{"title":"Mechanics of single-network hydrogels with network imperfection","authors":"Zhi Sheng, Siqi Yan, Jie Ma, Jiabao Bai, Zihang Shen, Zheng Jia","doi":"10.1016/j.giant.2024.100287","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.giant.2024.100287","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Polymer network is a crucial component of hydrogels, and network imperfection is a prominent feature of polymer networks, significantly influencing the performance of hydrogels. Two essential features of network imperfection are unequal chain lengths and dangling chains, both of which have a significant impact on the mechanical properties of single-network (SN) hydrogels. However, a theoretical framework considering network imperfection in SN hydrogels is still lacking. Here, we propose a theoretical model for SN hydrogels with network imperfection to study the damage behavior during deformation, in which we adopt different chain length distributions to accurately depict the real physical characteristics of the polymer network and incorporate the normalized critical chain force for a more precise measurement of network damage. To verify our theory, we discuss the effects of model parameters on the stress-stretch responses of SN hydrogels and predict the results of uniaxial loading-unloading tests of SN hydrogels, which agree well with experimentally measured stress-stretch behaviors. Finally, we implement the constitutive model into ABAQUS as a user subroutine to study the inhomogeneous deformation of hydrogels.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34151,"journal":{"name":"GIANT","volume":"18 ","pages":"Article 100287"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666542524000523/pdfft?md5=c4db0e5572150588908c21a2b39cdba8&pid=1-s2.0-S2666542524000523-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141038218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GIANTPub Date : 2024-05-11DOI: 10.1016/j.giant.2024.100284
Mohammad Hassan Shahriari , Hossein Salmani , Mohammad Akrami , Zeinab Salehi
{"title":"Development of a Facile, Versatile and Scalable Fabrication Approach of Solid, Coated, and Dissolving Microneedle Devices for Transdermal Drug Delivery Applications","authors":"Mohammad Hassan Shahriari , Hossein Salmani , Mohammad Akrami , Zeinab Salehi","doi":"10.1016/j.giant.2024.100284","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.giant.2024.100284","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Nowadays, microneedles as novel transdermal delivery systems are interested in scientists for biomedical applications. This work aims to present a Cascade Microneedle Molding Technique (CMMT) for the reusable fabrication of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) molds to produce microneedle devices. To produce a positive master mold from epoxy resin, a negative PDMS mold was first fabricated. PDMS can be molded, and microneedles can be fabricated using this epoxy mold in a scalable and cost-effective manner. These molds were used to manufacture solid, coated, and dissolving microneedles, which were characterized comprehensively. Microneedle morphology and geometry were evaluated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The mechanical integrity and ability to insert the microneedle device into the skin were assessed using compression strength analysis and force-displacement measurements. Drug penetration through animal skin was evaluated for Rhodamine B (RhB) loaded microneedles. The depth of needle insertion was also visualized using histological analysis while the spatial distribution of released cargo was determined by using confocal microscopy. Taken together, CMMT offers a simple, rapid, cost-effective, and scalable method for mass-producing microneedles with remarkable properties compared to direct 3D printing or laser ablation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34151,"journal":{"name":"GIANT","volume":"18 ","pages":"Article 100284"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666542524000493/pdfft?md5=682bf337751df7fe84a301c0f28a8ff0&pid=1-s2.0-S2666542524000493-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141026740","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GIANTPub Date : 2024-05-11DOI: 10.1016/j.giant.2024.100283
Pierre Delliere, Nathanael Guigo
