A competitive coevolution-based evolutionary algorithm for the parallel inverse design of multiple soft network materials

Soft network materials (SNMs) incorporating curved microstructures within lattice architectures have emerged as critical components in flexible electronics and tissue scaffolds. These materials demonstrate distinctive nonlinear mechanical behavior under tensile loading, replicating J-shaped stress-s...

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Main Authors: Xiao Feng, Yuchen Lai, Xing Yang, Yongbin Yu, Fangling Li, Xiangxiang Wang, Jiacheng Liang, Jingye Cai, Shunze Cao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Materials & Design
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525007798
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author Xiao Feng
Yuchen Lai
Xing Yang
Yongbin Yu
Fangling Li
Xiangxiang Wang
Jiacheng Liang
Jingye Cai
Shunze Cao
author_facet Xiao Feng
Yuchen Lai
Xing Yang
Yongbin Yu
Fangling Li
Xiangxiang Wang
Jiacheng Liang
Jingye Cai
Shunze Cao
author_sort Xiao Feng
collection DOAJ
description Soft network materials (SNMs) incorporating curved microstructures within lattice architectures have emerged as critical components in flexible electronics and tissue scaffolds. These materials demonstrate distinctive nonlinear mechanical behavior under tensile loading, replicating J-shaped stress-strain curves observed in soft tissues such as skin and tendon/ligament. While numerous SNMs featuring diverse microstructural and topological designs have been engineered over the past decade, and each characterized by a distinct design domain, the existing design methodologies present inherent limitations. Although various computational strategies have been proposed, their implementation typically requires multi-stage processes and subjective parameter selection, exhibiting narrow applicability to specific SNM. To address these design constraints, we developed an innovatively competitive coevolution-based differential evolution algorithm with multi-population architecture (CCMPDE). After integrating mathematical modeling of SNMs and finite element analysis (FEA), the CCMPDE-based strategy enabled concurrent optimization of multiple SNMs featuring different curved microstructures. Notably, the proposed strategy demonstrates exceptional compatibility with diverse topologies and mechanical relationships. Through computational and experimental case studies, designed SNMs (fabricated by biopolymers) composed of horseshoe, sinusoidal, and arbitrary curved microstructures successfully replicated the tensile responses of soft tissues. Furthermore, the CCMPDE-based strategy facilitated inverse design of biocomposite SNMs, achieving appropriate replication of target mechanical behaviors.
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spelling doaj-art-2f1e5472087d404ca67f6ed5ebe72ae62025-08-20T02:36:39ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752025-08-0125611435910.1016/j.matdes.2025.114359A competitive coevolution-based evolutionary algorithm for the parallel inverse design of multiple soft network materialsXiao Feng0Yuchen Lai1Xing Yang2Yongbin Yu3Fangling Li4Xiangxiang Wang5Jiacheng Liang6Jingye Cai7Shunze Cao8School of Information and Software Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, Sichuan, ChinaAML, Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, ChinaCollege of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, ChinaSchool of Information and Software Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, Sichuan, ChinaCollege of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, ChinaSchool of Information and Software Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, Sichuan, ChinaCollege of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, ChinaSchool of Information and Software Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, Sichuan, ChinaCollege of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China; Corresponding author.Soft network materials (SNMs) incorporating curved microstructures within lattice architectures have emerged as critical components in flexible electronics and tissue scaffolds. These materials demonstrate distinctive nonlinear mechanical behavior under tensile loading, replicating J-shaped stress-strain curves observed in soft tissues such as skin and tendon/ligament. While numerous SNMs featuring diverse microstructural and topological designs have been engineered over the past decade, and each characterized by a distinct design domain, the existing design methodologies present inherent limitations. Although various computational strategies have been proposed, their implementation typically requires multi-stage processes and subjective parameter selection, exhibiting narrow applicability to specific SNM. To address these design constraints, we developed an innovatively competitive coevolution-based differential evolution algorithm with multi-population architecture (CCMPDE). After integrating mathematical modeling of SNMs and finite element analysis (FEA), the CCMPDE-based strategy enabled concurrent optimization of multiple SNMs featuring different curved microstructures. Notably, the proposed strategy demonstrates exceptional compatibility with diverse topologies and mechanical relationships. Through computational and experimental case studies, designed SNMs (fabricated by biopolymers) composed of horseshoe, sinusoidal, and arbitrary curved microstructures successfully replicated the tensile responses of soft tissues. Furthermore, the CCMPDE-based strategy facilitated inverse design of biocomposite SNMs, achieving appropriate replication of target mechanical behaviors.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525007798Soft network materialsInverse-engineering designEvolutionary algorithmNonlinear mechanical responsesBiocomposite SNM
spellingShingle Xiao Feng
Yuchen Lai
Xing Yang
Yongbin Yu
Fangling Li
Xiangxiang Wang
Jiacheng Liang
Jingye Cai
Shunze Cao
A competitive coevolution-based evolutionary algorithm for the parallel inverse design of multiple soft network materials
Materials & Design
Soft network materials
Inverse-engineering design
Evolutionary algorithm
Nonlinear mechanical responses
Biocomposite SNM
title A competitive coevolution-based evolutionary algorithm for the parallel inverse design of multiple soft network materials
title_full A competitive coevolution-based evolutionary algorithm for the parallel inverse design of multiple soft network materials
title_fullStr A competitive coevolution-based evolutionary algorithm for the parallel inverse design of multiple soft network materials
title_full_unstemmed A competitive coevolution-based evolutionary algorithm for the parallel inverse design of multiple soft network materials
title_short A competitive coevolution-based evolutionary algorithm for the parallel inverse design of multiple soft network materials
title_sort competitive coevolution based evolutionary algorithm for the parallel inverse design of multiple soft network materials
topic Soft network materials
Inverse-engineering design
Evolutionary algorithm
Nonlinear mechanical responses
Biocomposite SNM
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525007798
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