Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
797588 | Mechanics of Materials | 2013 | 11 Pages |
The application of multilayered hydrogel capsules in biomedical engineering has stimulated much interest in the mechanics of soft matter. Based on second-order elasticity theory, this paper presents analytical solutions for a spherically symmetric bilayered hydrogel subjected to a constant dilatation. The results show that: (1) elastic nonlinearity and inhomogeneity play a crucial role in the mechanical state, (2) a wide range of mechanical states can be designed for specific applications by manipulating the layer elasticity and interface position, and (3) the displacement and stresses can be characterized by a reduced set of eight geometric–elastic constants.
► Analytical solutions are obtained for the problem of a spherical composite with dilatation. ► A bilayered sphere is considered with dissimilar elastic constants for the layers. ► The theory emphasizes material nonlinearity. ► The solutions may be used to design the mechanical properties of a bioenvironment. ► Results may be relevant to tissue engineering, drug delivery and stem cell technology.