Finite element analysis of two-dimensional electrochemical–mechanical response of ionic conducting polymer–metal composite beams

Attention has been focused on ionic conducting polymer–metal composites (IPMCs) as intelligent materials for artificial muscles and robotics for recent years. The two-dimensional finite element formulation based on Galerkin method is conducted for the basic field equations governing electrochemical response of IPMC beams with two pairs of electrodes upon applied electric field. The three-dimensional finite element analysis is also conducted for the deformation of IPMC beams due to water redistribution in the beams associated with the electrochemical response. Some numerical studies are carried out in order to show the validity of the present formulation.