{"title":"Tuning conditions for the amine-functionalization of carbonyls formed in biobased polyfurfuryl alcohol","authors":"Pierre Delliere, Nathanael Guigo","doi":"10.1016/j.giant.2024.100283","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.giant.2024.100283","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Biobased furan resins (furfuryl alcohol based) are functionalized by taking advantage of a side-reaction occurring during its polymerization. The furan ring-opening reactions yields carbonyls which can be functionalized by reaction with primary amines. Light is shed on unexplored parameters impacting the properties of PFA/Amine systems. First, PFA/Amines were prepared using PFA resins at conversion degree between 0.3 and 0.95. Overall, high conversion degrees (0.9 and above) are best suited to produce rigid materials. In addition, a precipitation process may be used to reach high <em>T<sub>g</sub></em> biobased materials (145 °C). Finally, the impact of the amines’ basicity on the properties of PFA/Amines was investigated. The results highlighted that PFAs at conversion degrees above 0.9 are little affected by the basicity. However, the properties of PFA functionalized at lower conversion degrees are strongly affected by the bases, i.e. high brittleness. This can be circumvented by limiting the functionalization degree to 0.25 and below.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34151,"journal":{"name":"GIANT","volume":"18 ","pages":"Article 100283"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666542524000481/pdfft?md5=a8a8b66fa774ebeb9360878a7b103f50&pid=1-s2.0-S2666542524000481-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141039829","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GIANTPub Date : 2024-05-11DOI: 10.1016/j.giant.2024.100286
Hao Gu , Juan Zhu , Haiyang Chen , Guang Zeng , Xining Chen , Xiaohua Tang , Jinfeng Xia , Tianjiao Zhang , Ben Zhang , Jiandong Zhang , Junyuan Ding , Yaowen Li , Yongfang Li
{"title":"Mechanics manipulation in large-area organic solar modules achieving over 16.5 % efficiency","authors":"Hao Gu , Juan Zhu , Haiyang Chen , Guang Zeng , Xining Chen , Xiaohua Tang , Jinfeng Xia , Tianjiao Zhang , Ben Zhang , Jiandong Zhang , Junyuan Ding , Yaowen Li , Yongfang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.giant.2024.100286","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.giant.2024.100286","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>High-efficiency organic solar cells (OSCs) are typically produced through spin-coating, restricting their application to small areas. Blade-coating, however, emerging as a promising method for large-scale production, yet faces challenges in film morphology optimization, which often leads to reduced power conversion efficiency (PCE). This study delves into the influence of both liquid and solid additives on the morphology of active layer in blade-coated OSCs, comparing them with spin-coated counterparts, using the high-efficiency PM6:D18:BTP-eC9 active layer. For the first time, we discovered the distinct impacts of solid versus liquid additives on the film uniformity, phase separation and crystalline regulation in blade-coating technique. Our findings reveal that liquid additives in blade-coating trigger outward Marangoni flow, causing undesirable material aggregation and phase separation, thereby impairing device performances. Conversely, switching to solid additives, like 1,4-Diiodobenzene (DIB), prevents these detrimental changes in fluid mechanics and preserves the desired additive effects. We demonstrate that solid additives can significantly change these inferior behaviors introduced by liquid additives in blade-coating, regulate phase separation, enhance π-π accumulation and delay crystallization, and ultimately boost OSC efficiency. Using DIB solid additive, we achieved a PCE of 18.81 % in blade-coated devices. Scaling up by 252 times, the PCE of large-area OSC module (15.64 cm²) sustained at 16.70 % (certified 16.66 %), ranking among the highest efficiency for OSC modules reported so far. These modules also exhibited exceptional storage stability, retaining 98 % efficiency after 5880 h in a nitrogen atmosphere. This research also provides a comprehensive understanding from various film characterizations and the perspective of fluid mechanics normally lack in the research. This research not only establishes a new framework for high-performance and large-area OSC modules but also extends its findings to other OSC systems with different additives, demonstrating a roll-to-roll compatible technique.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34151,"journal":{"name":"GIANT","volume":"18 ","pages":"Article 100286"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666542524000511/pdfft?md5=5ffc8847315fcfdd912fd013c32eede5&pid=1-s2.0-S2666542524000511-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141042793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GIANTPub Date : 2024-05-10DOI: 10.1016/j.giant.2024.100281
Zhenguang Li , Yaning Wang , Jielin Xu , Jing Wu , Huaping Wang
