Numerical Simulation Of Multi-Field Coupling Behavior For Conductive Polymer

As a new type of functional materials, conductive polymers are used to manufacture the biosensors and actuators. One of the main properties of conductive polymer is thermo-electro-chemo-mechanical coupling. The behavior of multi-field coupling for conductive polymer is studied by the numerical method in the present dissertation. (1) The basic equations of multi-field coupling for conductive polymer are derived by use of the Gibbs function per unit volume. The deformations of the conductive polymer under the thermal load and electric force are calculated respectively by finite element method. Then the deformations of the conductive polymers are simulated under thermal and electric joint load. (2) The electro-mechanical coupling effect of the conductive polymers is studied. Based on the elastic equilibrium and electrostatic equations, the weak forms of the coupling equations are derived. Then, the FE program is written and the electro-mechanical coupling effect is calculated. The numeral results show that electronic and mechanical behaviors are coupled in the conductive polymers and obvious interaction is exhibited. (3) The chemo-mechanical coupling properties are studied. Firstly, the definition of electro-chemical potential is introduced. Secondly, the diffuse equations of the ion are simplified in stationary condition and by omitting convection effect. Finally, the finite element program is coded and the chemo-mechanical coupling is simulated. In the present dissertation, the electro-mechanical coupling and chemo-mechanical coupling are studied respectively. The effect of multi-field coupling for conductive polymer is demonstrated. The results show that the conductive polymers exhibit the multi-field coupling behavior. These behaviors of conductive polymer are effectively simulated by the multi-field coupling finite element program. The present methods are validated to be available by comparison to exiting results.