Modelling the effect of crack formation on the actuation behaviour of ionic polymer metal composite
by Prabhat Kumar Swain; Mohammed Junaid Shekh; J. Sakthi Swarrup
International Journal of Nanotechnology (IJNT), Vol. 18, No. 5/6/7/8, 2021

Abstract: In this paper, the effect of different cracks on the platinum electrode region of an IPMC actuator which occurs due to its continuous bending is modelled. The IPMC actuator is modelled in a cantilever configuration using COMSOL Multiphysics 5.3 a finite element method solver. The thickness of Nafion (polymer) membrane and (platinum) electrode 267 μm and 20 μm (each side) and the full length of IPMC is 36 mm long and width is 6 mm. Experimental results showing the deflection and frequency of IPMC with the same dimensions are noted and the simulation results for the same beam dimensions are validated with the experimental results. Studies are carried out on (a) different shapes of cracks (V, U, and rectangular shape) on electrode region, (b) depth and position of the cracks on the electrode, (c) the effect of presence multiple cracks on the top and bottom electrode. The change in the IPMC's resonance frequency and tip deflection for various cracks is studied and compared with the IPMC with no cracks. IPMC with U-shaped cracks has the highest deflection of 2.88 mm when cracks are located on single side and rectangular cracks have the highest deflection of 3.06 mm when cracks are located on both sides of IPMC as compared to 2.5 mm without any cracks on the electrode. These studies reveal that the U shaped single crack and rectangular double sided cracks largely affect the IPMC actuation behaviour thus altering its deflection values. The effect of location of cracks suggests that cracks near the free end of IPMC affect the deflection more compared to that near fixed end.

Online publication date: Mon, 12-Jul-2021

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