The Gibbon MATLAB Toolbox is a powerful open-source library for finite element analysis and is aprticularly suited for biomechanics and soft tissue modeling applications but has also very powerful lattice and mesh creation and analysis tools. Developed by Kevin Moerman from the University of Galway the toolbox integrates MATLAB workflows with several FEA softwares.
GIBBON toolbox workflow overview showing geometry processing, meshing, and FEA capabilities
Comprehensive Geometry Processing
Gibbon can handle complex 3D geometries with robust meshing, including tetrahedral meshing for complex domains and mesh quality tools. In my Undergraduate Dissertation this was essential to create an automated simulation workflow for TPMS lattice structures at different volume fractions.
Advanced Material Models
\[\sigma = \frac{\partial W}{\partial \mathbf{F}} \mathbf{F}^T\]One of Gibbon’s key advantages is the hyperelastic constitutive models such as Neo-Hookean, Mooney-Rivlin and Ogden. Essential to capture large soft tissue deformations or elastomers. These are further explored in Nonlinear Models for Polymers
Mainly supports FEBio (Finite Element for Biomechanics) open source FEA solver with many applications also for Abaqus. Adds several anisotropic and multiphase material capabilities.
FEBio Integration and Solver Capabilities
Gibbon’s integration with FEBio provides access to nonlinear finite element solving capabilities specialised for biomechanical applications. Allows to set up, run and post-process FEBio and Abaqus simulations directly in MATLAB workflows.
Visualisation and Post-Processing
Gibbon provides exclusive graph types and 3D plots that go beyond MATLAB capabilities. Includes plots for stress deformation and loading animation at each timestep. Without the need for commercial software licenses.