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Biaxial characterization of soft elastomers: Experiments and data-adaptive configurational forces for fracture

Miguel Angel Moreno-Mateos Orcid Logo, Simon Wiesheier Orcid Logo, Ali Esmaeili, Mokarram Hossain Orcid Logo, Paul Steinmann Orcid Logo

Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, Volume: 205, Start page: 106339

Swansea University Authors: Ali Esmaeili, Mokarram Hossain Orcid Logo

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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.jmps.2025.106339

Abstract

Understanding the fracture mechanics of soft solids remains a fundamental challenge due to theircomplex, nonlinear responses under large deformations. While multiaxial loading is key to probingtheir mechanical behavior, the role of such loading in fracture processes is still poorly understood.Here,...

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Published in: Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids
ISSN: 0022-5096
Published: Elsevier BV 2025
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URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa70440
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While multiaxial loading is key to probingtheir mechanical behavior, the role of such loading in fracture processes is still poorly understood.Here, we present a combined experimental&#x2013;computational framework to investigate fracture insoft elastomers under equi-biaxial loading. We report original equi-biaxial quasi-static experimentson five elastomeric materials, revealing a spectrum of material and fracture behavior&#x2014;frombrittle-like to highly deformable response with crack tip strains exceeding 150%. Motivated bythese observations, we develop a hybrid computational testbed that mirrors the experimental setupand enables virtual biaxial tests. Central to this framework are two components: a data-adaptiveformulation of hyperelastic energy functions that flexibly captures material behavior, and a postprocessing implementation of the Configurational Force Method, providing a computationally efficient estimate of the J-integral at the crack tip. Our data-adaptive framework for hyperelasticenergy functions proves versatility to capture with high accuracy the hyperelastic behavior observedin the biaxial experiments. This is important because accurately capturing the constitutivebehaviour of soft solids is key for a reliable application of the Configurational Force Method to soft solids. In the limit of crack onset, a critical value of the crack tip configurational force allowsfor a criterion of fracture toughness. 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spelling 2025-10-30T11:03:35.5120522 v2 70440 2025-09-22 Biaxial characterization of soft elastomers: Experiments and data-adaptive configurational forces for fracture 25f6a899c6e8e4fa6f8c3b85f0a27c4d Ali Esmaeili Ali Esmaeili true false 140f4aa5c5ec18ec173c8542a7fddafd 0000-0002-4616-1104 Mokarram Hossain Mokarram Hossain true false 2025-09-22 ACEM Understanding the fracture mechanics of soft solids remains a fundamental challenge due to theircomplex, nonlinear responses under large deformations. While multiaxial loading is key to probingtheir mechanical behavior, the role of such loading in fracture processes is still poorly understood.Here, we present a combined experimental–computational framework to investigate fracture insoft elastomers under equi-biaxial loading. We report original equi-biaxial quasi-static experimentson five elastomeric materials, revealing a spectrum of material and fracture behavior—frombrittle-like to highly deformable response with crack tip strains exceeding 150%. Motivated bythese observations, we develop a hybrid computational testbed that mirrors the experimental setupand enables virtual biaxial tests. Central to this framework are two components: a data-adaptiveformulation of hyperelastic energy functions that flexibly captures material behavior, and a postprocessing implementation of the Configurational Force Method, providing a computationally efficient estimate of the J-integral at the crack tip. Our data-adaptive framework for hyperelasticenergy functions proves versatility to capture with high accuracy the hyperelastic behavior observedin the biaxial experiments. This is important because accurately capturing the constitutivebehaviour of soft solids is key for a reliable application of the Configurational Force Method to soft solids. In the limit of crack onset, a critical value of the crack tip configurational force allowsfor a criterion of fracture toughness. Together, our experimental, theoretical, and computationalcontributions offer a new paradigm for characterizing and designing soft materials with tailoredfracture properties. Journal Article Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids 205 106339 Elsevier BV 0022-5096 Finite strains; Data-driven constitutive