Mathematical modelling of residual-stress based volumetric growth in soft matter (Q2231106)

This study proposes an explicit approach to growth modelling formulated on the unloaded configuration with clear physical meaning and direct connections to experimental observations. The model for a stress-mediated growth based on the unloaded configuration considers either the residual stress or the deformation gradient relative to the unloaded configuration as a growth variable. Using an approach similar to that used in elasto-visco-plasticity with relaxed configurations and internal state variables [\textit{D. Ambrosi} et al., J. Mech. Phys. Solids 59, No. 4, 863--883 (2011; Zbl 1270.74134)] the deformation gradient is assumed to be in the form \({F}=F_{re}F_{ie}F_g\) where \(F_g,\) \(F_{ie}\) and \(F_{re}\) represent the growth tensor (not necessary a gradient), the elastic transformation that takes the stress-free intermediate configuration to the unloaded configuration (not necessary a gradient) and the deformation from the unloaded configuration to the actual deformed configuration, respectively. Using standard thermodynamic principles and the classical Clusius-Duhem inequality, three different approaches to model growth are developed: in the first one the free energy per fixed volume depends on the growth tensor and thus it depends on the intermediate configuration. To suppress this, a second formulation, independent on the intermediate configuration is presented in which the free energy per fixed volume depends on \(F_r = F_{ie}F_g\) so that, as a consequence, in this formulation the residual stress is obtained as a function of the \(F_r,\) which shows that the residual stress depends on the growth. A more general model is presented in the third approach where the free energy per unit volume is assumed to be a function of both \(F_{re}\) and the residual stress. Application to the growth of an incompressible elastic spherical shell is discussed in detail. This very well written paper is an interesting point to start with for modelling of biological growth.