Numerical simulation of mechanical sensors using hydrated IPMCs

Abstract

IntroductionIPMCs (ionic polymer-metal composites) have been known as intelligent materials having actuating and sensing functions, e.g. from electricity to deformation and from electricity to deformation. Owing to versatile characteristics such as low voltage, lightweight, easy access and flexibility, IPMCs have attracted attention as prospective applicants for artificial muscles, robotics, MEMS and so on (Jung et al., 2010). Such applications are based on actuating and sensing functions with mechanical and electrical measures. In order to investigate the actuating and sensing functions, some papers Zamani, 2006 andJung et al., 2010) have attempted to simulate the actuating behaviors of IPMCs with more complicated models. However, the simulation of mechanical sensors using IPMCs has not been reported except for black box models. Numerical simulation is needed to understand and verify the complicated behaviors of the mechanical sensors, and its quantitative results are necessary for the design and control. Hence, the present study investigates a white box model with continuum mechanics, following macroscopic measurements.The typical structure of IPMCs is illustrated in Fig. 1. It consists of an ionic conducting polymer and metal deposits. The ionic polymer is a membrane that play roles electrolyte in the transport of ions and solvent, and the metal deposits function as electrodes.In the membrane, ionomers are composed of hydrophobic backbone polymers and the covalently attached anions which are 1 Numerical simulation of mechanical sensors using hydrated IPMCsSeongwon YOO* and Yutaka TOI* * Institute of Industrial Science, University of Tokyo E-mail: yoosw@iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp Received 1 August 2014 AbstractThe present study introduces the numerical simulation of mechanical sensors using IPMCs (ionic polymer-metal composites). IPMCs can be applied into both of actuators (from electricity to deformation) and mechanical sensors (from deformation to electricity), but the existing models of the actuators cannot be inversely applied to the mechanical sensors.