# DCEM: A deep complementary energy method for solid mechanics

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2302.01538 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.01538/

## Key facts

- Cited by 5 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 31 of its 88 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 3 Feb 2023.

## Builds on (most cited first, 30 of 31)

- [Attention Is All You Need](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1706.03762/) (2017)
- [PyTorch: An Imperative Style, High-Performance Deep Learning Library](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1912.01703/) (2019)
- [Fourier Neural Operator for Parametric Partial Differential Equations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2010.08895/) (2020)
- [DeepONet: Learning nonlinear operators for identifying differential equations based on the universal approximation theorem of operators](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1910.03193/) (2019)
- [An Empirical Investigation of Catastrophic Forgetting in Gradient-Based Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1312.6211/) (2013)
- [When and why PINNs fail to train: A neural tangent kernel perspective](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2007.14527/) (2020)
- [The Deep Ritz method: A deep learning-based numerical algorithm for solving variational problems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1710.00211/) (2017)
- [Learning the solution operator of parametric partial differential equations with physics-informed DeepOnets](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2103.10974/) (2021)
- [Physics-Informed Neural Operator for Learning Partial Differential Equations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2111.03794/) (2021)
- [Physics-informed neural networks (PINNs) for fluid mechanics: A review](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2105.09506/) (2021)
- [U-FNO -- An enhanced Fourier neural operator-based deep-learning model for multiphase flow](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2109.03697/) (2021)
- [On the eigenvector bias of Fourier feature networks: From regression to solving multi-scale PDEs with physics-informed neural networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2012.10047/) (2020)
- [Physics-informed neural networks with hard constraints for inverse design](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2102.04626/) (2021)
- [hp-VPINNs: Variational Physics-Informed Neural Networks With Domain Decomposition](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2003.05385/) (2020)
- [Variational Physics-Informed Neural Networks For Solving Partial Differential Equations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1912.00873/) (2019)
- [Exact imposition of boundary conditions with distance functions in physics-informed deep neural networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.08426/) (2021)
- [A unified deep artificial neural network approach to partial differential equations in complex geometries](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1711.06464/) (2017)
- [An Energy Approach to the Solution of Partial Differential Equations in Computational Mechanics via Machine Learning: Concepts, Implementation and Applications](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1908.10407/) (2019)
- [Transfer learning enhanced physics informed neural network for phase-field modeling of fracture](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1907.02531/) (2019)
- [A physics-informed variational DeepONet for predicting the crack path in brittle materials](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2108.06905/) (2021)
- [Physics informed deep learning for computational elastodynamics without labeled data](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.08472/) (2020)
- [Encoding physics to learn reaction-diffusion processes](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.04781/) (2021)
- [Unsupervised discovery of interpretable hyperelastic constitutive laws](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2010.13496/) (2020)
- [PFNN: A Penalty-Free Neural Network Method for Solving a Class of Second-Order Boundary-Value Problems on Complex Geometries](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2004.06490/) (2020)
- [Simulating progressive intramural damage leading to aortic dissection using an operator-regression neural network](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2108.11985/) (2021)
- [A Physics-Guided Neural Network Framework for Elastic Plates: Comparison of Governing Equations-Based and Energy-Based Approaches](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2010.06050/) (2020)
- [The mixed deep energy method for resolving concentration features in finite strain hyperelasticity](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2104.09623/) (2021)
- [A deep learning energy method for hyperelasticity and viscoelasticity](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2201.08690/) (2022)
- [A deep learning energy-based method for classical elastoplasticity](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2209.06467/) (2022)
- [CENN: Conservative energy method based on neural networks with subdomains for solving variational problems involving heterogeneous and complex geometries](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2110.01359/) (2021)

## Built on by (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [Kolmogorov Arnold Informed neural network: A physics-informed deep learning framework for solving forward and inverse problems based on Kolmogorov Arnold Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2406.11045/) (2024)
- [Transfer Learning in Physics-Informed Neural Networks: Full Fine-Tuning, Lightweight Fine-Tuning, and Low-Rank Adaptation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2502.00782/) (2025)
- [Energy-based physics-informed neural network for frictionless contact problems under large deformation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2411.03671/) (2024)
- [A holomorphic neural network framework for 3D boundary value problems governed by harmonic potentials](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.31231/) (2026)
- [Energy-Based Physics-Informed Form Finding for Clustered Tensegrity Structures](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.12888/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

In recent years, the rapid advancement of deep learning has significantly impacted various fields, particularly in solving partial differential equations (PDEs) in the realm of solid mechanics, benefiting greatly from the remarkable approximation capabilities of neural networks. In solving PDEs, Physics-Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) and the Deep Energy Method (DEM) have garnered substantial attention. The principle of minimum potential energy and complementary energy are two important variational principles in solid mechanics. However, the well-known Deep Energy Method (DEM) is based on the principle of minimum potential energy, but there lacks the important form of minimum complementary energy. To bridge this gap, we propose the deep complementary energy method (DCEM) based on the principle of minimum complementary energy. The output function of DCEM is the stress function, which inherently satisfies the equilibrium equation. We present numerical results using the Prandtl and Airy stress functions, and compare DCEM with existing PINNs and DEM algorithms when modeling representative mechanical problems. The results demonstrate that DCEM outperforms DEM in terms of stress accuracy and efficiency and has an advantage in dealing with complex displacement boundary conditions, which is supported by theoretical analyses and numerical simulations. We extend DCEM to DCEM-Plus (DCEM-P), adding terms that satisfy partial differential equations. Furthermore, we propose a deep complementary energy operator method (DCEM-O) by combining operator learning with physical equations. Initially, we train DCEM-O using high-fidelity numerical results and then incorporate complementary energy. DCEM-P and DCEM-O further enhance the accuracy and efficiency of DCEM.