{"title":"Monofilaments of isosorbide-based tetrapolyesters with enhanced (bio)degradability prepared by a solid-state drawing process: Synthesis and struture-property relations","authors":"Zhenguang Li , Yaning Wang , Jielin Xu , Jing Wu , Huaping Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.giant.2024.100281","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.giant.2024.100281","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>To enhance the degradation rate of poly (butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT) in the natural environment and to investigate the effect of modified monomers on the molding and structure of copolyester fibers, a series of isosorbide modified PBAT (PBIAT) tetrapolyesters were synthesized and monofilaments were prepared by solid-state drawing in this work. The experimental results revealed that the introduction of isosorbide formed a partial block structure in the molecular chain, and that a significant improvement in the properties of heat resistance and degradability of the copolyester was observed with the introduction of isosorbide. In the research of fiber forming and structure-property relationship by isosorbide, it was found that although the monofilament orientation process was affected by the V-shape structure of isosorbide, the change of the crystal structure under stress was similar to that of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). The PBIAT monofilaments showed a decrease in the strength at break affected by the introduction of isosorbide but they still met the requirements for textile applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34151,"journal":{"name":"GIANT","volume":"18 ","pages":"Article 100281"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666542524000468/pdfft?md5=a22f835d08b365a0b46cfa57bda31d6a&pid=1-s2.0-S2666542524000468-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141027778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GIANTPub Date : 2024-05-09DOI: 10.1016/j.giant.2024.100279
Alina Szukalska , Andrzej Zak , Ewa Chrzumnicka , Anna Gibas , Agnieszka Baszczuk , Jaroslaw Mysliwiec
{"title":"Crystallization-driven tuneable lasing of perylene doped into the nematic liquid crystal","authors":"Alina Szukalska , Andrzej Zak , Ewa Chrzumnicka , Anna Gibas , Agnieszka Baszczuk , Jaroslaw Mysliwiec","doi":"10.1016/j.giant.2024.100279","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.giant.2024.100279","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Versatile devices with tunable capabilities for controlling lasing wavelength and intensity are in high demand. Liquid crystals (LCs) exhibit immense potential for such applications, offering fine-tuning possibilities through external factors. On the other hand, laser technology is currently a research hotspot in optoelectronics, and also in practical applications. The recent market introduction of laser television marks a significant stride toward making such advanced technology accessible in every household. In synergy with laser pumping, the LCs unquestionably can be rediscovered. This study presents a comprehensive investigation into the crystallization phenomenon within a host-guest device, compact in size, free from moving parts, and integrating the liquid crystalline (LC) matrix doped with 3,4,9,10-tetra-(3-alcoxy-carbonyl)-perylene (THCP) dye. The focus lies in examining the influence of varying dye concentrations on multicolor fluorescence, lasing behavior, and device morphology. The systematic analysis of Random Lasing (RL) energy thresholds and the impact of DC voltage on light intensity modulation is demonstrated. Morphological changes were monitored in real-time using optical microscopy techniques, including crossed polarizer, and fluorescence imaging under 450 nm excitation. Utilizing advanced Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques, we explore exceptional insights into our set of devices, providing novel information about the THCP crystallization process for the first time in the literature. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the crystal forming and molecular geometry we examined additionally the THCP dye, using X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Furthermore, we showcase that varying the pumping energy enables multicolor tuning in the fabricated systems, presenting an attractive feature in the context of laser display technologies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34151,"journal":{"name":"GIANT","volume":"18 ","pages":"Article 100279"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666542524000444/pdfft?md5=10076cddda6efb914dbfbd070347d2f1&pid=1-s2.0-S2666542524000444-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141050584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GIANTPub Date : 2024-05-09DOI: 10.1016/j.giant.2024.100282
