Dynamic analysis of self-powered electromechanical actuators using radioisotopes

In order to investigate the characteristics of the quasi-static and dynamic pull-down process of the self-powered electromechanical actuators, a dynamic model is presented in this paper. The theoretical formulations are based on Euler–Bernoulli beam theory, variable coefficient collector current model and include the effects of both geometric nonlinearity and load nonlinearity due to powered by radioactive source. By applying the Galerkin technique, the nonlinear partial differential governing equations are decoupled into two set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations which are then solved by utilizing the backward differentiation formula. The results based on present model are validated through direct comparisons with the results in the open literatures. The effects of damping coefficients, and initial distances on the pull-down time, dimensionless tip velocity of micro cantilever beams, and dimensionless displacement of the “midpoint” of the actuator are discussed in detail.