Design and optimization of carbon nanotube/polymer actuator by using finite element analysis

Zhang, Wei; Chen, Luzhuo; Zhang, Jianmin; Huang, Zhigao

doi:10.1088/1674-1056/26/4/048801

Cited by 12 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 20 publications

(41 reference statements)

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“…FEA is an excellent method for understanding the material properties of macro structures, and has been widely used in the analysis of film deformations and stresses. [39][40][41] The specific model design and the relevant material property parameters are detailed in Table S1 (Supporting Information). The simulation results are shown in Figure 4e-h and demonstrate the change in surface stress from the bilayer actuator to the five-layer actuator.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multilayer Graphene/PDMS Composite Gradient Materials for High‐Efficiency Photoresponse Actuators

Zhang

et al. 2022

Macro Materials & Eng

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Smart actuating materials have a wide range of applications in artificial muscles, soft robots, and flexible electronics. The preparation of highly sensitive and reliable actuators is a top priority in this regard. In this work, a multilayer graphene/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composite gradient material is designed and prepared by a simple in situ stacking and curing method for high‐efficiency photoresponse actuator. The typical gradient structured material consists of a pure PDMS film and multiple graphene/PDMS composite films with monotonically varying graphene concentration. Attributed to gradient structure design and high photothermal conversion efficiency of graphene, the actuator shows the enhanced photoresponse properties. Through theoretical modeling, finite element analysis and experiments, it is confirmed that with increasing the stacked layer number at the same total thickness, the gradient structured actuator can present a better actuation performance. In addition, the film thickness and the concentration of graphene are also found to have an obvious effect on the actuating behavior, enabling the deflection over 90°. The applications of the actuator as a cantilever beam, a soft crawling robot and a smart gripper are also demonstrated. This provides a new design idea for further improving the actuation performance of the soft actuator.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multilayer Graphene/PDMS Composite Gradient Materials for High‐Efficiency Photoresponse Actuators

Zhang

et al. 2022

Macro Materials & Eng

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“…CNTs are known to exhibit both high thermal conductivity and thermal absorption capability. , When an electric field is applied across the CNT film, heat is absorbed within CNTs, which results in local heat confinement and hence obtains a nonequilibrium state. This causes Joule heating where both the temperature and current simultaneously increase quickly until another thermodynamic equilibrium state is reached.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Deterministic Role of Carbon Nanotube-Substrate Coupling for Ultrahigh Actuation in Bilayer Electrothermal Actuators

Ghosh

Telpande

Gowda

et al. 2020

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces

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Here, the actuation response of an architectured electrothermal actuator comprising a single layer of carbon nanotube (CNT) film and a relatively thicker film of silk, cellulose, or polydimethylsiloxane is studied. An electric current is passed through the CNT film, which generates heat responsible for electrothermal actuation, in all samples, affixed as per doubly clamped beam configuration. All samples, including pure CNT film, show remarkable actuation such that actuation monotonically increases with the applied voltage. Cyclic pulsed electrical loading shows a lag in the electric current stimulus and the actuation. Remarkably, an ultrahigh actuation of ∼2.8%, which was 72 times more than that shown by pure CNT film, is measured in the CNT–cellulose film, that is, the architectured actuator with the natural polymer having the functional property of hygroexpansion and the structural hierarchy of the CNT film, however, at a significantly larger length scale. Overall, the synergetic contribution of the individual layers in these bilayered actuators enabled achieving ultrahigh electrothermal actuation compared to the homogeneous, synthetic polymer-based devices. A detailed discussion, which also includes examination of the role of the hierarchical substructure and the functional properties of the substrate and numerical analysis using the finite element method, is presented to highlight the actuation mechanism in the fabricated actuators.

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“…Electrochemical actuators have been further developed over the past few decades for their desirable mechanical properties in intelligent robots, which are alternatives to air- and fluid-derived devices. The flexible ionic conductivity of ILG is better suited to the evolution of building blocks due to the simpler ion transport actuators [ 10 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Computing Method to Determine the Performance of an Ionic Liquid Gel Soft Actuator

Zhang

Zhou

et al. 2018

Applied Bionics and Biomechanics

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A new type of soft actuator material—an ionic liquid gel (ILG) that consists of BMIMBF4, HEMA, DEAP, and ZrO2—is polymerized into a gel state under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. In this paper, we first propose that the ILG conforms to the assumptions of hyperelastic theory and that the Mooney-Rivlin model can be used to study the properties of the ILG. Under the five-parameter and nine-parameter Mooney-Rivlin models, the formulas for the calculation of the uniaxial tensile stress, plane uniform tensile stress, and 3D directional stress are deduced. The five-parameter and nine-parameter Mooney-Rivlin models of the ILG with a ZrO2 content of 3 wt% were obtained by uniaxial tensile testing, and the parameters are denoted as c10, c01, c20, c11, and c02 and c10, c01, c20, c11, c02, c30, c21, c12, and c03, respectively. Through the analysis and comparison of the uniaxial tensile stress between the calculated and experimental data, the error between the stress data calculated from the five-parameter Mooney-Rivlin model and the experimental data is less than 0.51%, and the error between the stress data calculated from the nine-parameter Mooney-Rivlin model and the experimental data is no more than 8.87%. Hence, our work presents a feasible and credible formula for the calculation of the stress of the ILG. This work opens a new path to assess the performance of a soft actuator composed of an ILG and will contribute to the optimized design of soft robots.

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Design and optimization of carbon nanotube/polymer actuator by using finite element analysis

Cited by 12 publications

References 20 publications

Multilayer Graphene/PDMS Composite Gradient Materials for High‐Efficiency Photoresponse Actuators

Multilayer Graphene/PDMS Composite Gradient Materials for High‐Efficiency Photoresponse Actuators

Deterministic Role of Carbon Nanotube-Substrate Coupling for Ultrahigh Actuation in Bilayer Electrothermal Actuators

A Computing Method to Determine the Performance of an Ionic Liquid Gel Soft Actuator

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