Development of an Optimization-Based Atomistic-to-Continuum Coupling Method

Atomistic-to-Continuum (AtC) coupling methods are a novel means of computing the properties of a discrete crystal structure, such as those containing defects, that combine the accuracy of an atomistic (fully discrete) model with the efficiency of a continuum model. In this note we extend the optimization-based AtC, formulated in arXiv:1304.4976 for linear, one-dimensional problems to multi-dimensional settings and arbitrary interatomic potentials. We conjecture optimal error estimates for the multidimensional AtC, outline an implementation procedure, and provide numerical results to corroborate the conjecture for a 1D Lennard-Jones system with next-nearest neighbor interactions.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Formulation and optimization of the energy-based blended quasicontinuum method

We formulate an energy-based atomistic-to-continuum coupling method based on blending the quasicontinuum method for the simulation of crystal defects. We utilize theoretical results from Van Koten and Luskin [32] and Ortner and Van Koten [24] to derive optimal choices of approximation parameters (blending function and finite element grid) for microcrack and di-vacancy test problems and confirm our analytical predictions in numerical tests

Formulation and optimization of the energy-based blended quasicontinuum method

We formulate an energy-based atomistic-to-continuum coupling method based on blending the quasicontinuum method for the simulation of crystal defects. We utilize theoretical results from Ortner and Van Koten (manuscript) to derive optimal choices of approximation parameters (blending function and finite element grid) for microcrack and di-vacancy test problems and confirm our analytical predictions in numerical tests

Positive definiteness of the blended force-based quasicontinuum method

The development of consistent and stable quasicontinuum models for multidimensional crystalline solids remains a challenge. For example, proving the stability of the force-based quasicontinuum (QCF) model [M. Dobson and M. Luskin, M2AN Math. Model. Numer. Anal., 42 (2008), pp. 113--139] remains an open problem. In one and two dimensions, we show that by blending atomistic and Cauchy--Born continuum forces (instead of a sharp transition as in the QCF method) one obtains positive-definite blended force-based quasicontinuum (B-QCF) models. We establish sharp conditions on the required blending width

Positive definiteness of the blended force-based quasicontinuum method

The development of consistent and stable quasicontinuum models for multidimensional crystalline solids remains a challenge. For example, proving the stability of the force-based quasicontinuum (QCF) model [M. Dobson and M. Luskin, M2AN Math. Model. Numer. Anal., 42 (2008), pp. 113--139] remains an open problem. In one and two dimensions, we show that by blending atomistic and Cauchy--Born continuum forces (instead of a sharp transition as in the QCF method) one obtains positive-definite blended force-based quasicontinuum (B-QCF) models. We establish sharp conditions on the required blending width

A tensegrity approach to the optimal reinforcement of masonry domes and vaults through fiber-reinforced composite materials

We present a tensegrity approach to the strengthening of masonry vaults and domes performed by bonding grids of fiber reinforced composites to the masonry substrate. A topology optimization of such a reinforcement technique is formulated, on accounting for a tensegrity model of the reinforced structure; a minimal mass design strategy; different yield strengths of the masonry struts and tensile composite reinforcements; and multiple loading conditions. We show that the given optimization strategy can be profitably employed to rationally design fiber-reinforced composite material reinforcements of existing or new masonry vaults and domes, making use of the safe theorem of limit analysis. A wide collection of numerical examples dealing with real-life masonry domes and vaults highlight the technical potential of the proposed approach

Validity of the Cauchy-Born rule applied to discrete cellular-scale models of biological tissues

The development of new models of biological tissues that consider cells in a discrete manner is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to PDE-based continuum methods, although formal relationships between the discrete and continuum frameworks remain to be established. For crystal mechanics, the discrete-to-continuum bridge is often made by assuming that local atom displacements can be mapped homogeneously from the mesoscale deformation gradient, an assumption known as the Cauchy-Born rule (CBR). Although the CBR does not hold exactly for non-crystalline materials, it may still be used as a first order approximation for analytic calculations of effective stresses or strain energies. In this work, our goal is to investigate numerically the applicability of the CBR to 2-D cellular-scale models by assessing the mechanical behaviour of model biological tissues, including crystalline (honeycomb) and non-crystalline reference states. The numerical procedure consists in precribing an affine deformation on the boundary cells and computing the position of internal cells. The position of internal cells is then compared with the prediction of the CBR and an average deviation is calculated in the strain domain. For centre-based models, we show that the CBR holds exactly when the deformation gradient is relatively small and the reference stress-free configuration is defined by a honeycomb lattice. We show further that the CBR may be used approximately when the reference state is perturbed from the honeycomb configuration. By contrast, for vertex-based models, a similar analysis reveals that the CBR does not provide a good representation of the tissue mechanics, even when the reference configuration is defined by a honeycomb lattice. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of these results for concurrent discrete/continuous modelling, adaptation of atom-to-continuum (AtC) techniques to biological tissues and model classification