Computational modeling of the electrochemical actuation of a class of carbon fiber composites
Research Project, 2021
– 2024
The project concerns the computational modeling of a class of carbon fiber composites, known as shape-morphing composites. The actuation performance of such (smart) materials is achieved by the interplay between electrochemistry and mechanics, in particular the ability of carbon fibers to (de)intercalate Li-ions repeatedly without significant degradation. However, one concern is the experiementally observed long actuation response, which must be better understood and manipulated. Due to the expected large deflections of a plate-shaped actuating structure, the finite deformation setting (material description) is chosen in conjunction with the appropriate "through-the-thickness" kinematics. The following major tasks are then identified: (i) Microscale modeling of the relevant electrochemical-mechanical interactions in the fibers and in the structural electrolyte, (ii) modeling of the structural response with "exact" plate kinematics and based on computational homogenization, (iii) facilitating a full-fledged FE$^2$ strategy by applying Numerical Model Reduction for efficient solution of the RVE-problems associated with the plate midplane, (iv) carrying out a parameter study with sensitivity assessment with the purpose to improve the actuation performance.
Participants
Kenneth Runesson (contact)
Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Material and Computational Mechanics
Leif Asp
Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Material and Computational Mechanics
Ralf Jänicke
Chalmers, Industrial and Materials Science, Material and Computational Mechanics
Funding
Swedish Research Council (VR)
Project ID: 2020-05057
Funding Chalmers participation during 2021–2024