Bimorph beam model IPMC actuators

In the following, an equivalent beam and equivalent bimorph beam model for simple IPMC actuation is first presented. Thereafter more complex actuation configurations and corresponding modeling considerations are provided. 

The developed bimorph beam model of IPMC was validated using the finite element method (FEM) and the used software was MSC/NASTRAN. As the software does not directly support the electromechanical coupling, the thermal analogy technique as described in [Lim et al. (2005) Taleghani and Campbell (1999)] was used. The simulated versus measured force-displacement relationship of an IPMC actuator is shown in Fig. 2.39. The relative errors for A = 0 between the calculated values and the measured data for 2V and 3V are 2.8% and 3.7%, respectively. The equivalent Young s moduli estimated from the equivalent beam model and the equivalent bimorph beam model are 1.01 GPa and 1.133-1.158 GPa, respectively, which are very close. However, the values from the equivalent beam model... 

Equivalent Bimorph Beam Model for IPMC Actuators... 

In this chapter, we have described an IPMC-driven infusion micropump for recent biomedical applications. Even though the applieations of IPMCs for biomedical fields require more trials and development methods, IPMCs are still attractive materials due to their electromechanical and mechanoelectric properties. A systematic design method of an IPMC-driven micropump was introduced. In order to properly estimate the deformed shapes of IPMC diaphragms, the equivalent bimorph beam model for IPMC actuators was conveniently used, in conjunction with the finite element method. 

Figure 9.9 Typical shape of a bimorph beam (Reproduced with permission from Lee, S., Kim, K. J. and Park, H. C. (2006) Modeling of an IPMC Actuator-driven Zero-Net-Mass-Flux Pump for Flow Control, J. Intelligent Mat. Systems and Structures, 17, 6, 533-41. Sage Publications).

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