Prof Sonia Antoranz Contera

Abstract:

This study presents an integrated finite-element–machine-learning framework for predicting early-age stress evolution in concrete materials/structures by combining an enhanced thermo-chemo-mechanical (TCM) model, deep sequential learning (DSL), and active learning (AL). The proposed TCM model incorporates experimentally informed viscoelasticity, a stable exponential creep–relaxation conversion, and an efficient exponential algorithm for the Maxwell-chain formulation in finite element analysis, which is further validated by a temperature stress testing machine. This model generates high-fidelity stress–time data across diverse mixtures, temperatures, and structural configurations. These simulations are used to train a Gated Recurrent Unit with Monte Carlo Dropout (GRU-MCD) model, whose predictive performance surpasses conventional point-wise approaches such as Light Gradient Boosting Machine and Gaussian Process Regression, yielding higher accuracy with reduced overfitting. The AL strategy further enhances efficiency by enabling the GRU-MCD model to achieve the accuracy of ∼900 Latin Hypercube samples using only ∼200 samples selected by active learning. Although demonstrated on a wall–base structure, the proposed framework is general and applicable to other cementitious material or structural systems, providing an effective tool for cracking-risk evaluation, reliability analysis, and the design of low-carbon concrete structures.

Abstract:

This study presents an experimentally informed coupled creep–damage modelling framework for the time-dependent micromechanical behaviour of hardened cement paste. Using realistic microstructures, a viscoelastic formulation solved by an exponential algorithm, and a continuum damage model, the framework consistently captures microscale creep, creep recovery, and strain-rate-dependent response. The results show that microstructural discretization strongly affects predictions: coarse discretizations underestimate porosity and overestimate hydration, leading to overpredicted stiffness and strength. The model reproduces measured flexural strength, elastic modulus, and the observed brittle failure. Low-stress creep and recovery are predicted accurately, with high recovery ratios indicating predominantly linear creep. The calibrated HD-CSH/ LD-CSH creep modulus ratio is consistent with experimental insights, supporting that calcium hydroxide increases the creep modulus of CSH. Strain-rate effects are also captured: slower loading allows more creep and earlier damage in weaker phases, while faster loading drives damage into stronger phases, yielding higher apparent stiffness and strength with more pronounced damage patterns. Overall, the framework provides a physically consistent basis for studying microscale creep–damage interactions. Future work will incorporate temperature and moisture effects and extend the approach to multiscale simulations of long-term concrete behavior under realistic environments.

Abstract:

The mechanical properties of the polymeric substrate or matrix where a cell grows affect cell behavior. Most studies have focused on relating elastic properties of polymeric substrates, which are time-independent, to cell behaviors. However, polymeric substrates and biological systems exhibit a time-dependent, often viscoelastic, mechanical response. While less is known about how time responses dictate cell behavior, cells are likely sensitive to substrate time responses rather than elasticity alone. However, testing this hypothesis is complex due to the lack of nanoscale tools. To overcome this limitation, photothermal actuation-atomic force microscopy nanoscale dynamic mechanical analysis (PT-AFM nDMA), a novel AFM technique that measures sample viscoelasticity over a broad and continuous frequency range, was applied to measure the viscoelastic properties of cell culture substrates made of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (poly(HEMA)) and collagen I (pureCol) in liquid at frequencies ranging continuously from 0.1 Hz–5000 Hz. PT-AFM nDMA to date has not been performed in liquid, but successfully and accurately characterized substrate viscoelasticity and synergized with measurements obtained using a more established AFM technique, bimodal imaging. The results of this study demonstrate that PT-AFM nDMA can be performed in liquid environments, especially relevant to biological samples. Additionally, comparing PT-AFM nDMA measurements of the poly(HEMA) and pureCol substrates in this study to cell behaviors described in the scientific literature on similar substrates suggests that longer substrate time responses at low measurement frequencies promote cell attachment, proliferation, and migration, while shorter substrate time responses promote ECM remodeling and differentiation.

Abstract:

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is a soft, biocompatible polymer extensively employed in biomedical research, notable for its tunable mechanical properties achieved through cross-linking. While many studies have assessed the mechanical properties of PDMS utilizing macroscopic and microscopic methods, these analyses are often limited to freshly prepared samples. However, the mechanical properties of PDMS can be expected to change during prolonged exposure to water or air, such as interface polymer chain loosening or surface hardening, which are critical considerations in applications like cell culture platforms or microfluidic devices. This paper presents a comprehensive 10-day investigation of the evolution of PDMS surface mechanical properties through AFM-based nano-indentation. We focused on the most commonly utilized crosslinker-to-base ratios of PDMS, 1:10 (r10) and 1:20 (r20), under conditions of air and deionized water storage. For r10 samples, a hardening process was detected, peaking at 2.12 ± 0.35 MPa within five days for those stored in air and 1.71 ± 0.16 MPa by the third day for those immersed in water. During indentation, the samples displayed multiple contact points, suggesting the formation of distinct regions with varying mechanical properties. In contrast, r20 samples exhibited better stability, with an observed elastic modulus averaging 0.62 ± 0.06 MPa for air-stored and 0.74 ± 0.06 MPa for water-stored samples. Relaxation experiments, interpreted via the General Maxwell Model featuring two distinct component responses, a relatively consistent fast response τ1 (on the order of 10−1 s), and a more variable, slower response τ2 (on the order of 10 s), throughout the study period. The identification of two distinct relaxation times suggests the involvement of two disparate material property regimes in the relaxation process, implying changes in the surface material composition at the interface with air/water. These variations in mechanical properties could significantly influence the long-term functionality of PDMS in various biomedical applications.