Shrinkable, granular materials—materials composed of hydrated grains that individually shrink when dried—arise in many diverse settings; prominent examples include clays, soils, biological tissues, foods, and coatings. In many cases, these materials crack during drying, critically hindering applications. By combining experiments with hydrogels, discrete-element simulations, and poroelasticity theory, we reveal how grain shrinkability dramatically alters crack evolution during drying—in some cases, even causing cracks to spontaneously self-heal. Moreover, we elucidate the rich physics underlying cracking, and develop new strategies to controlling crack evolution and patterning.

Cracking and self-healing of shrinkable, granular materials

2019 Fall National Meeting

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