Driving water cavitation in a hydrogel cavity

We study the dynamics of the dehydration process of a hydrogel with a cavity filled with water. We identify two transient phases: the first one dominated by an inflatable-balloon deformation mode, and the second by a suction effect, determining highly not homogeneous deformation modes of the hydrogel walls. This last phase triggers negative pressures into the cavity up to the typical values of water cavitation. An analysis of the factors allowing to get cavitation pressure inside the cavity is proposed, to allow for precise tuning of the key geometrical and material parameters. The research that led to the present paper was partially supported by a grant of the group GNFM of INdAM.