Amir Teimouri, Adithya Challapalli, John Konlan, Guoqiang Li
{"title":"Machine learning assisted design and optimization of plate-lattice structures with superior specific recovery force","authors":"Amir Teimouri, Adithya Challapalli, John Konlan, Guoqiang Li","doi":"10.1016/j.giant.2024.100282","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giant.2024.100282","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In load carrying structures and devices, there is a growing need for shape memory polymer (SMP) metamaterials that are lightweight and have superior strength, remarkable flexibility, and substantial specific recovery force (SFR). One of the challenges is to find optimum lightweight structures with high SFR. To address this challenge, we propose a novel inverse design framework to design plate-lattice structures (PLSs) with user-defined optimum specific maximum compression strength. Consisting of three sub-frameworks, the performance of the inverse design framework was validated before it was utilized to optimize PLSs. The optimum PLSs developed are fabricated with 3D printing using a novel SMP. In addition, we have printed a solid cylinder and Cubic+Octet (control) PLSs to compare their structural capacity with the predicted structures. The optimized PLSs display 30 ∼ 170 % greater SFR compared to the control PLS and solid cylinder. These findings suggest a promising strategy for enhancing the effectiveness of actuators based on SMP mechanical metamaterials. The inverse design framework has the potential to be utilized for generating structures with user-defined optimum mechanical properties.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34151,"journal":{"name":"GIANT","volume":"18 ","pages":"Article 100282"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266654252400047X/pdfft?md5=abed6cc29b2caca74b7d92990a8ad014&pid=1-s2.0-S266654252400047X-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140950597","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GIANTPub Date : 2024-05-08DOI: 10.1016/j.giant.2024.100273
Ziyue Zhao , Lingchen Kong , Jinxu Sun , Yu Li , Wei Feng
{"title":"Fluorinated polymer-derived microporous carbon spheres for CFx cathodes with high energy density","authors":"Ziyue Zhao , Lingchen Kong , Jinxu Sun , Yu Li , Wei Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.giant.2024.100273","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giant.2024.100273","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Fluorinated carbon (CF<em><sub>x</sub></em>) compounds have extensive applications in lithium primary battery cathodes owing to their high energy density. In this investigation, a novel CF<em><sub>x</sub></em> compound offering superior electrochemical properties was synthesized via a low-temperature fluorination process, utilizing Pluronic F127 as a template agent and microporous carbon spheres produced through soft template-assisted high-temperature carbonization and chemical activation as precursors, and by regulating the amount of soft template F127 added. The reduction in microsphere size, narrower particle size distribution, and introduction of defects contribute to augmenting the molar ratio of F to C (F/C) of CF<em><sub>x</sub></em> while preserving the electrochemical activity of C-F bonds. The specific capacity of fluorinated polymer-derived microporous carbon spheres (FPMCSs) with a high fluorination degree rivals that of commercial fluorinated graphite (FG). The microsphere morphology and microporous structure not only furnish abundant sites for fluorination reactions in electrode processes but also facilitate Li<sup>+</sup> diffusion, ensuring ample rate capability. The synthesized FPMCSs exhibited a peak specific capacity of 1079 mAh g<sup>–1</sup> and a maximum energy density of 2679 Wh kg<sup>–1</sup> (substantially surpassing the 2180 Wh kg<sup>–1</sup> of commercial FG). Hence, the prepared FPMCSs underscore the significance of selecting suitable carbonaceous materials and designing structures deliberately, showing promising potential for achieving high energy density in CF<em><sub>x</sub></em> cathodes in the future, employing readily available and cost-effective raw materials.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34151,"journal":{"name":"GIANT","volume":"18 ","pages":"Article 100273"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666542524000389/pdfft?md5=804308d0c891d95866de51a9fe606f35&pid=1-s2.0-S2666542524000389-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140947911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GIANTPub Date : 2024-05-07DOI: 10.1016/j.giant.2024.100280
Sorour Sadeghzade , Jinrui Cao , Rui Yang , Yuanlong Li , Yanping Li , Dingcong Zhang , Jingyi Liu , Ziyue Yu , Liang Fang , Hongyan Yuan
