ESR 14: Meta Modelling for Soft Tissue Contact and Cutting Simulation

Early Stage Researcher:  Ehsan Mikaeili
Host institution: Cardiff University (UK)
Supervisor: Senior Lecturer Pierre Kerfriden, Cardiff
Co-supervisor: Jérémie Allard, Chief Executive Officer, InSimo (FR)
Clinical expertise: Prof. David Gaucher, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Strasbourg (FR)
Further institution involved: University of Copenhagen (UCPH, DK) and Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC, S)

Objectives

Fast simulations of cutting and contact in 3D continuum biomechanics with error control remain an open problem because of significant mathematical difficulties (ill-posedness, non-uniqueness) and discretization challenges (discontinuities, large gradients, volumetric locking). Develop meta models for soft, hyper-elastic, tissue simulations, focused on contact and cutting simulation. Develop a domain decomposition based model order reduction approach where the cutting and contact regions will be dealt with using direct numerical simulations. Remaining subdomains will be reduced using orthogonal decomposition. The approach will be coupled to real-time cutting simulation. ESR14 will work closely with ESR8 focusing on cutting of shells and membranes where similar (locking, discontinuities, singularities) difficulties have to be dealt with.

Expected Results

An interactive contact and cutting simulation tool for soft tissues.

Planned research stays

  • Months 1-10: Cardiff University, UK. ESR14 will receive an initial training by Dr. Kerfriden in the area of Model Order Reduction for large deformation mechanics.
  • Months 11-15: URJC, Spain. (see above) training in embedded surfaces and homogenization methods
  • Months 16-22: Cardiff University. The ESR will start developing reduced order modelling for image registration, under the guidance of Dr. Kerfriden
  • Months 23-27: UPCH. ESR14 will receive additional training in image registration and machine learning.
  • Months 28-36: Cardiff University. ESR14 finalises the deliverables and writes up the thesis