Advances in Mechanics of Soft Materials: A Review of Large Deformation Behavior of Hydrogels

Hydrogels possess magnificent properties which may be harnessed for novel applications. However, this is not achievable if the mechanical behaviors of hydrogels are not well understood. This paper aims to provide the reader with a bird's eye view of the mechanics of hydrogels, in particular the theories associated with deformation of hydrogels, the phenomena that are commonly observed, and recent developments in applications of hydrogels. Besides theoretical analyses and experimental observations, another feature of this paper is to provide an overview of how mechanics can be applied.