3-dimensional dynamic model of ionic conducting polymer gel film (ICPF) actuator

Abstract

In this paper, a 3-dimensional model of the ICPF actuator and its experimental verifications are investigated. The 3-dimensional model was built based on the same strategy as 2-dimensional modeling. Experiments, using an actuator that has smaller aspect ratio than that for conventional experiments, for verifications of the 3-dimensional model were carried out. As experimental results, the following became clear. The ICPF actuator bends in all directions as expected, and it has a different frequency characteristic at each point on the surface. Although displacement contours on the surface have no remarkable regularity, the point where the largest displacement was generated were generally the apexes at the tip. In addition, it gave a rolling-up shape at the tip in the direction of bending at the displacement peaks. However, the simulational results did not always agree with the experimental results. More precise examinations are necessary in future to conclude the issue.