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Published on: August 15, 2014
Instability analysis of torsional MEMS/NEMS actuators under capillary force
Jian-Gang Guo1, Li-Jun Zhou, Ya-Pu Zhao
1Department of Mechanics, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, People's Republic of China.
Abstract:
The static and dynamic instabilities of a torsional MEMS/NEMS actuator caused by capillary effects are studied, respectively. An instability number, eta, is defined, and the critical gap distance, g(cr), between the mainplate and the substrate is derived. According to the values of eta and g, the instability criteria of the actuator are presented. The dimensionless motion equation of the MEMS/NEMS torsional actuator is derived when it makes nonlinear oscillation under capillary force. The qualitative analysis of the nonlinear equation is made, and the phase portraits are presented on the phase plane. In addition, the bifurcation phenomena in the system are also analyzed.
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