Biaxial Loading Effects on Strain Energy Release Rate and Crack-Tip Strain Field in Elastic Hydrogels

We characterized the strain energy release rate and local crack-tip strain field for elastic hydrogels under several types of biaxial loading: planar, unequal biaxial, and equibiaxial extensions. The strain energy release rate (G) in each type of biaxial strain is characterized via two different approaches. One evaluates G from the change in strain energy with respect to the notch length (Xc) using single-edge notched specimens with various Xc...