An expert and up-to-date discussion of the properties and design of soft active material modeling

In Multi-Field Modeling of Soft Active Materials: Properties and Design, Professor Rui Xiao delivers an up-to-date exploration of the multi-field modeling of soft active materials, including shape-memory polymers, liquid crystal elastomers, dielectric elastomers, magnetic elastomers, and hydrogels. The book provides a deep understanding of the underlying mechanisms of stimulus-response behaviors in polymers.

The author provides guidance on future development of the theoretical approaches for active materials, as well as efficient tools to design functional soft machines composed of active materials.

Readers will also find:

• A thorough introduction to the basics of continuum mechanics
• Comprehensive explorations of hyperelastic and viscoelastic models
• Thermodynamically consistent frameworks for multi-field coupling models
• Complete implementation procedures for finite element analysis

Primarily aimed at graduate students and researchers in solid mechanics, materials science, and polymer physics, Multi-Field Modeling of Soft Active Materials is particularly relevant for those specializing in the soft materials and responsive polymers.

Rui Xiao, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Engineering Mechanics at Zhejiang University. His research focuses on the constitutive relationship of polymers, smart materials and structures, and the mechanics of soft materials.