2026-10-07T11:51:00Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/34018293 2026-09-28T19:08:54Z category_1 category_915 category_7 category_16 category_21 category_272 category_734 category_133 portal_63 item_type_6 month_year_09_2026

Small-Strain Tensile Characterization and Finite Element Calibration of Sodium Alginate-Based Biomimetic Artificial Muscle Strips Xuan Wen (3663223) Lan Wang (85307) Yan Xu (14594) Yanzhuo Lv (6034400) Mingao Lei (25133124) Chuan Liu (367528) Biophysics Physical Sciences not elsewhere classified Medicine Physiology Biotechnology Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified Plant Biology level tensile responses interlayer transition regions finite element calibration strain tensile response strain tensile characterization 3 v excitation 975 ± 0 118 ± 0 0 – 5 multiphysics model reproduced 3 per group calibrated mechanical framework 2 </ sup model reproduced mechanical model engineering strain computational framework stress model welch ’ subsequent voltage study investigates solid mechanics sodium alginate previous optimization p </ ion transport initial stiffness group comparison force evolution force error fixed end equivalent moduli electrochemical performance doped specimens doped formulation dimensional plane differential swelling dependent studies coupling electrostatics calibrated mechanics 76 %. 474 mpa 212 mpa 0992 mn 0757 mn This study investigates the small-strain tensile response and finite element calibration of sodium alginate-based biomimetic artificial muscle strips and extends the calibrated mechanics to an electro-ionic-mechanical model. The Ni-doped formulation was selected from our previous optimization of actuation and electrochemical performance. Quasi-static uniaxial tensile tests were performed on three undoped and three Ni-doped specimens. Equivalent moduli were extracted over 0–5% engineering strain, where both groups showed approximately linear responses. The undoped and Ni-doped groups exhibited moduli of 0.975 ± 0.212 MPa and 1.118 ± 0.474 MPa. With n = 3 per group, the between-group comparison was inconclusive (Welch’s <i>t</i> test, <i>p</i> ≈ 0.67) and should not be interpreted as evidence of equivalence. A two-dimensional plane-stress model was calibrated against the group-level tensile responses. The model reproduced the initial stiffness and showed stress concentration near the fixed end and interlayer transition regions. The calibrated mechanical framework was extended under 3 V excitation by coupling electrostatics, ion transport, differential swelling, and solid mechanics. The multiphysics model reproduced the overall 0–1000 s output-force evolution with an RMSE of 0.0992 mN, an MAE of 0.0757 mN, R² = 0.8152, and a plateau-force error of 3.76%. These results provide experimentally based mechanical parameters and a computational framework for subsequent voltage-dependent studies. 2026-09-28T00:00:00Z Text Journal contribution 10.1021/acsomega.6c03650.s001 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Small-Strain_Tensile_Characterization_and_Finite_Element_Calibration_of_Sodium_Alginate-Based_Biomimetic_Artificial_Muscle_Strips/34018293 CC BY-NC 4.0