519 Advances in Theoretical and Computational Mechanics and Mechanobiology of Soft Tissues

 

Soft biological tissues are characterized by complex multiphysics and multiscale interactions, where mechanics plays a key role in the regulation of physiological and pathological behavior. A deeper understanding of soft biological tissues requires the development of novel theoretical and computational tools that are able to reproduce and predict soft tissue response. These tools are fundamental to enhance our understanding of the different systems of the human body in health and disease, as well as they are the basis of computed-guided therapy and surgery.

The aim of this mini-symposium is to bring together different scientific communities under a common target: collecting recent advances in theoretical and computational mechanics with particular emphasis to mechanobiological applications. This session will allow the exchange of ideas on generalized theoretical formulations and efficient numerical methods and computational implementations addressing the study of multiphysics and multiscale processes in soft biological tissues. Contributions addressing the identification of biomedical technological challenges and novel experimental techniques that benefit from a close interaction with computational techniques are also welcome. The mini-symposium will promote a multidisciplinary discussion to identify open problems that merit increased attention from those in applied mechanics, biomechanics, mathematics and mechanobiology. Some specific themes are, but not limited to, the following:

• theoretical and computational mechanics of passive and active soft tissues
• tissue growth and remodeling under physiological and pathological conditions
• multiscale modeling of molecular, cellular, and tissue biomechanics
• theoretical and computational multiphysics and contact mechanics in soft tissues