Computational Modeling of Mechanical Sensors Using Ionic Electroactive Polymers

Abstract

This paper discusses mechanical sensors using ionic electroactive polymers (ionic EAPs). Based on the features such as low-voltage operation, large generating force, compact and lightweight, flexible and silent, and driving in air and water, ionic EAPs attract attention as soft actuator materials (artificial muscle materials) in robot engineering, MEMS, or medical field. In order to understand the actuator and sensor functions of ionic EAPs, several studies have been conducted to formulate analytical models of ionic EAPs, but most are on actuator modeling, and the simulations of mechanical sensor behaviors are based on black box modeling. Therefore, analytical models of the mechanical sensors using ionic EAPs and numerical simulations have been carried out. In other words, for mechanical sensors using ionic EAPs, detailed computational models at continuum scale have newly been formulated. The validity of the proposed models has been demonstrated by comparing the calculated results for the mechanical sensor of cantilever type with the experimental results. The proposed computational models are all considered to be extremely useful from a viewpoint of engineering as basic algorithms of computing which support the design and control of mechanical sensors using conducting polymers or IPMCs.