Bending a beam by a generalized ideal elastomeric gel

Abstract

A hybrid beam with a gel layer bonded on the top of an elastic non-swellable substrate has been commonly adopted to make various sensors and actuators. Usually, different models need to be developed for the hybrid beam when different gels are used in the system. In this article, based on the generalized ideal elastomeric gel model, we formulate a unified relationship between the swelling of hydrogels and the bending curvature of the elastic beam, which is independent of specific swelling mechanisms of gels. We further illustrate that the equations derived in the article can be used to validate the ideal elastomeric gel model and measure the elasticity of polymer networks of the gels.