Thermomechanics of material growth and remodeling in uniform bodies based on the micromorphic theory.

Based on the micromorphic theory, a novel mathematical formulation for the mechanical modeling of material growth and remodeling processes in finite deformation is developed. These two processes have an important significance in evolution of living tissues. The presented formulation incorporates both the volumetric growth and mass flux phenomena into the modeling with the aid of the micromorphic theory's capability to include internal structures in materials. The balance equation of microinertia is presented which reveals the importance of rearrangement and alteration of microstructure in the micromorphic material growth. Within the framework of material uniformity, the evolution laws are derived in terms of first-order differential equations for a set of material transplants which satisfy the formal restrictions arising from micromorphic material symmetries, and are consistent with the second law of thermodynamics. The set of the micromorphic Eshelby and Mandel stress tensors as driving forces for the local rearrangement of material inhomogeneities is also determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]