Automated data-driven discovery of material models based on symbolic regression: A case study on the human brain cortex

We introduce a data-driven framework to automatically identify interpretable and physically meaningful hyperelastic constitutive models from sparse data. Leveraging symbolic regression, our approach generates elegant hyperelastic models that achieve accurate data fitting with parsimonious mathematic formulas, while strictly adhering to hyperelasticity constraints such as polyconvexity/ellipticity. Our investigation spans three distinct hyperelastic models—invariant-based, principal stretch-based, and normal strain-based—and highlights the versatility of symbolic regression. We validate our new approach using synthetic data from five classic hyperelastic models and experimental data from the human brain cortex to demonstrate algorithmic efficacy. Our results suggest that our symbolic regression algorithms robustly discover accurate models with succinct mathematic expressions in invariant-based, stretch-based, and strain-based scenarios. Strikingly, the strain-based model exhibits superior accuracy, while both stretch-based and strain-based models effectively capture the nonlinearity and tension-compression asymmetry inherent to the human brain tissue. Polyconvexity/ellipticity assessment affirm the rigorous adherence to convexity requirements both within and beyond the training regime. However, the stretch-based models raise concerns regarding potential convexity loss under large deformations. The evaluation of predictive capabilities demonstrates remarkable interpolation capabilities for all three models and acceptable extrapolation performance for stretch-based and strain-based models. Finally, robustness tests on noise-embedded data underscore the reliability of our symbolic regression algorithms. Our study confirms the applicability and accuracy of symbolic regression in the automated discovery of isotropic hyperelastic models for the human brain and gives rise to a wide variety of applications in other soft matter systems.

Statement of significance

Our research introduces a pioneering data-driven framework that revolutionizes the automated identification of hyperelastic constitutive models, particularly in the context of soft matter systems such as the human brain. By harnessing the power of symbolic regression, we have unlocked the ability to distill intricate physical phenomena into elegant and interpretable mathematical expressions. Our approach not only ensures accurate fitting to sparse data but also upholds crucial hyperelasticity constraints, including polyconvexity, essential for maintaining physical relevance.