Influence of mechanical compressive loads on microstructurally aligned PVA xerogels

•Transversely isotropic PVA xerogels are synthesized using unidirectional freeze-drying technique.•Morphological and mechanical characterization is carried out for the developed xerogels.•Microbuckling is observed in the xerogel microstructure when loaded along the longitudinal direction.•Creasing and wrinkling occurs in xerogels due to loading along longitudinal and transverse directions, respectively.•Viscoelastic tests are carried out to understand the time-dependent response of the xerogels.