Mesoscale simulation approach for assembly of small deformable objects

Abstract

We adapt Vertex models to understand the physical origin of the formation of long-range ordered structures in repulsive soft particles. The model incorporates contributions from the volume and surface area of each particle. Sampling using Monte Carlo simulations allows the system to naturally select preferred structures. We observe transitions between a body-centered cubic ordered state and a disordered state. Constraints to the simulation domain can suppress or allow the system to follow a path similar to Martensitic transformations from one ordered state to another ordered state. Finally, we show that rapid quenches from a disordered state into the ordered region lead to metastable local particle arrangements instead of a large-scale single crystal.