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A thermo-chemo-mechanical framework for hydrocolloid swelling: Computational aspects and experimental validation
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DOI：10.1016/j.cma.2026.119032.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
Diffusion–deformation theories are powerful tools for swelling analysis in polymer gels, as they concurrently incorporate fluid diffusion through the polymer network and the corresponding mechanical deformations. However, the restriction to the coupling between diffusion and deformation processes is not sufficient to fully describe the behaviour of hydrocolloids, where swelling is primarily governed by thermally induced processes that involve strong coupling of heat transfer, structural gelatinisation, and solvent–polymer interactions. This study introduces a thermo–chemo–mechanical coupling framework for simulating the swelling behaviour of starch-based hydrocolloids and provides its experimental validation. The formulation defines the free energy function, from which constitutive relations are systematically derived to ensure thermodynamic consistency. A temperature-dependent Flory–Huggins interaction parameter is incorporated to account for the enthalpy of gelatinisation, thereby providing a more accurate description of polymer–solvent interactions during heating. A comprehensive finite element implementation of the proposed framework is developed, employing the F-bar method to enhance numerical stability and alleviate volumetric locking in large-deformation analyses. Three-dimensional microstructural swelling simulations demonstrate that the model accurately predicts the time-dependent evolution of the average starch granule radius, in close agreement with experimental measurements. The spatiotemporal variations of key field variables are further analysed to elucidate the local mechanisms underlying hydrocolloid swelling. Parametric studies identify the key factors governing starch granule swelling, providing insight into conditions associated with optimal swelling behaviour. The proposed framework establishes a basis for future extensions incorporating advanced constitutive laws and damage and degradation mechanisms, thereby improving the understanding and prediction of the processing and mechanical behaviour of hydrocolloids and other polymer gel-like materials.
Keywords:
thermo-chemo-mechanical coupling
hydrocolloid swelling
starch-based materials
finite element analysis
experimental validation
Journal
IF:
7.3
Papers:
1.3W
Citations:
5.6W
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