Modeling and Simulations of Polymers: A Roadmap

TLDR: In this article, the authors discuss their philosophy for carefully developing or selecting appropriate models, performing, and analyzing polymer simulations, highlighting best practices, key challenges, and important advances in model development/selection, computational method choices, advanced sampling met...

Abstract: Molecular modeling and simulations are invaluable tools for the polymer science and engineering community. These computational approaches enable predictions and provide explanations of experimentally observed macromolecular structure, dynamics, thermodynamics, and microscopic and macroscopic material properties. With recent advances in computing power, polymer simulations can synergistically inform, guide, and complement in vitro macromolecular materials design and discovery efforts. To ensure that this growing power of simulations is harnessed correctly, and meaningful results are achieved, care must be taken to ensure the validity and reproducibility of these simulations. With these considerations in mind, in this Perspective we discuss our philosophy for carefully developing or selecting appropriate models, performing, and analyzing polymer simulations. We highlight best practices, key challenges, and important advances in model development/selection, computational method choices, advanced sampling met...