A deep learning framework for solution and discovery in solid mechanics: linear elasticity

We present the application of a class of deep learning, known as Physics Informed Neural Networks (PINN), to learning and discovery in solid mechanics. We explain how to incorporate the momentum balance and constitutive relations into PINN, and explore in detail the application to linear elasticity, although the framework is rather general and can be extended to other solid-mechanics problems. While common PINN algorithms are based on training one deep neural network (DNN), we propose a multi-network model that results in more accurate representation of the field variables. To validate the model, we test the framework on synthetic data generated from analytical and numerical reference solutions. We study convergence of the PINN model, and show that Isogeometric Analysis (IGA) results in superior accuracy and convergence characteristics compared with classic low-order Finite Element Method (FEM). We also show the applicability of the framework for transfer learning, and find vastly accelerated convergence during network re-training. Finally, we find that honoring the physics leads to improved robustness: when trained only on a few parameters, we find that the PINN model can accurately predict the solution for a wide range of parameters new to the network---thus pointing to an important application of this framework to sensitivity analysis and surrogate modeling.