Local Strain Concentrations in a Microvascular Network

Strain concentrations associated with the presence of a microvascular network in a polymer matrix are measured using fluorescent digital image correlation (FDIC). The accuracy of the measurement technique is established for a specimen containing only a single microchannel. The influence of localized particle reinforcement around the channel is also investigated using this simplified geometry. Three-dimensional network specimens with different structural designs were fabricated and loaded in uniaxial tension. The resulting strain concentrations are compared as a function of channel spacing and location. As expected, decreasing channel spacing leads to increased strain local to the channels. In addition, the three-dimensional nature of the channel architecture influences the resulting strain. The results provide insight into the mechanical behavior of microvascular networks and demonstrate the utility of FDIC as a characterization tool at these length scales.