Modeling Deformation-Diffusion In Polymeric Gels

A polymeric gel is a polymer network swollen by a fluid. Here, we report on a model and numerical simulation capability for the coupled deformation-diffusion behavior of gels that are mechanically anisotropic, but diffusively isotropic. A thermodynamically consistent model for the coupled behavior is summarized for large deformation rubber like materials that absorb a solvent. The model has been implemented numerically as in finite element method for the robust simulation of boundary value problems.