Circular pre-strained dielectric elastomer actuator: modeling, simulation and experimental verification

Michael Wissler; Edoardo Mazza; Gabor M. Kovacs

doi:10.1117/12.598719

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6 May 2005 Circular pre-strained dielectric elastomer actuator: modeling, simulation and experimental verification

Michael Wissler, Edoardo Mazza, Gabor M. Kovacs

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Proceedings Volume 5759, Smart Structures and Materials 2005: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD); (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.598719
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2005, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Reliable models are required for the design and optimization of dielectric elastomer actuators. Thereby knowledge of the constitutive behavior of the elastomer is of crucial importance. In this work a pre-strained circular actuator made of a dielectric elastomer is investigated: constitutive models based on uniaxial data are verified by comparing calculation results with experimental observations. An analytical model is derived for the instantaneous response to an activation voltage in the pre-strained circular actuator and a finite element (FE) model is used to simulate the time dependent behavior. Hyperelastic models are used and three strain energy formulations (Yeoh, Ogden and Mooney-Rivlin) are compared in their predictive capabilities. The results of the calculations with the three strain energy forms differ significantly, although all forms were successfully fitted to the same uniaxial data set. Predictions of the actuator behavior based on the Yeoh form agree to a great extent with measurements of the response at different pre-strain levels and activation voltages.

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Michael Wissler, Edoardo Mazza, and Gabor M. Kovacs "Circular pre-strained dielectric elastomer actuator: modeling, simulation and experimental verification", Proc. SPIE 5759, Smart Structures and Materials 2005: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD), (6 May 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.598719

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