A thermo-mechanically coupled finite-deformation model for freezing-induced damage in soft materials

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2026

Abstract

In the U.S., approximately 17 patients die each day awaiting an organ transplant, a crisis driven by the inability to store organs long-term via methods like cryopreservation. A primary failure mechanism is the severe thermo-mechanical damage tissues experience during freezing. A predictive understanding of this damage is hindered by the complex interplay between heat transfer, phase change, and large-deformation mechanics. Motivated by this fundamental problem, we present a fully coupled, thermo-mechanical phase-field framework for modeling damage evolution in fluid-saturated soft materials under cryogenic conditions. The theoretical framework integrates heat transfer with solid-liquid phase transition, finite-deformation nonlinear elasticity, and progressive mechanical damage. The governing equations are solved using the FEniCS finite element package. This paper details the theoretical framework and showcases representative simulations that capture the spatiotemporal evolution of temperature, freezing phase field, stress, and damage fields during representative freezing protocols. The developed framework serves as a powerful tool for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of freezing-induced injury and for designing improved cryopreservation strategies.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids

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