• Ricardo Ruiz Baier, Monash University
• Alessio Gizzi, University Campus BioMedico
• Leo Cheng, University of Auckland
• Vijay Rajagopal, University of Melbourne

Biomechanical and mechanobiological systems exhibit many challenges in modelling and simulation. They usually span multiphysics mechanisms occurring across several spatiotemporal scales, and this often requires non-standard numerical methods that combine efficient solvers with appropriate physics-preserving discretizations. This session aims at gathering together experts in the characterization, mathematical modelling, and numerical simulation of biomechanical systems that involve thermal effects both at mechanical and electrophysiological levels.

The scope of the proposed minisymposium will revolve around the mechanochemical modelling of the nonlinear and multiscale interplay between bioheat transfer, microfluidic properties, active deformation and action potential spatiotemporal dynamics of excitable tissues. These mechanisms are encountered in many biomechanical systems such as synthetic poroelastic biomaterial samples, cardiac trabeculae, gastrointestinal wall, smooth and skeletal muscles; and the specific processes under consideration include metabolic heat production and its interaction with chemical dynamics, perfusion, reaction-diffusion, as well as force exerted by mechanical work.

We expect to have fruitful discussions on new research topics that are also pertinent to broader areas of soft tissue biomechanics in health and disease. Brain multiphysics, cardiac and gastrointestinal electromechanics, or respiratory system modelling are representative examples.