Snap-through dynamics of buckled IPMC actuator

The snap-through dynamics of bi-stable buckled IPMC actuators with double clamped boundary conditions was investigated to generate much larger displacement and periodical stable locomotion based on jumping phenomena with relative low input power. Among square, convex, and concave buckled IPMC actuators, the jumping phenomenon of the concave IPMC actuator was remarkably observed in the harmonic responses of high input voltage and low excitation frequency. Present results show that the end-shortening, the driving voltage and the excitation frequency of the double clamped IPMC actuators strongly affect the large deformation, rapid jumps, and low power consumption due to the snap-through phenomena.