A model for fracture of ionic hydrogel at large deformation coupled with diffusion and inertia effects

Abstract

Ionic hydrogel has significant potential for future applications, especially those sensitive to external stimuli such as pH and salt concentration changes. This paper presents a model for the fracture of ionic hydrogel at large deformation, coupled with diffusion and inertia effects. The model is based on finite-element analysis with an analogy method and the Hilber-Hughes-Taylor (HHT) method. The commercial finite-element code ABAQUS/Standard is used to implement the model and robustly simulate the fracture process under various boundary conditions for the smart hydrogels at equilibrium, transient and dynamic states. The model is validated by comparison with the experimental fracture data of ionic hydrogel published in open literature. Subsequently, several parameter studies are carried out numerically to demonstrate the robustness of the model and to understand the influence of pH and salt concentration changes, diffusion, and inertia effects on the fracture process of the hydrogels. The prediction and prevention of fracture in actual applications of ionic hydrogel are crucial, making this model an important contribution to the field.