Durability of membranes is one of the concerns for widespread commercialization of polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Effects of membrane swelling on the durability pose important challenges for the fabrication of the catalyst-coated membrane. This study provides insight into vulnerable locations of the membrane under hygro-thermal loading, mechanical loading due to clamping and realistic conditions where a combination of both of these loadings are imposed. With a half rib-channel model, we simulate a polymer electrolyte fuel cell that operates under varying loads and clamping pressure. Model considers anisotropic diffusion in the gas diffusion layer as well as complex interactions of water transport dynamics between gas diffusion layers and the membrane. Mechanical responses of the membrane subject to conjugate hygro-thermo-mechanical loadings during typical scenarios of fuel cell operation reveal the effects of operating parameters as well as individual contributing factors on the development of local stresses in the membrane.

膜的耐久性是聚合物电解质燃料电池的广泛商业化的关注之一。膜溶胀对耐久性的影响对催化剂涂覆的膜的制造提出了重要的挑战。这项研究提供了在湿热载荷，由于夹紧而产生的机械载荷以及施加这两种载荷的组合的实际条件下膜的脆弱位置的见解。使用半肋通道模型，我们模拟了在变化的载荷和夹紧压力下运行的聚合物电解质燃料电池。该模型考虑了气体扩散层中的各向异性扩散以及气体扩散层与膜之间水传输动力学的复杂相互作用。