Hyperelastic modeling of solid methyl cellulose hydrogel under quasi-static compression.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Rheology

Background:

• Solid methyl cellulose (MC) hydrogels are complex viscoelastic materials.
• Accurate constitutive models are crucial for predicting hydrogel behavior under mechanical stress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a simple yet accurate constitutive model for solid methyl cellulose (MC) hydrogels.
• To evaluate the performance of five different constitutive models under quasi-static uniaxial compression.

Main Methods:

• Quasi-static uniaxial compression tests were performed on MC hydrogels with varying compositions and temperatures.
• Five constitutive models of increasing complexity were calibrated using compression data.
• Model stability for other loading modes was ensured through specific restrictions.

Main Results:

• The second-order polynomial constitutive model demonstrated both simplicity and accuracy.
• This model effectively predicted material behavior under compression.
• The model also showed good predictive capability for tensile behavior.

Conclusions:

• The second-order polynomial model is identified as the optimal choice for representing MC hydrogel mechanics.
• This model offers a balance of accuracy and simplicity for engineering applications.
• The findings provide a valuable tool for designing and utilizing MC-based materials.