Quasi-static and dynamic inflation of a dielectric elastomer membrane actuator

Nakhiah Goulbourne; Mary Frecker; Eric Mockensturm

doi:10.1117/12.600346

6 May 2005 Quasi-static and dynamic inflation of a dielectric elastomer membrane actuator

Nakhiah Goulbourne, Mary Frecker, Eric Mockensturm

Proceedings Volume 5759, Smart Structures and Materials 2005: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD); (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.600346
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2005, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

This paper presents quasi-static and dynamic results for dielectric elastomer actuators subject to a uniform mechanical pressure and an applied voltage. The numerical quasi-static results are compared to experimental data for actuators made from 3M VHB material. It is shown that the theoretical model for the active inflation of hyperelastic membranes is sensitive to the explicit form of the assumed strain energy function. The optimal constants of 2-Term and 3-Term Ogden models are determined from uniaxial and biaxial stress experimental data. Using the best overall values for the material constants, the electro-elastic model is used to predict the voltage-dependent behavior for the inflation of dielectric elastomer actuators. The correlation between the numerical results and the experimental data is good. In previous work, inertial effects have been neglected and a quasi-static approach employed. The method is presently expanded to include the dynamic response of dielectric elastomer actuators. In this case inertial effects become increasingly important as different equilibria modes are obtained during dynamic operation. The results show the potential for voltage-controlled bifurcations during the inflation of spherical dielectric elastomer actuators.

Citation Download Citation

Nakhiah Goulbourne, Mary Frecker, and Eric Mockensturm "Quasi-static and dynamic inflation of a dielectric elastomer membrane actuator", Proc. SPIE 5759, Smart Structures and Materials 2005: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD), (6 May 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.600346

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