Mechanical instability build in hydrogel structure achieving fast actuation

Abstract eng:
Stimuli-Responding structures can be actuated by the swelling/shrinking of hydrogels. The response process is slow, due to its strong dependence on the diffusion rate of the inward/outward creeps of solvent within the polymer networks of hydro gel. Inspired by plants like Venus flytrap, which enables “snapping” action with prompt actuation, mechanical instability may be built in a multilayer hydrogel structure. Tough thermo-responsive hydrogel is used to assemble the structure. The shape changing behaviour of the structures can be significantly increased by building blocks with a thermo-responsive layer. At a critical point, a small actuation may tip the structure to undergo a large deformation by fast snap-through mechanism. Finite element simulation is performed to guide the design and to illustrate the versatile responses of the hydrogel structures.

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