Hello,
I would like to know how to simulate an IPMC beam. Ionic Polymeric Metal Composites beam consists of 3 layers: top and bottom layers are metal electrodes and, in the middle, there is an ionic polymer which can be treated as an elastic material. Ion migration due to imposed voltage results in a bending deformation.
As suggested in “Modeling Ionic Polymer Metal Composites with COMSOL: Step-by-Step Guide” David Pugal, Tyler Stalbaum, Viljar Palmre and Kwang J. Kim, I’m using 4 physics to model the IPMC bending and these physics are split up in 2 components. The geometry in each component is the same.
In first component:
Electric Currents (ec): Applied in top and bottom electrodes to solve potential through time.
Transport of Diluted Species (tds): Middle layer. To solve Nernst-Planck equation. This physic is coupled to Electric Currents using the electric potential of Migration in Electric Field.
General Form PDE (g): Middle layer. Ion flux coupling equation.
In second:
- Solid Mechanics (solid): Whole solid. Displacement generated by a load which is proportional to charge density. Charge density is obtained from first component using Identity Mapping.
Also, 2 ‘Time Dependent’ studies are employed. The first study uses the default configuration and the second is a copy of the first but using values of the first study on Values of variables not solved for.
Since I want to develop this model for additional information (such as interaction with a fluid), a simpler model is preferable like a model with a unique component.
To sum up, I want to know a way to couple the 4 physics in the simplest way.