A Multi-AI-agent Framework Enabling End-to-end Finite Element Analysis for Solid Mechanics Problems

Finite element analysis (FEA) is the most important numerical approach for solid mechanics. Challenges of FEA include a steep learning curve for entry-level users and potential false simulations due to incorrect definitions of key simulation components, such as boundary conditions, load cases, and solution variables. Years of engineering experience are usually necessary for real-world problem-solving. To address these issues, we present AbaqusAgent, a multi-agent framework grounded in large language models (LLMs) for solid mechanics analyses. AbaqusAgent is developed to facilitate analysis case generation and execution using Abaqus, one of the most widely used FEA packages, by turning users' natural-language instructions into executed FEA analyses and result visualization. AbaqusAgent is composed of six agents, including interpreter, architect, input writer, runner, reviewer, and visualizer agents, encompassing all the essential pre-processing and post-processing steps of standard FEA analyses. A wide variety of 50 solid mechanics problems have been successfully validated, achieving an overall success rate of 86%. Beyond improving the efficiency of FEA for solid mechanics problems and lowering the barrier to computational mechanics education, AbaqusAgent advances the human-simulation interaction paradigm and enables integration with AI-empowered optimization and material characterization workflows. The code is available at https://github.com/LIRAM-LIN/AbaqusAgent

SCICONVBENCH: Benchmarking LLMs on Multi-Turn Clarification for Task Formulation in Computational Science

Large Language Models (LLMs) are increasingly deployed as scientific AI as- sistants, and a growing body of benchmarks evaluates their capabilities across knowledge retrieval, reasoning, code generation, and tool use. These evaluations, however, typically assume the scientific problem is already well-posed, whereas practical scientific assistance often begins with an ill-posed user request that must be refined through dialogue before any computation, analysis, or experiment can be carried out reliably. We introduce SCICONVBENCH, a benchmark for multi- turn clarification in scientific task formulation across four computational science problem domains: fluid mechanics, solid mechanics, materials science, and par- tial differential equations (PDEs). SCICONVBENCH targets two complementary capabilities: eliciting missing information (disambiguation) and detecting and correcting erroneous requests containing internally contradictory information (in- consistency resolution). Our benchmark pairs a structured task ontology with a rubric-based evaluation framework, enabling systematic measurement of LLM per- formance across three dimensions: clarification behavior, conversational grounding, and final-specification fidelity. Current frontier models perform relatively well on inconsistency resolution, but even the best model resolves only 52.7% of the disambiguation cases in fluid mechanics. We further find that frontier LLMs fre- quently make silent assumptions and perform implicit specification repairs that are not grounded in the conversation with users. SCICONVBENCH establishes a foundation for evaluating the upstream conversational reasoning that a reliable computational science assistant requires. The code and data can be found at https://github.com/csml-rpi/SciConvBench.

In-situ On-demand Digital Image Correlation: A New Data-rich Characterization Paradigm for Deformation and Damage Development in Solids

Digital image correlation (DIC) has become one of the most popular methods for deformation characterization in experimental mechanics. DIC is based on optical images taken during experimentation and post-test image processing. Its advantages include the capability to capture full-field deformation in a non-contact manner, the robustness in characterizing excessive deformation induced by events such as yielding and cracking, and the versatility to integrate optical cameras with a variety of open-source and commercial codes. In this paper, we developed a new paradigm of DIC analysis by integrating camera control into the DIC process flow. The essential idea is to dynamically increase the camera imaging frame rate with excessive deformation or deformation rate, while maintaining a relatively low imaging frame rate with small and slow deformation. We refer to this new DIC paradigm as in-situ on-demand (ISOD) DIC. ISOD DIC enables real-time deformation analysis, visualization, and closed-loop camera control. ISOD DIC has captured approximately 178% more images than conventional DIC for samples undergoing crack growth due to its dynamically adjusted frame rate, with the potential to significantly enhance data richness for damage inspection without consuming excessive storage space and analysis time, thereby benefiting the characterization of intrinsic constitutive behaviors and damage mechanisms