🧩 Modeling and Folding of Microfilms — Master's Thesis

Author: Helder Esteves
Institution: Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL)
Research Group: CFTC – Center for Theoretical and Computational Physics

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🧠 Overview

This repository contains the scripts, simulation data, and analysis tools developed for my Master's thesis, focused on the mechanical modeling and folding mechanisms of microfilms.
The project bridges theory, computation, and experimental collaboration to understand how thin polymer-based films and cell-derived membranes deform and self-organize under internal or external stresses.

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🎯 Objectives

• Develop a mechanical model describing folding and buckling in thin elastic microfilms.
• Explore the influence of adhesion, stress localization, and boundary conditions.
• Compare simulations with experimental results from collaborating groups (ultra-thin membranes & polymer-based microfilms).

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🧰 Methods

• Simulation software: LAMMPS
• Visualization: OVITO
• Post-processing: Python (NumPy, Matplotlib, Pandas)

The modeling is based on a central particle connected by harmonic bonds to surrounding nodes, enabling control of area, stress, and bending localization.

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📂 Repository Structure