Finite-Element Analysis Coupling Water Diffusion and Structural Mechanics (Deformation) on Wet Nafion117 Electrified in Water

• Published in: Transactions of the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers Series C Vol. 72; no. 717; pp. 1454 - 1461
• Main Authors: OKAMOTO, Shingo, KUWABARA, Katsunori, OTSUKA, Kakurou
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: The Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers 2006
• Subjects: Coupling Analysis; Diffusion; Electro Active Polymer; Finite Element Analysis; Nafion117
• ISSN: 0387-5024; 1884-8354
• DOI: 10.1299/kikaic.72.1454

The purpose of this research is to develop a method to perform Finite-Element Analysis (FEA) coupling water diffusion and structural mechanics (deformation) on Electro-Active Polymer (EAP) such as Nafion117 electrified in water. In the present report, first, mechanism why a piece of wet Nafion117 in water is deformed when it is electrified, was thought up referring the experimental results. Then the equation of water diffusion in the case that water molecules move from a positive electrode to a negative one with movement of cations in wet Nafion117 when it is electrified, was derived on the proposed mechanism of deformation. Then the procedure to calculate problems coupling water diffusion and structural mechanics was devised. FEA coupling water diffusion and linear structural mechanics were also performed following the experiments on electricity. Validity of the mechanism of deformation, the formulation of water diffusion and the procedure of coupling FEA was proved by comparing the calculated results with the experimental one.