Theoretical and Numerical Modeling of Nonlinear Electromechanics with Applications to Biological Active Media

Abstract

We present a general theoretical framework for the formulation of the nonlinear electromechanics of polymeric and biological active media. The approach developed here is based on the additive decomposition of the Helmholtz free energy in elastic and inelastic parts and on the multiplicative decomposition of the deformation gradient in passive and active parts. We describe a thermodynamically sound scenario that accounts for geometric and material nonlinearities. In view of numerical applications, we specialize the general approach to a particular material model accounting for the behavior of fiber reinforced tissues. Specifically, we use the model to solve via finite elements a uniaxial electromechanical problem dynamically activated by an electrophysiological stimulus. Implications for nonlinear solid mechanics and computational electrophysiology are finally discussed.