Cells can sense and respond to mechanical forces in fibrous extracellular matrices (ECMs)
over distances much greater than their size. This phenomenon, termed long-range force …

This review details the challenges with the canonical polymer swelling theory in its ability to
accurately estimate realistic polymer swelling behavior. It is important to quantify this …

The volumetric expansion of hydrogels driven by osmotic swelling stress has enabled
hydrogel actuators for myriad applications. However, most existing studies disregard …

Surface topography significantly affects various surface properties of polymer gels. Unlike
conventional materials where surface topography is largely a geometric property, the …

Osmotic pressure is the driving force for the swelling of hydrogels. The hydrogel osmotic
pressure can be decomposed into two parts: the mixing part due to polymer-solvent …

Constitutive equations are formulated for the mechanical behavior of rubber-like materials
subjected to swelling under an arbitrary deformation with finite strains. Based on the Flory …

An elastomeric seal may leak by elastic deformation without any material damage. We
describe elastic leak using a theoretical model, and watch a seal deform and leak using a …

A model is developed for the mechanical response of hydrogels whose deformation is
accompanied by swelling–shrinkage driven by the Belousov–Zhabotinsky reaction. A …

In the present article, a micromechanical model is developed for the visco-super-elastic
behavior of swollen hydrogel-based nanocomposites. The model formulated in a finite strain …

A model is developed for the mechanical response of pH-sensitive gels under an arbitrary
three-dimensional deformation accompanied by swelling. A polyelectrolyte gel is treated as …