{"title":"Highly stretchable alginate/methylcellulose hydrogels for 3D bio-printing: photopolymerization approach enhancing structural integrity","authors":"Sorour Sadeghzade , Jinrui Cao , Rui Yang , Yuanlong Li , Yanping Li , Dingcong Zhang , Jingyi Liu , Ziyue Yu , Liang Fang , Hongyan Yuan","doi":"10.1016/j.giant.2024.100280","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giant.2024.100280","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In recent years, 3D hydrogels based on alginate (Alg) have undergone substantial advancements, holding transformative potential for biomedicine and regenerative medicine. Nevertheless, the viscosity of Alg needs to be further increased, in order to print complex 3D structures. Attempts to adjust printability often employ rheological modifiers like methylcellulose (MC), but these still lack mechanical integrity for broader biomedical applications. Our study sought to chemically modify Alg/MC to create a photopolymerizable hydrogel by incorporating acrylate-based monomers, which would enhance the curing ability of the base hydrogel, leading to better mechanical properties of Alg/MC, such as stretchability and stability with shape recovery. Comprehensive mechanical assessments unveiled remarkable tensile properties, achieving a notable specific strength benchmark of 44.72 kPa/(g.cm<sup>-3</sup>) before reaching the point of fracture. This represents a substantial 250 % improvement compared to samples lacking the acrylate monomer. Biomedical assessments confirmed the hydrogel's promising potential, especially with the MG-63 cell line, underscoring its suitability for advanced applications like tissue engineering.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34151,"journal":{"name":"GIANT","volume":"18 ","pages":"Article 100280"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666542524000456/pdfft?md5=949c89bfeaa228f9583155f05daaa8ab&pid=1-s2.0-S2666542524000456-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140909971","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
GIANTPub Date : 2024-05-06DOI: 10.1016/j.giant.2024.100278
Jie Yang , Zisheng Liao , Deepak George , Mokarram Hossain , Xiaohu Yao
{"title":"Incorporation of self-heating effect into a thermo-mechanical coupled constitutive modelling for elastomeric polyurethane","authors":"Jie Yang , Zisheng Liao , Deepak George , Mokarram Hossain , Xiaohu Yao","doi":"10.1016/j.giant.2024.100278","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.giant.2024.100278","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Elastomeric polyurethane (EPU) is characterised by distinctive mechanical properties, including high toughness, low glass transition temperature, and high impact resistance, that render it indispensable in diverse engineering applications from soft robotics to anti-collision devices. This study presents a thermo-mechanically coupled constitutive model for EPU, systematically incorporating hyperelasticity, viscoelasticity, thermal expansion, and self-heating effect in a thermodynamically consistent manner. Experimental data, obtained from previous studies, are then used for parameter identification and model validation, including iterative updates for temperature parameters considering the self-heating effect. Subsequently, the validated model is integrated into finite element codes, i.e., user subroutine to define a material’s mechanical behaviour (<span>UMAT</span>) based on the commercial finite element software <span>ABAQUS</span>, for the computation of three-dimensional stress-strain states, facilitating the analysis of the structural response to various mechanical loads and boundary conditions. The results obtained from simulations are compared with analytical solutions to confirm the precision of Finite Element Method (FEM) implementation. The self-heating effect is further analysed under different strain rates and temperatures. To validate the engineering significance of the FEM implementation, a plate with a hole structure is also simulated. In conclusion, this research provides a robust tool for engineers and researchers working with soft materials, enhancing their understanding and predictive capabilities, notably addressing the self-heating effect in thermo-mechanical behaviours.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34151,"journal":{"name":"GIANT","volume":"18 ","pages":"Article 100278"},"PeriodicalIF":7.0,"publicationDate":"2024-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666542524000432/pdfft?md5=5603cf554db170a3f50a816f1811e2c8&pid=1-s2.0-S2666542524000432-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140918429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}