Modeling of Carbon Nanotube Actuators: Part II — Mechanical Properties, Electro Mechanical Coupling and Validation of the Model

Carbon nanotubes have the potential to become one of the actuating materials of the future. Since the discovery of the actuating effect a lot of experimental data was collected to describe the electro-mechanical coupling. With this paper a model for the system behavior is available to enhance the understanding of the effect. An analytical model is introduced in the first part of the article. The electrical parameters of the model are determined by impedance spectroscopy. Furthermore, the mechanical parameters and the electro-mechanical coupling have to be examined. The main subject of the second part of the article is to validate the model and to compare measured and simulated responses to several excitations.