Mechanical characterization of PVA hydrogels' rate-dependent response using multi-axial loading

PLoS One. 2020 May 12;15(5):e0233021. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233021. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

The time-dependent properties of rubber-like synthesized and biological materials are crucial for their applications. Currently, this behavior is mainly measured using axial tensile test, compression test, or indentation. Limited studies performed on using multi-axial loading measurements of time-dependent material behavior exist in the literature. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the viscoelastic response of rubber-like materials under multi-axial loading using cavity expansion and relaxation tests. The tests were performed on PVA hydrogel specimens. Three hyperelasitc models and one term Prony series were used to characterize the viscoelastic response of the hydrogels. Finite element (FE) simulations were performed to verify the validity of the calibrated material coefficients by reproducing the experimental results. The excellent agreement between the experimental, analytical and numerical data proves the capability of the cavity expansion technique to measure the time-dependent behavior of viscoelastic materials.

MeSH terms

  • Bioengineering
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Elasticity
  • Elastomers / chemistry
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Hydrogels / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Polyvinyl Alcohol / chemistry*
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Viscosity

Substances

  • Elastomers
  • Hydrogels
  • polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel
  • Polyvinyl Alcohol

Grants and funding

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.