modeling; Parameter identification; Material model discovery; Soft fracture; Configurational Force Method 1 12 2025 2025-12-01 10.1016/j.jmps.2025.106339 COLLEGE NANME Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering COLLEGE CODE ACEM Swansea University Another institution paid the OA fee Miguel Angel Moreno-Mateos, Simon Wiesheier, and Paul Steinmann acknowledge support from the European Research Council (ERC)[http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000781] under the Horizon Europe program (Grant -No. 101052785, project: SoftFrac). Funded by the European Union. Mokarram Hossain acknowledges support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), United Kingdom under the grant (EP/Z535710/1) and Royal Society (UK) under the International Exchange Grant (IEC/NSFC/211316). 2025-10-30T11:03:35.5120522 2025-09-22T08:18:58.1424861 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering Miguel Angel Moreno-Mateos 0000-0002-3476-2180 1 Simon Wiesheier 0009-0008-9625-3446 2 Ali Esmaeili 3 Mokarram Hossain 0000-0002-4616-1104 4 Paul Steinmann 0000-0003-1490-947x 5 70440__35149__1aa92e96a06d4f938d055e7628c8b72c.pdf 70440.pdf 2025-09-22T08:25:05.2369211 Output 9985353 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2025 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
title Biaxial characterization of soft elastomers: Experiments and data-adaptive configurational forces for fracture
spellingShingle Biaxial characterization of soft elastomers: Experiments and data-adaptive configurational forces for fracture
Ali Esmaeili
Mokarram Hossain
title_short Biaxial characterization of soft elastomers: Experiments and data-adaptive configurational forces for fracture
title_full Biaxial characterization of soft elastomers: Experiments and data-adaptive configurational forces for fracture
title_fullStr Biaxial characterization of soft elastomers: Experiments and data-adaptive configurational forces for fracture
title_full_unstemmed Biaxial characterization of soft elastomers: Experiments and data-adaptive configurational forces for fracture
title_sort Biaxial characterization of soft elastomers: Experiments and data-adaptive configurational forces for fracture
author_id_str_mv 25f6a899c6e8e4fa6f8c3b85f0a27c4d
140f4aa5c5ec18ec173c8542a7fddafd
author_id_fullname_str_mv 25f6a899c6e8e4fa6f8c3b85f0a27c4d_***_Ali Esmaeili
140f4aa5c5ec18ec173c8542a7fddafd_***_Mokarram Hossain
author Ali Esmaeili
Mokarram Hossain
author2 Miguel Angel Moreno-Mateos
Simon Wiesheier
Ali Esmaeili
Mokarram Hossain
Paul Steinmann
format Journal article
container_title Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids
container_volume 205
container_start_page 106339
publishDate 2025
institution Swansea University
issn 0022-5096
doi_str_mv 10.1016/j.jmps.2025.106339
publisher Elsevier BV
college_str Faculty of Science and Engineering
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hierarchy_top_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Aerospace, Civil, Electrical, General and Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering
document_store_str 1
active_str 0
description Understanding the fracture mechanics of soft solids remains a fundamental challenge due to theircomplex, nonlinear responses under large deformations. While multiaxial loading is key to probingtheir mechanical behavior, the role of such loading in fracture processes is still poorly understood.Here, we present a combined experimental–computational framework to investigate fracture insoft elastomers under equi-biaxial loading. We report original equi-biaxial quasi-static experimentson five elastomeric materials, revealing a spectrum of material and fracture behavior—frombrittle-like to highly deformable response with crack tip strains exceeding 150%. Motivated bythese observations, we develop a hybrid computational testbed that mirrors the experimental setupand enables virtual biaxial tests. Central to this framework are two components: a data-adaptiveformulation of hyperelastic energy functions that flexibly captures material behavior, and a postprocessing implementation of the Configurational Force Method, providing a computationally efficient estimate of the J-integral at the crack tip. Our data-adaptive framework for hyperelasticenergy functions proves versatility to capture with high accuracy the hyperelastic behavior observedin the biaxial experiments. This is important because accurately capturing the constitutivebehaviour of soft solids is key for a reliable application of the Configurational Force Method to soft solids. In the limit of crack onset, a critical value of the crack tip configurational force allowsfor a criterion of fracture toughness. Together, our experimental, theoretical, and computationalcontributions offer a new paradigm for characterizing and designing soft materials with tailoredfracture properties.
published_date 2025-12-01T05:30:54Z
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