

Nowadays, the personalized biomedical simulations demand real-time efficient and reliable method to alleviate the computational complexity of high-fidelity simulation. In such applications, the necessity ... [more ▼]

Nowadays, the personalized biomedical simulations demand real-time efficient and reliable method to alleviate the computational complexity of high-fidelity simulation. In such applications, the necessity of solving different substructure, e.g. tissues or organs, with different numbers of the degrees of freedom and of coupling the reduced order spaces for each substructure poses a challenge in the on-fly simulation. In this talk, this challenge is taken into account employing the Nitsche-based domain decomposition technique inside the reduced order model [1]. This technique with respect to other domain decomposition approach allows obtaining a solution with the same accuracy of underlying finite element formulation and to flexibly treat interface with non-matching mesh. The robustness of the coupling is determined by the penalty coefficients that is chosen using ghost penalty technique [2]. Furthermore, to reduce the computational complexity of the on-fly assembling it is employed the empirical interpolation approach proposed in [3]. The numerical tests, performed using FEniCS[4], petsc4py and slepc4py [5], shows the good performance of the method and the reduction of computation cost. [1] Baroli, D., Beex L. and Bordas, S. Reduced basis Nitsche-based domain decomposition. In preparation. [2] Burman, E., Claus, S., Hansbo, P., Larson, M. G., & Massing, A. (2015). CutFEM: Discretizing geometry and partial differential equations. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 104(7), 472-501. [3] E. Schenone, E., Beex,L., Hale, J.S., Bordas S. Proper Orthogonal Decomposition with reduced integration method. Application to nonlinear problems. In preparation. [4] A. Logg, K.-A. Mardal, G. N. Wells et al. Automated Solution of Differential Equations by the Finite Element Method, Springer 2012. [5] L. Dalcin, P. Kler, R. Paz, and A. Cosimo, Parallel Distributed Computing using Python, Advances in Water Resources, 34(9):1124-1139, 2011. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2011.04.013 [less ▲]

Image to analysis pipeline: single and double balloons kyphoplasty

Poster (2016, December 12)

In this work, we present a semi-automatic pipeline from image to simulation of a patient fractured vertebra after the kyphoplastic augmentation with two balloons. In this procedure, the CT-scan medical ... [more ▼]

In this work, we present a semi-automatic pipeline from image to simulation of a patient fractured vertebra after the kyphoplastic augmentation with two balloons. In this procedure, the CT-scan medical image are pre-processed using open-source software Slice3D for segmentation and 3D reconstruction operation. Then, using geometric processing the 3D surface geometry is enhanced to avoid degenerate element and trigging phenomena on vertebra and cement area. We perform a finite element analysis to evaluate the risk of subsequent vertebral fracture. Finally using Monte-Carlo technique, we assess the propagation of uncertainty of material parameter on the evaluation of this risk. Based on the developed semi-automatic pipelines, it is possible to perform a patient-specific simulation that assesses the successful of kyphoplasty operation. [less ▲]