# Can KAN CANs? Input-convex Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks (KANs) as hyperelastic constitutive artificial neural networks (CANs)

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2503.05617 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.05617/

## Key facts

- Cited by 13 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 34 of its 72 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 7 Mar 2025.

## Builds on (most cited first, 30 of 34)

- [Convex optimization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.01946/) (2021)
- [Sigmoid-Weighted Linear Units for Neural Network Function Approximation in Reinforcement Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1702.03118/) (2017)
- [Input Convex Neural Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1609.07152/) (2016)
- [The Kolmogorov-Arnold representation theorem revisited](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2007.15884/) (2020)
- [DeepOKAN: Deep Operator Network Based on Kolmogorov Arnold Networks for Mechanics Problems](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.19143/) (2024)
- [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)
- [Polyconvex anisotropic hyperelasticity with neural networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2106.14623/) (2021)
- [Unsupervised discovery of interpretable hyperelastic constitutive laws](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2010.13496/) (2020)
- [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)
- [Neural networks meet hyperelasticity: A guide to enforcing physics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.02403/) (2023)
- [A review on data-driven constitutive laws for solids](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.03658/) (2024)
- [Automated discovery of generalized standard material models with EUCLID](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2211.04453/) (2022)
- [NN-EUCLID: deep-learning hyperelasticity without stress data](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2205.06664/) (2022)
- [Model-Free Data-Driven Inelasticity](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1808.10859/) (2018)
- [Data-driven Tissue Mechanics with Polyconvex Neural Ordinary Differential Equations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2110.03774/) (2021)
- [Discovering plasticity models without stress data](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2202.04916/) (2022)
- [Bayesian-EUCLID: discovering hyperelastic material laws with uncertainties](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2203.07422/) (2022)
- [Local approximate Gaussian process regression for data-driven constitutive laws: Development and comparison with neural networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2105.04554/) (2021)
- [On-the-fly construction of surrogate constitutive models for concurrent multiscale mechanical analysis through probabilistic machine learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2007.07749/) (2020)
- [Neural network-based multiscale modeling of finite strain magneto-elasticity with relaxed convexity criteria](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2308.16311/) (2023)
- [Data-driven fracture mechanics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2006.03133/) (2020)
- [Viscoelastic Constitutive Artificial Neural Networks (vCANNs) - a framework for data-driven anisotropic nonlinear finite viscoelasticity](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.12164/) (2023)
- [KKANs: Kurkova-Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks and Their Learning Dynamics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2412.16738/) (2024)
- [What machine learning can do for computational solid mechanics](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2109.08419/) (2021)
- [Finite electro-elasticity with physics-augmented neural networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2206.05139/) (2022)
- [Automated discovery of interpretable hyperelastic material models for human brain tissue with EUCLID](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.16362/) (2023)
- [Discovering interpretable elastoplasticity models via the neural polynomial method enabled symbolic regressions](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2307.13149/) (2023)
- [Generative Hyperelasticity with Physics-Informed Probabilistic Diffusion Fields](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2310.03745/) (2023)
- [Physics-informed Data-driven Discovery of Constitutive Models with Application to Strain-Rate-sensitive Soft Materials](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.13897/) (2023)

## Built on by (most cited first, 13 of 13)

- [Inelastic Constitutive Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks: A generalized framework for automated discovery of interpretable inelastic material models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.17750/) (2026)
- [KHRONOS: a Kernel-Based Neural Architecture for Rapid, Resource-Efficient Scientific Computation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.13315/) (2025)
- [Input Convex Kolmogorov Arnold Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2505.21208/) (2025)
- [Automated Constitutive Model Discovery by Pairing Sparse Regression Algorithms with Model Selection Criteria](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.16040/) (2025)
- [COMMET: orders-of-magnitude speed-up in finite element method via batch-vectorized neural constitutive updates](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.00884/) (2025)
- [Unsupervised full-field Bayesian inference of orthotropic hyperelasticity from a single biaxial test: a myocardial case study](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2510.09498/) (2025)
- [Weak-Form Evolutionary Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks for Solving Partial Differential Equations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2602.18515/) (2026)
- [A Convex Route to Thermoelasticity: Learning Internal Energy and Dissipation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2603.28707/) (2026)
- [Neural Discovery of Memory and Nonlocal Kernels in Integro-Differential Equations with Constrained Kolmogorov--Arnold Networks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2607.11110/) (2026)
- [Discovering Thermodynamically Admissible Dissipation Potentials via Grammar-Based Symbolic Regression](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2605.31532/) (2026)
- [CANN-EUCLID: unsupervised constitutive artificial neural network model discovery from full-field data](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.14565/) (2026)
- [A Hybrid GNN-FEM Framework for Phase-Field Fracture Simulation. Physics-Preserving Hybridization for Generalizable Surrogate Modeling](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2606.19378/) (2026)
- [Polyconvex neural-network surrogates with learned paired directional features for anisotropic hyperelastic homogenization](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2610.12801/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Traditional constitutive models rely on hand-crafted parametric forms with limited expressivity and generalizability, while neural network-based models can capture complex material behavior but often lack interpretability. To balance these trade-offs, we present monotonic Input-Convex Kolmogorov-Arnold Networks (ICKANs) for learning polyconvex hyperelastic constitutive laws. ICKANs leverage the Kolmogorov-Arnold representation, decomposing the model into compositions of trainable univariate spline-based activation functions for rich expressivity. We introduce trainable monotonic input-convex splines within the KAN architecture, ensuring physically admissible polyconvex models for isotropic compressible hyperelasticity. The resulting models are both compact and interpretable, enabling explicit extraction of analytical constitutive relationships through a monotonic input-convex symbolic regression technique. Through unsupervised training on full-field strain data and limited global force measurements, ICKANs accurately capture nonlinear stress-strain behavior across diverse strain states. Finite element simulations of unseen geometries with trained ICKAN hyperelastic constitutive models confirm the framework's robustness and generalization capability.