An optimized frequency-dependent multiphysics model for an ionic polymer-metal composite actuator with ethylene glycol as the solvent

摘要

IPMCs are electroactive polymers which can be used both as sensors and as actuators. The modeling of IPMC transducers is an open issue relevant to the development of effective applications. A multiphysics model of IPMC actuators is here implemented. It integrates the description of the electrical, mechanical, chemical and thermal coupled physics domains in a unique solution and, as a novelty, it allows the study in the frequency domain and the comparison with experimental response of the IPMC device. The IPMC white box modeling requires several macro- and microscopic parameters, not always accessible via theoretical approaches or experimentation. This work presents a new model optimization procedure which integrates the Nelder-Mead simplex method with the COMSOL Multiphysics R models. The proposed procedure uses experimental data and fits model simulations to IPMC real behavior for microscopic parameters' identification. The model is developed for IPMCs with ethylene glycol as the solvent.