• Franck Vernerey, University of Colorado Boulder
• Nikolaos Bouklas, Cornell University
• Catalin Picu, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

This symposium will focus on theoretical and computational approaches that will enable a better understanding of the multiscale mechanical behavior of a variety of networks of athermal, flexible and semi-flexible filaments, including nonwovens, molecular networks and biological tissues. These materials are known to display a very rich mechanical response, ranging from nonlinear elasticity, viscoelasticity, damage, to active contraction and remodeling in living tissues. While these phenomena have been described phenomenologically by continuum models, their relation to filament/molecular scales and micromechanical mechanisms is still poorly understood.

The objective of this mini-symposium is thus to provide a forum that stimulates discussions on current challenges and potential solutions in the multiscale modeling and experimental methods associated with the study of these networks. We therefore welcome presentations that discuss theoretical and modeling advances to establish a link between the underlying structure, topology and physics of the networks and their emerging mechanical response, as well as novel experimental techniques that can help elucidate the underlying mechanisms of such systems. Presentations that focus on the use of modeling to understand and design new athermal, polymer and biopolymer networks (super-tough networks, self-healing materials, reversible adhesives, active matter, etc) are also of great interest. Topics include but are not limited to:

• Multiscale modeling of network materials
• Relating microstructural features to network behavior
• Coupled viscoelasticity, damage and multiphysics in biopolymers and tissues
• Coupling continuum and molecular approaches in polymer networks
• Polymers with transient bonds
• Damage, fracture and size effects.
• Mechanics of semi-flexible networksSynthetic and biological active networks
• Mechanisms of growth and remodeling in biological networks
• Mechanotransduction in networks of evolving topology
• Interpenetrating networks (IPN)