# Peridynamic Neural Operators: A Data-Driven Nonlocal Constitutive Model for Complex Material Responses

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2401.06070 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2401.06070/

## Key facts

- Cited by 18 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 43 of its 110 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 11 Jan 2024.

## Builds on (most cited first, 30 of 43)

- [Neural Message Passing for Quantum Chemistry](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1704.01212/) (2017)
- [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)
- [Neural Operator: Graph Kernel Network for Partial Differential Equations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2003.03485/) (2020)
- [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)
- [Fourier Neural Operator with Learned Deformations for PDEs on General Geometries](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2207.05209/) (2022)
- [Message Passing Neural PDE Solvers](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2202.03376/) (2022)
- [Multipole Graph Neural Operator for Parametric Partial Differential Equations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.09535/) (2020)
- [Choose a Transformer: Fourier or Galerkin](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2105.14995/) (2021)
- [GNOT: A General Neural Operator Transformer for Operator Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.14376/) (2023)
- [Geometry-Informed Neural Operator for Large-Scale 3D PDEs](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2309.00583/) (2023)
- [Transformer for Partial Differential Equations' Operator Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2205.13671/) (2022)
- [Multiwavelet-based Operator Learning for Differential Equations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2109.13459/) (2021)
- [A physics-informed variational DeepONet for predicting the crack path in brittle materials](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2108.06905/) (2021)
- [Continuous PDE Dynamics Forecasting with Implicit Neural Representations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2209.14855/) (2022)
- [Learning Deep Implicit Fourier Neural Operators (IFNOs) with Applications to Heterogeneous Material Modeling](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.08205/) (2022)
- [Polyconvex anisotropic hyperelasticity with neural networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.14623/) (2021)
- [Geometric deep learning for computational mechanics Part I: Anisotropic Hyperelasticity](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2001.04292/) (2020)
- [A new family of Constitutive Artificial Neural Networks towards automated model discovery](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2210.02202/) (2022)
- [Interfacing Finite Elements with Deep Neural Operators for Fast Multiscale Modeling of Mechanics Problems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.00003/) (2022)
- [Nonlocal Kernel Network (NKN): a Stable and Resolution-Independent Deep Neural Network](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2201.02217/) (2022)
- [Domain Agnostic Fourier Neural Operators](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.00478/) (2023)
- [Simulating progressive intramural damage leading to aortic dissection using an operator-regression neural network](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2108.11985/) (2021)
- [Data-driven Tissue Mechanics with Polyconvex Neural Ordinary Differential Equations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2110.03774/) (2021)
- [INO: Invariant Neural Operators for Learning Complex Physical Systems with Momentum Conservation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2212.14365/) (2022)
- [Harnessing the Power of Neural Operators with Automatically Encoded Conservation Laws](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.11176/) (2023)
- [Overview: Computer vision and machine learning for microstructural characterization and analysis](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2005.14260/) (2020)
- [A Physics-Guided Neural Operator Learning Approach to Model Biological Tissues from Digital Image Correlation Measurements](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2204.00205/) (2022)
- [Machine learning materials physics: Multi-resolution neural networks learn the free energy and nonlinear elastic response of evolving microstructures](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2001.01575/) (2019)

## Built on by (most cited first, 18 of 18)

- [Nonlocal Attention Operator: Materializing Hidden Knowledge Towards Interpretable Physics Discovery](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2408.07307/) (2024)
- [Deep Neural Operator Enabled Digital Twin Modeling for Additive Manufacturing](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.09572/) (2024)
- [A physics-informed transformer neural operator for learning generalized solutions of initial boundary value problems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2412.09009/) (2024)
- [Spectral Embedding via Chebyshev Bases for Robust DeepONet Approximation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2512.09165/) (2025)
- [Heterogeneous Peridynamic Neural Operators: Discover Biotissue Constitutive Law and Microstructure From Digital Image Correlation Measurements](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.18597/) (2024)
- [Physics-Informed Machine Learning in Biomedical Science and Engineering](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.05433/) (2025)
- [Magnetic Hysteresis Modeling with Neural Operators](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2407.03261/) (2024)
- [Disentangled Representation Learning for Parametric Partial Differential Equations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.02136/) (2024)
- [Monotone Peridynamic Neural Operator for Nonlinear Material Modeling with Conditionally Unique Solutions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.01060/) (2025)
- [Continuum Transformers Perform In-Context Learning by Operator Gradient Descent](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.17838/) (2025)
- [Neural Interpretable PDEs: Harmonizing Fourier Insights with Attention for Scalable and Interpretable Physics Discovery](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.23106/) (2025)
- [ReBaNO: Reduced Basis Neural Operator Mitigating Generalization Gaps and Achieving Discretization Invariance](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.09611/) (2025)
- [Embedded Nonlocal Operator Regression (ENOR): Quantifying model error in learning nonlocal operators](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2410.20331/) (2024)
- [A physics-guided smoothing method for material modeling with digital image correlation (DIC) measurements](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.18784/) (2025)
- [A Comparison of Surrogate Constitutive Models for Viscoplastic Creep Simulation of HT-9 Steel](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.22667/) (2025)
- [NOFE - Neural Operator Function Embedding](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.11970/) (2026)
- [Modeling Unknown Nonlocal PDE Systems via Flow Map Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.00400/) (2026)
- [A Constitutive Markov Physics-Informed Neural Operator (MPNO) for Autoregressive Stability in Transient Dynamics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2608.25744/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Neural operators, which can act as implicit solution operators of hidden governing equations, have recently become popular tools for learning the responses of complex real-world physical systems. Nevertheless, most neural operator applications have thus far been data-driven and neglect the intrinsic preservation of fundamental physical laws in data. In this work, we introduce a novel integral neural operator architecture called the Peridynamic Neural Operator (PNO) that learns a nonlocal constitutive law from data. This neural operator provides a forward model in the form of state-based peridynamics, with objectivity and momentum balance laws automatically guaranteed. As applications, we demonstrate the expressivity and efficacy of our model in learning complex material behaviors from both synthetic and experimental data sets. We show that, owing to its ability to capture complex responses, our learned neural operator achieves improved accuracy and efficiency compared to baseline models that use predefined constitutive laws. Moreover, by preserving the essential physical laws within the neural network architecture, the PNO is robust in treating noisy data. The method shows generalizability to different domain configurations, external loadings, and discretizations.