Computational modeling of the electrochemical actuation of a class of carbon fiber composites

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.